FUMI Okiji, who will be playing three local dates next month, says she discovered jazz song at the age of seven – and has been developing her love of the music ever since.

Her Old Time Jazz Band is a joyous celebration of the great tradition of jazz song. The music is essentially lovingly crafted interpretations of repertoire from jazz’s inception, through the interwar years. The band takes in the blues, New Orleans, black vaudeville, Louis, Ella and Billie. While tackling the material with upmost reverence it does so with both feet firmly in the 21st century.

Building up a faithful London following over the past couple of years, the band has played at many of the capital’s jazz clubs including the Vortex, St James Theatre, the Oxford, the Spice of Life and for the Crypt’s Camberwell Jazz Festival.

The Old Time Jazz Band releases a debut album, Old Fashion, this month, meaning that local audiences will be among the first to sample it live.

"Support from Jazz Services enables Arts Alive to bring some top-quality jazz artists to rural venues in Shropshire and Herefordshire," says Arts Alive director, Sian Kerry, "and Jazz Services' backing means we know we really are getting the best."

Fumi Okiji and the Old Time Jazz Band will be warming the winter evenings at:

Stoke Prior Village Hall (01568 760423) at 7.30pm on Thursday, February 5; Clun Memorial Hall (01588 640254) on Friday, February 6 and at The Market Theatre in Ledbury ( 07967 517125/themarkettheatre.com) at 8pm on Saturday, February 7. Or book online at artsalive.co.uk