DJ Lubi, Tomorrow's Warriors & Leeds Jazz Festival Present...
Warriors Rise Showcase
Ft. David Kayode + Yamikani + Miles Hardy Quartet
Each year since Leeds Jazz Festival began in 2022, jazz promoter Lubi Jovanovic (DJ Lubi) promotes one show at Brudenell Social Club. Usually, they feature up-and-coming UK jazz artists, both local and national. For 2026, he has partnered up with London talent development/artist mentoring organisation Tomorrow's Warriors to present a "Warriors Rise" showcase featuring one of their top emerging new artists, alongside two Leeds young breakout artists ready to step up to the next level. That showcase will be on Sunday 24th May, with Tomorrow's Warriors alumni David Kayode headlining, supported by Yamikani and the Miles Hardy Quartet
Saxophonist David Kayode’s commanding tenor sound blends Yoruba tradition, carnival energy and contemporary jazz into a distinctly London sound that moves bodies and evokes ancestral stories. A Tomorrow’s Warriors Emerging Artist, mentored by Gary Crosby OBE and Camilla George, David has already performed with the Gary Crosby Sextet in the acclaimed Mingus Moves series, toured internationally with Moses Boyd, and collaborated with artists including Ni Maxine and Osibisa. Spring 2026 saw the release of his debut EP, "Ade Kayode", a set of recordings that were instantly picked up by radio, including JazzFM, BBC3, and One Jazz.
“Some vibrant sounds from an emerging artist I've really enjoyed hearing from Tomorrow's Warriors. Tenor saxophonist David Kayode is developing a really distinctive sound infused with Afrobeat and straight ahead" - Soweto Kinch, Round Midnight, BBC Radio 3
“…all of the ingredients to become a genre defying classic” - THE VOICE (review of "Ade Kayode")
This performance is part of Tomorrow’s Warriors’ Warriors Rise initiative, which sees the acclaimed jazz talent development organisation support three emerging Warriors’ artists build a UK tour, securing gigs, and
providing tour planning and marketing mentoring. Warriors Rise is supported by Music Venue Trust and the PRS Foundation Talent Development Network Partner initiative supported by PPL.
Tomorrow’s Warriors offers a pioneering, comprehensive programme of learning and training which champions and supports young black and female talent and those who come from challenging circumstances that would be a barrier to accessing opportunities to pursue a music career.
Conguero Yamikani Soko and his orchestra are a new and exciting Afro-Diasporic jazz fusion ensemble in Leeds. This is the new project led by Reece Soko, bandleader/saxophonist of the popular afrojazz band Afrodesia, who play a repertoire of original music in the tradition of CuBop, Rumba, Calypso and Spiritual Jazz, alongside compositions of Chano Pozo, Max Roach and Mongo Santamaria. Yamikani not only respects the traditions to come out of the Afro-Diaspora, but also infuses the music with Yamikani Soko’s own Malawian heritage and Be-Bop background, creating an energetic blend of rhythmic and vibrant music. Absolute dancefloor jazz vibes guaranteed 100%.
“Some vibrant sounds from an emerging artist I've really enjoyed hearing from Tomorrow's Warriors. Tenor saxophonist David Kayode is developing a really distinctive sound infused with Afrobeat and straight ahead" - Soweto Kinch, Round Midnight, BBC Radio 3
“…all of the ingredients to become a genre defying classic” - THE VOICE (review of "Ade Kayode")
This performance is part of Tomorrow’s Warriors’ Warriors Rise initiative, which sees the acclaimed jazz talent development organisation support three emerging Warriors’ artists build a UK tour, securing gigs, and
providing tour planning and marketing mentoring. Warriors Rise is supported by Music Venue Trust and the PRS Foundation Talent Development Network Partner initiative supported by PPL.
About Tomorrow’s Warriors :
If you know your UK jazz, then you probably already know Tomorrow's Warriors. For the last 35 years, Tomorrow’s Warriors has played a vital role within its community and the wider music industry and has been credited with literally changing the face of UK jazz. Free access to Tomorrow’s Warriors artistic programme has proved crucial in nurturing the nascent talent and early careers of so many of the most exciting UK artists currently tearing up the international
jazz scene including Mercury Prize 2023 winners Ezra Collective, Moses Boyd, Nubya Garcia, Shabaka Hutchings and Sons of Kemet, ESKA, Jason Yarde, Denys Baptiste, Robert Mitchell, Soweto Kinch, Shirley Tetteh, Byron Wallen, Mark Kavuma, Sultan Stevenson, CHERISE, Donovan Haffner...the list goes on.
If you know your UK jazz, then you probably already know Tomorrow's Warriors. For the last 35 years, Tomorrow’s Warriors has played a vital role within its community and the wider music industry and has been credited with literally changing the face of UK jazz. Free access to Tomorrow’s Warriors artistic programme has proved crucial in nurturing the nascent talent and early careers of so many of the most exciting UK artists currently tearing up the international
jazz scene including Mercury Prize 2023 winners Ezra Collective, Moses Boyd, Nubya Garcia, Shabaka Hutchings and Sons of Kemet, ESKA, Jason Yarde, Denys Baptiste, Robert Mitchell, Soweto Kinch, Shirley Tetteh, Byron Wallen, Mark Kavuma, Sultan Stevenson, CHERISE, Donovan Haffner...the list goes on.
Tomorrow’s Warriors offers a pioneering, comprehensive programme of learning and training which champions and supports young black and female talent and those who come from challenging circumstances that would be a barrier to accessing opportunities to pursue a music career.
“Tomorrow's Warriors occupies a unique and vital space in our cultural landscape. Their work in helping positively shape future generations is of critical importance especially with the tribulations we currently face. Please keep supporting - each one, teach one!” - Gilles Peterson, BBC 6 Music & Brownswood Recordings
Conguero Yamikani Soko and his orchestra are a new and exciting Afro-Diasporic jazz fusion ensemble in Leeds. This is the new project led by Reece Soko, bandleader/saxophonist of the popular afrojazz band Afrodesia, who play a repertoire of original music in the tradition of CuBop, Rumba, Calypso and Spiritual Jazz, alongside compositions of Chano Pozo, Max Roach and Mongo Santamaria. Yamikani not only respects the traditions to come out of the Afro-Diaspora, but also infuses the music with Yamikani Soko’s own Malawian heritage and Be-Bop background, creating an energetic blend of rhythmic and vibrant music. Absolute dancefloor jazz vibes guaranteed 100%.
Miles Hardy is a young jazz drummer in his second year at Leeds Conservatoire who's already made an impact on the local jazz scene. Not yet 20, he leads his own trio and quartet, plays with Reece Soko-Fogg's quartet, and is a regular at the weekly/monthly jazz sessions around town at places like Hyde park Jazz Club and Sela Bar, both as a headliner and and a jam session musician. His quartet play no holds barred post-bop/modal jazz in the classic tradition of Joe Henderson, Cedar Walton, Wayne Shorter and Herbie Hancock. Perfect for the opening set. Get down early to catch this future UK jazz star at the start of his musical career.
DJ Lubi will be hosting the night and playing dancefloor jazz before, between and after live sets.
Sunday 24th May 2026
Price: £10.50 / £8.50 Student Adv. (stbf)
Doors: 19:00
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