Sue Miller has brought a lot of joy to Leeds in her time with bands like Charanga Del Norte, and her latest featuring 20+ able musicians, The Cuban Big Band. Our friend Ana Luisa, from Chile, is one of the 4 singers and we try to see her whenever she performs. So Sunday afternoon found us at Seven, an arts centre in Chapel Allerton where The Cuban Big Band Mamboed their way into our hearts.

Sue introduced each song with an explanation of where it had come from and what it meant. “The lyrics to this one are ‘bring the cakes from your oven to me’ which is a literal translation but what they’re actually saying is come over here and we’ll….well, you know”.

It was a joyous occasion. Singer (and Spanish teacher) Soraya had us laughing, teaching us Spanish phrases to sing. We learnt that the clarinet player was off to Sheffield to study music and the drummer, surely has the best waxed moustache ever.

It wasn’t long before spontaneous dancing broke out leaving me once again determined to learn how to salsa dance…well, one of these days…

Getting this number of talented people together must have been a mammoth task so well done to all involved. There were so many good musicians it’s unfair to pick one out….but the phat sound the trombone player was making had me smiling – she could join The Specials any day.

Seven is a great venue. The architect who designed it, Rob, was there as his misses, Kate, was playing trumpet in the band. My daughter Marisa, caught up with their daughter Ella (they went to primary school together just down the road) and Marisa bumped into her English teacher there…..just what community centres are all about! One of my ex patients Bernardo was there too and judging by his moves on the dance floor – I think I’ve cured him

Bob the Chiropodist