When Emily greeted me at the bottom of the stairs, I wasn't quite prepared for what I found. The basement at Lynrace Spirit really is intimate - sixteen of us, maybe room for two more, leather studded chairs pressed close together. The only thing missing was the stale smell of smoke, though for a venue that opened in 2017, that was never going to happen.

Lynrace, for the uninitiated like me, is a Jericho institution - Spirit the cocktail bar, Popina the restaurant, Studio for architecture and design, Events for bespoke parties - an empire! Parlour Jazz is their weekly basement special, and the promise is an intimate night. That, they deliver.

This week's act was the local Holy Fools - not quite jazz, but a genuinely great band. Chris (lead singer) and Harry (lead guitarist) gave the impression of being a last-minute invite, but took it entirely in their stride, playing two hours of roots music, blues, country ballads and cowboy tunes with easy rapport in between. My favourites came early: Cairo and Jasmine, beautifully sung, with solo guitar riffs that caught me staring.

Here's my one real criticism though: it wasn't jazz. If you're billing a night as Parlour Jazz, that's what people will come expecting - and jazz lovers specifically will feel the gap. Holy Fools were excellent, my legs didn't stop moving all evening, but that's a different experience from the one being advertised, and it's worth knowing before you book.

The service was exceptional throughout - staff upstairs rescued me and my friend when I looked lost, and Emily's team downstairs kept drinks orders moving and water glasses topped up. You know it’s a good cocktail bar when your coke arrives with a metal straw and a dehydrated lime slice. It may sound pretentious to some, but the atmosphere never feels intimidating.

Tickets are £35 per person, including a welcome drink - which brings the effective cost closer to £20 if you pace yourself. Steep by Oxford music night standards, but for a one-off experience in a space this small, it's the kind of evening that's a nice treat once in a while.

Lynrace Parlour Jazz is pausing until August. Follow them on Instagram (@lynrace_spirit) for updates - and if you love live music in close quarters, it's worth keeping an eye on.