YORK musician Paul Kind had always said he had put some money aside so that fellow band members could have a musical “wake” after he died.

Arriving at his 70th birthday this week, however, he has had a change of mind. "I've decided to put the money to good use instead by booking the band for a free concert for a birthday party with a difference," he says of his version of a Kind gesture. "That way I get to play for my own party.”

Paul plays trumpet with Leeds Jazz Orchestra, from Headingley, who will give a one-hour concert at the National Early Music Centre, in Walmgate, York, on Saturday at 4.30pm. Admission is free but donations for two charities, Medecins sans Frontieres and Fostering Network, would be welcome.

York Press:

Leeds Jazz Orchestra

Paul, who has lived in York, for more than 30 years, combines his day job as Professor of Health Economics at the University of Leeds with musical moonlighting, whether playing bass with York brass bands, jazz piano or trumpet. His last gig was at Seven Arts in Leeds, where Leeds Jazz Orchestra performed with Canadian virtuoso trumpet player Ingrid Jensen on her British tour.

"I'm lucky enough to sometimes combine my international academic work with my musical interests and so I'm part of an American-based rock band that’s played some classy venues such as Sea World in Orlando and House of the Blues in New Orleans," he says.

Paul played for many years with the Shepherd Group Brass Band, as well as with the York Railway Institute Band, and he could be found at the Pizza Express piano in Museum Street for a number of years. His keyboard skills were put to use in the Modest Jazz Quartet for more than 15 years in venues across York and North Yorkshire too.

He travels extensively, most recently returning from lecturing in the United States and China, where he was appointed Scientific Advisor to the World Association of Chinese Quality of Life. Last year, he took up a new university post as International Scientist in the Higher School for Economics in St Petersburg, Russia.