A woman in tight dress and high heels shackled by a mirror ball - an arresting image to be sure and one more likely to be seen on a gangsta-rap album cover than on the latest release from a jazz combo.

That's just one of the good things about Acoustic Ladyland, who are throwing themselves unashamedly at the non-jazz music market. As a jazz music reviewer I had to beg and battle with the PR companies to even get hold of a review copy of Last Chance Disco (Babel BDV2555), Acoustic Ladyland's second CD which boasts that striking cover.

The band, as its name suggests, came together with a communal affection for the music of Jimi Hendrix. Instead of doing jazz versions of his songs, however, they chose to "re-imagine" his music. The results, heard on their first CD, Camouflage, are excellent. The ghost of Jimi is conjured up but with a fresh 21st century instrumental improvised format.

From there the quartet of Pete Wareham on saxophones, Tom Cawley on keyboards, Tom Herbert on bass and Sebastian Rochford on drums have moved on from Hendrix both forward to prog, thrash and indie, and back to good old rock 'n' roll.

Last Chance Disco is a revelation, with rock song patterns, squalling tenor and baritone saxes, retro keyboards and Rochford (who has his own wonderful band Polar Bear on the Mercury Prize shortlist) showing his heavy side.

On the CD player, then, this is a startling band, but their full power, I suspect, is to be felt in the live situation. The band has been gigging hard on the back of the release of Last Chance Disco, including playing Birmingham Jazz Festival last month.

Now they are touring all the bars in the Barfly chain. The choice of venues shows Acoustic Ladyland's target market too. The original Barfly in Camden played host to early performances by the Stereophonics, Feeder, Coldplay, Death In Vegas and Muse.

There isn't a Barfly as such in Birmingham but there is the Bar Academy, and that's where Acoustic Ladyland will be this Sunday, from 7pm. For more info on Acoustic Ladyland go to acousticladyland.com and to book tickets go to birminghamacademyco.uk/birmingham/ pages/listings.cfm

For bar sounds of a far plusher kind, head for Colmore Row on Saturday evening, where pianist and singer Symeon Cosburn follows in the fine footsteps of Ian Shaw and Claire Martin, by playing the Alhambra room at One Ten Club.

Shaw has just produced Cosburn's first album, and the young entertainer gigs at some of the trendiest nightspots in London, so full marks to One Ten for adding some class to the Birmingham scene.

For more details go to 110 Colmore Row, Birmingham, call 0121 236 1110 or visit www.onetenbirmingham.com

Also worth a visit this week:

* The Sugar Beats, comprising Leo Atarelli on trumpet, Ed Johnston on tenor, Chris Mapp on bass and Lewis Hornsby on drums, do a free commuter jazz session at Le Petit Blanc on Friday from 5.30pm.

* Midland trumpeter Steve King leads his nine-piece band through a Sunday afternoon session at Brinton's Park, Sutton Road, Kidderminster. More on 01562 820505.

* News and views by email, please, to pl_bacon@yahoo.co.uk