Three more groups chosen from the final year of the Jazz Course at the Leeds Conservatoire 2025 play their final recital pieces in front of our live JazzLeeds audience.

Each band plays one set, with an interval between bands. We love to support the young students from Leeds Conservatoire each year. Come and see these stars of the future.

Nathaniel Tabener-Smith ensemble
Led by Leeds-based alto saxophonist and composer Nathaniel Taberner, this ensemble blends elements of the jazz tradition with electronic instrumentation, crafting a distinctive sound thatcombines straight-ahead jazz with contemporary post-bop, hip-hop and art rock. Nathaniel’s
compositions are rich in improvisation, emotional depth, and intricate melodies, and explore themes of childhood creativity and imagination—a nod to the playful spirit and boundless curiosity of youth. The lineup includes Nathaniel Taberner (alto saxophone), Jascha Bingham (piano), Charlie Wilberforce (electric guitar), Billy Goulding (drums), and Austin Bowers (electric bass).

Kanavu
Led by alto saxophonist Arthana Tharmasekaran, Kanavu explore ways to combine jazz and traditional Carnatic music, taking inspiration from Steve Coleman and Rudresh Mathanappa. This quartet aims to show audiences how a multitude of sounds can connote different feelings and emotions through the use of ambience and complex rhythms. Kanavu consists of Arthana Tharmasekaran - Alto sax, Sean Anglim - Electric bass, Billy Goulding - Drums and Umer Sair - Piano.

Alex Oldknow Quintet
The Alex Oldknow Quintet roots itself firmly in the jazz tradition. They play a mix of standards and originals which combine their love and respect for cross genre compositions and a multitude of different sounds and rhythms. The quintet is made up of Alex Oldknow - guitar, Jamie
Gallacher - Tenor saxophone, Charlie Folland - Alto saxophone, Billy Goulding - drums and Fynn Clements - Bass.