Jazzleeds present some of the best music coming from Leeds at the "Welcome to Leeds" Festival Jazz Tent next to the Light in Cookridge Street - 7 bands 1-8pm - lots of fun on M\ay Day Bank Holiday Monday!
1pm Leeds University Big Band
Big Band swing, funk, and jazz
The ever-popular Leeds University Union Big Band perform a wide variety of dance band/big band repertoire including swing, funk, pop and jazz.
2pm Big Bamboo
Old school hot dance music from the Caribbean islands and Brazil
Big Bamboo play Rumba, Choro, Mento, Beguine and Merengue – in an acoustic and improvised style reminiscent of New Orleans jazz. Clarinettist Richard Ormrod grew up with the rich, lyrical sound of early Caribbean music and has been playing in this style for thirty five years. Trombonist Will Osborne is passionate about early calypso and beguine and, together, they lead Big Bamboo on a tour through the first half of the 20th Century, across several seas, and through multiple musical traditions rooted in early jazz and hot dance.
3pm Alex Fisher Trio
Straight-ahead jazz and the Great American Songbook
The Alex Fisher Trio is led by saxophonist, clarinettist and composer Alex Fisher. Having begun performing on tenor sax at age 13, with a foundation in jazz and the music of the Great American Songbook, Alex now enjoys regularly performing and recording on saxes from soprano to bass – as well as clarinet, and bass and contrabass clarinets – in a multitude of musical styles in his home city of Leeds and around the UK.
4pm Los Traceperos
The latin music of Brazilian maestros such as trombonist Raul de Souza
Drummer and vibist John Settle is now carving out a new career – as a trombonist! Los Traceperos will be playing the latin music of Brazilian maestros such as trombonist Raul de Souza With – John Settle on trombone, Mike Conliffe keys, Emlyn Vaughan bass, Brendan Bache drums Joe Redgrave percussion
5pm Amon Ra
Miles Davis’ electric jazz fusion, John Coltrane’s avant garde jazz
Amon Ra is a large community of musicians who have been appearing at live shows around Leeds for the past 3 years in different combinations. Led by trumpeter Samuel Ehret-Pickett, they play an exciting fusion of energetic solos, pulsating rhythms, electronic noise, free improvisation incorporating the Butch Morris’ Conduction method. Inspired by the music of Miles Davis’ electric jazz fusion, John Coltrane’s avant garde jazz, the ethio-jazz of Mulatu Astatke, and the spiritual world music of Don Cherry, they bring together jazz, rock, world music, afrobeat, drum & bass and cosmic funk into one big Amon Ra musical melting pot.
“Amon Ra channel Sun Ra into now and beyond with their cosmic blend of free-jazz and heavy grooves” – Fusebox
“Bleeping synths, treacly bass, atonal reverberating horns and intense percussion suggest a restless, inquisitive spirit” – furtherdot.com
“This UK- based group exhibits a Magma / Zeuhl influence influence in its bass lines and keyboard tone, but an electric Miles feel with the inclusion of trumpet” – Avant Music News
6pm: Fee Buckton Octet
Jazz, Pop, Neo-soul and RnB, with some afrobeat grooves
Fee is a trumpet player and vocalist, whose music is an intricate blend of Jazz, Pop, Neo-soul and RnB, with some afrobeat grooves intertwined. She is inspired not only by her jazz training, but by the incredible musicians and songwriters she’s had the pleasure of working and performing with in Leeds. She gigs regularly around the country with numerous bands, and is now excited to share her own music with the world.
7pm Oba-Oba x Catimba
The popular music of Brazil – bossa nova, samba, and Brazilian jazz
The lively quintet Catimba and soulful Oba-Oba duo are coming together for a special gig that will transport you straight to the nearest tropical coast. Each band brings a unique flavour of Brazilian and Afro-Latin music, drawing from different eras to create a vibrant and diverse sound. With their shared passion for spreading sunny, warm vibes, expect a set filled with infectious rhythms, joyful energy, and the spirit of Summer. Don’t miss out on this unforgettable celebration of music and culture. Raquel Alvaro (vocals and percussion), Wayne Pollock (piano and synth), Jose Canha (electric bass), Joe Redgrave (percussion and cuica) and Brendan Bache (drums)
The Welcome to Leeds stage is sponsored by LeedsBID alongside New Citizens and with backline support from Eiger Studios. JazzLeeds are promotion all the music as part of their contribution to this years Leeds Jazz Festival 2025
Free
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