Female jazz vocalists are always popular, and this week you have the choice of two, you lucky people!

First on Friday night at 8pm you can catch the excellent Andra Sparks Trio at Embrace Arts – as Leicester University's RAC is now known.

Born in Coleraine, Northern Ireland, brought up on folk and pop, she started off on the classical music path until she attended the Wavendon Jazz summer school (at John Dankworth and Cleo Laine's place) in1992.

She's joined by husband and cracking lyricist Nick Weldon on bass and Dominic Ashworth on guitar. £10 (£9 NUS) sees you in.

Then there's Sunday lunchtime at 12.30pm at The Angel, Market Harborough.

Esther Miller brings a truly great band of Steve Waterman on trumpet, Steve Melling keyboard, Zoltan Dekany bass, and John Perry drums.

I confess I don't know Esther, but she sounds wonderful on her website, which tells me she was born in Port Elisabeth, South Africa, and made several festival appearances there.

She's made three CDs, and played impressive jazz festivals here too.

To quote the late great Humphrey Lyttleton: "Voice, style and presence – she's got it all. A great talent." £13 sees you in.

If instrumental is more your scene, 8.30pm on Friday night at Newbold Verdon WMC is the time and place to catch John Shillito's Select 6.

Some outstanding soloists play an assortment of different types of jazz, all for just £7.

http://andrasparks.com/ www.esthermillersings.co.uk