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I headed into Leeds to catch the tail end of the Jazz Festival, which had been going on all weekend.

The free stage on Cookridge Street was showcasing Leeds bands, so I settled down there to catch 4 x 45 minute sets in the late afternoon and early evening.

To start: Los Traceperos, a quintet playing mostly Brazilian music. Then the Amon Ra Collective (main image) who played a more cosmic/spiritual set, including some of their own compositions. Next up Fee, a septet led by vocalist/trumpeter Fee Buckton, performing mostly her own material. Finally Oba-Oba x Catimba, another (Portuguese-led) latin band, with music from Brazil and Angola. There were also many guest performers and various artists playing across different bands. There is clearly a thriving jazz community in Leeds, consistently re-energised by the students coming through the jazz programme at the Conservatoire, which was the first jazz degree in Europe when established 50 years ago.

The rain came on and off throughout the afternoon and evening, at times quite heavily, so the music perhaps didn’t pull the crowd it should, but the hardy among us that remained had a great show.