Doors: 1.30pm Music: 1.30pm

The Conrad Clenton Nonet brings the immense force of a fully fledged musical freight train thundering down the tracks to the sound of rambunctious jazz and blues. Comprised of some of the finest of young Leeds musicians, the nonet amplifies its members’ powerful voices by pushing the sonic boundaries of improvised music whilst rooted in the rich blues tradition. After playing together consistently for the past three years, the band operates like a well-oiled machine, allowing for pure freedom of expression and musical understanding between the players. The Conrad Clenton Nonet is a bold call to action, a musical powerhouse and a force to be reckoned with, performing original compositions and arrangements inspired by the powerful and protesting sound of Charles Mingus..

They played a support slot for us at Seven with Emily Masser for Jazz Leeds in 2024 and we thoroughly enjoyed it – we are pleased to invite them back  again!

Charles Mingus  (April 22, 1922 – January 5, 1979) is considered one of the greatest jazz musicians and composers in history, with a career spanning three decades and collaborations with other jazz greats, such as Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker, Max Roach, and Eric Dolphy. His music is celebrated for creating a powerful, often angry, and explicitly political sound that served as a direct musical protest against racism and social injustice, making him a crucial voice in jazz as protest music. His music is frequently described as “chaotic organization,” balancing technical complexity with raw, emotional force.

Here’s a link to a video of Conrad’s Nonet playing an original, “The Fight’s Gone”:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1p7Y27Zhgv2UoPOZQrOVOiwIhlY71AuKd/view?usp=share_link

“Like it was from the pen of Mingus himself”— Steve Fishwick

They’ll be playing in the Seven Arts courtyard (inside Seven if the weather is wet!)

Payf collection