Sunday was the last date of the short Matt Anderson Quintet ‘Songs of the Ridings’ tour, playing music commissioned by Creative North Yorkshire and Scarborough Jazz Festival celebrating the cultural heritage of North Yorkshire.

It was a real privilege to be able to play my own music at such great venues and with such amazing musicians, whose creativity meant that each performance was totally different and therefore felt fresh, risky and exciting. So, big thanks to Jamil, Kari, John, Aubin and Sam for their contribution, as well as promoters Mike Gordon (Scarborough Jazz Festival), Steve Shaw (Pave), Claire Turner (Matt n’ Phreds) and Steve Crocker (Seven Jazz).

Also, I’m very grateful to Hazel Cameron and Chrysalis Arts for the funding that made the project possible, as well as to Nigel Slee (Jazz Yorkshire), Kathy Dyson, Oli Bentley (Split Design), Dave Chapman and Leeds City Library.

Photos and video footage from our performance at Scarborough Jazz Festival should be available shortly.

Next up, the Matt Anderson Quartet will be playing at The Bridge, Newcastle (30th Oct); Cafe Lento, Headingley (25th Nov) and The Spin Off, Leeds (19th Jan).