The biennial audio-visual sound-clash that is fuseleeds returns for its third season at the end of this month running from 25 April-2 May with a vibrant selection of events on offer. These range from cutting edge jazz, to folk and electronica alongside film screenings and panel discussions. Resurgent UK saxophonist Andy Sheppard headlines with both his stunning new ECM-signed Movements In Colour project – featuring a stellar band of John Parricelli, Kuljit Bhamra, Eivind Aarset and Arild Andersen ­– plus another meeting of his much-talked-about Sax Massive that has seen previous gatherings of more than 200 saxophonists in both Bristol on the Clifton suspension bridge and outside London’s Vortex jazz club at the launch of the London jazz festival two years ago.  

The energetic young generation of UK jazz musicians also appear at a marathon session at the Seven Arts venue under the banner of ‘Blowing a fuse: Jazz Sunday at Seven’. Reflecting Leeds’ vibrant experimental jazz scene the line up includes Colin Byrne UK Mingus Collective, If Destroyed Still True, Twelves Trio and LIMA regulars Bourne, Davis, Kane. London-based noise merchants Led Bib headline the evening playing music from their highly charged new album Sensible Shoes.

Elsewhere the programme includes intriguing new commissions inspired by legendary cartoon music composer Raymond Scott, whose madcap but brilliant Looney Tunes scores form an unlikely source of inspiration for many jazz musicians and composers alike. 2009 is his centenary year, and fuseleeds has commissioned musicians from Leeds Improvised Music Association to create Dinner Music for a Pack of Hungry Cannibals – The Music of Raymond Scott Revisited which sees four new works respond to the various aspects of Scott’s work. Those participating in other works include classical pianist Richard Ormrod, vocalist Kari Bleivik, pianist Matthew Bourne (who is crafting miniatures featuring French electronic artist Franck Vigroux) and bassist Dave Kane will be leading an orchestra, which will perform a ‘large scale response’ to selections of Raymond Scott’s music.

Other esoteric offerings music inspired by influential architect and composer, Iannis Xenakis with a performance by Manchester-based chamber ensemble Psappha (conducted by Nicholas Kok) there will also be music inspired by graphic designer/toy developer Paul Farrington, plus architects Amenity Space and composer Leafcutter John.  Award-winning folk musician Eliza Carthy performs a special collaboration with acclaimed singer-songwriter Ed Harcourt, with support from young Leeds band the Royst Trio. 

For more info visit www.fuseleeds.org.uk