CONTENT COURTESY SYDNEY INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S JAZZ FESTIVAL
From October 30 to November 8, Sydney’s city clubs and venues will come alive with the sound of more than 30 leading female musicians, celebrating music from Australia and the world in the Sydney International Women’s Jazz Festival.
Now in its ninth year, this anticipated 10-day live music festival celebrates the exceptional artistry showcased by these innovating and diverse contemporary musicians, all eager to perform before live audiences.
From breathtaking improvised solo performances to vivid and energetic Afro-Cuban ensembles, the remarkable multiplicity of music makes this a festival to inspire. Performances will take place in intimate, seated, COVID-19-safe venues across the city.
The site of Sydney’s legendary long-standing jazz venue The Basement, which now operates as Mary’s Underground, will bustle as the Festival Hub. SWIJF will also ignite venues Foundry616, Joynton Ave Creative Centre, the Australian Institute Of Music, and Venue 505.
Capacity will be strictly limited, and tickets will sell fast. Mary’s Underground will offer only 60 tickets per show, with two shows scheduled per night. This number is down from its regular capacity of 200-400 patrons.
“We are so thrilled the 2020 festival is going ahead. Jazz is an ideal medium for seated, social distanced settings,” SIWJF co-artistic directors Zoe Hauptmann and Peter Rechniewski share.
“This year presents a unique opportunity for music lovers to experience the magic and intimacy of jazz. Few Australian musicians have been able to perform live since the onset of the coronavirus, and these artists are so excited to perform for audiences at this year’s festival.”
Due to travel restrictions, SIWJF 2020 will embrace local international talent with cross-cultural projects spotlighting artists from Japan, Cuba, Peru, Sweden, and Armenia. In a special treat for online audiences, 2019 festival favourite Brazilian bossa-nova singer and nylon string guitarist Anna Setton will perform live streamed from Sao Paulo.
The Opening Night Party features an Afro-Peruvian and Cuban extravaganza of music and dance with Sydney’s queen of Latin jazz, saxophonist and composer Gai Bryant. A special double bill will showcase her 10-piece big band Caribe, alongside her sextet ALLY. The party will evoke the spirit of South America, with irresistible rhythms and passionate compositions that feature the vocal talents of Peruvian songstress Melody Riviera. Proceeds from this event will provide music mentorships for two young female Latina artists.
On October 31, Emma Pask (pictured above) — one of Australia’s most recognised jazz vocalists — will open performances at Mary’s Underground. ARIA Award-winning singer-songwriter Elana Stone will take to the stage on November 4, combining her unique and quirky style with instrumental invention.
Popular entertainer Monica Trapaga is expected to bring the house down with her charm and wit perfected across three decades working in Australian radio and TV. Fiery soul singer Mahalia Barnes will perform on November 6, backed by rock-steady band The Soulmates. Daughter of legend Jimmy Barnes, Mahalia has worked as lead singer for her own band and as backing singer for many leading soul, rock, and R’n’B artists.
On 1 November, Elysian Fields will launch its new album Fika. Inspired by artistic director Jenny Eriksson’s Scandinavian heritage, Fika features the idiosyncratic seven-stringed electric viola da gamba, of which Jenny is the only Australian exponent. The project features the stunning vocals and violin of Susie Bishop and improvisations by Matt Keegan. Beautiful arrangements of traditional folk songs by multi-award-winning jazz pianist Matt McMahon will be presented alongside the Australian premiere of Living by Norwegian jazz pianist Jan Gunnar Hoff and Believe Beleft Below by influential Swedish jazz trio E.S.T.
Other festival highlights include young-gun guitarist Hilary Geddes and rising-star drummer Jodi Michael in a heady double bill; women in music collective Lilith Night will premiered a new work by pianist Keyna Wilkins alongside Tamworth clarinetist Mary Anne Piper, drummer Chloe Kim and trumpeter Rachel Drubetsky; the rich polyrhythms and melodies of Armenia featured by Zela Margossian; and life-long couple, vocalist Joy Yates and legendary pianist Dave MacCrae, will open for Mahalia Barnes. Soul powerhouse Alice Terry will perform in Foundry with her expanded band line-up, which includes a full horn section comprising Australia’s young players. Support acts feature: improvising pianist Jo Truman; neo-soul singer Ińes; and one of the most exciting young alto players to emerge on the national jazz scene Tessie Overmyer, who will lead her trio in a festival debut.
A highlight since 2014, the artist-in-residence program has encouraged collaboration between local and international musicians. In light of COVID-19, this year the festival will feature one of Australia’s most accomplished jazz artists, Dr Sandy Evans OAM. The recent recipient of APRA’s 2020 Art Music Award for Jazz Performance of the Year, Sandy will feature in live and streamed events including a screening of her 2019 premiere Ahisma: Meditations on Gandhi. Sandy will also premiere a new work for all-female big band Pharos (shown in our featured picture) in a special concert celebrating her award-winning compositions. The festival culminates in a world premiere when Sandy is joined by Japanese koto master Satsuki Odamura and bassist Steve Elphick at Venue 505.
Sydney International Women’s Jazz Festival
October 30 to November 8
Tickets: $15-50
Venues:
Mary’s Underground (former Basement)
Foundry616
Venue 505
Joynton Ave Creative Centre
Australian Institute Of Music
Bookings and program information siwjf.org or phone SIMA on 02 9036 6292.
Images supplied.
