World Jazz Jive feat. Yamikani, Levniz & Kanavu

World Jazz Jive takes place at The Attic Leeds on Friday 4th December, presented by longtime Leeds world music and jazz promoter DJ Lubi. The night brings contemporary jazz together with Afro-Cuban rhythms, Brazilian beats and Indian carnatic music, and features emerging artists from Leeds, Brazil, Turkey and Bristol. Yamikani is an Afro-Diasporic jazz fusion ensemble in Leeds led by Reece Soko, bandleader and saxophonist of the afrojazz band Afrodesia and a regular member of Ferg's Imaginary Big Band and the Amon Ra Collective.

The orchestra plays original music in the tradition of CuBop (Afro-Cuban jazz), Rumba, Calypso and Spiritual Jazz, with inspiration from Chano Pozo, Max Roach and Mongo Santamaria, and infuses the music with Yamikani Soko's Malawian heritage and Be-Bop background. The band was last heard live in Leeds in May 2026 at the Tomorrow's Warriors showcase for the Leeds Jazz Festival at Brudenell Social Club. Its line-up is Yamikani Soko on congas and bandleader, Arthana Tharmasekaran on flute, Conrad Clenton on baritone and alto sax, Murray Robinson on tenor sax, Sam Ehret Pickard on trumpet, Fred Good on trombone, Joe Frost-Tesfaye on piano, Woody Hayden on double bass and Billy Goulding on drums.

Levniz is a Bristol based guitarist and composer of Turkish heritage who plays classical music and jazz, plus Turkish and flamenco music, alongside Brazilian bossa nova, particularly music by Baden Powell, Luis Bonfa and Roberto Menescal. She has built a following on Instagram performing solo acoustic guitar interpretations of classic Brazilian bossa nova compositions such as "Canto De Ossanha", "Mas Que Nada", and "One Note Samba". In June 2026 she linked up with Leeds based Brazilian musician Gustavo Andrade of The Brasukas, Brazilian bass player Nick Gontarski and Leeds percussionist Joe Redgrave to record the Baden Powell bossa anthem "Canto De Ossanha", released on her YouTube channel.

For this show she reunites with Gustavo and Nick, with Leeds drummer Brendan Bache joining the quartet on drum kit. This is her debut Leeds show. Kanavu is led by alto saxophonist and flautist Arthana Tharmasekaran and explores ways to combine jazz and traditional Carnatic music, taking inspiration from Steve Coleman and Rudresh Mathanappa.

The trio aims to show audiences how a multitude of sounds can connote different feelings and emotions through the use of ambience and complex rhythms. Arthana is the booker of regular jazz live sessions at Sela Bar and Hyde Park Book Club (Hyde Park Jazz Club) and an independent jazz promoter under the Arthana Presents banner. Kanavu consists of Arthana Tharmasekaran on alto sax, Teruki Chan (Christie/Chan Duo) on drums and Ozzy Moysey (Ancient Infinity Orchestra) on double bass.

Doors are at 7.30pm. Kanavu plays at 8.00pm, Levniz at 8.45pm and Yamikani at 9.30pm. Curfew is 11.00pm.