Performed by Academy Jazz Orchestra and Leon Foster Thomas
Conducted by Nick Smart
The Academy welcomed Leon Foster Thomas for a debut performance of his brand new arrangements for jazz orchestra. A gifted jazz musician and steel pan virtuoso from Trinidad and Tobago, Leon blends Caribbean music with the harmonic and improvisational complexities of jazz to create a lively and eclectic mix. This concert featured the premieres of some of Leon's classic works scaled up for large ensemble, based on his research into the roots, rhythms and reach of Anglophone and Francophone Caribbean jazz.
Recorded live in the Susie Sainsbury Theatre, Royal Academy of Music, London, on 4 February 2026.