Now in its fourth year the Sydney International Women’s Jazz Festival (SIWJF) brings together a diverse range of musicians and composers from home and abroad. This year the Festival celebrates the joy of life, creativity and youthful energy, as conveyed through music.
JANE BUNNETT & MAQUEQUE (Canada and Cuba), FIONA JOY and the BLUE DREAM ENSEMBLE (Australia), MIMI JONES – CAMILLE THURMAN QUARTET (USA), KRISTIN BERARDI with SEAN FORAN and RAFAEL KARLEN (Australia), DIVERGENCE JAZZ ORCHESTRA conducted by JENNA CAVE (Australia), ELLEN KIRKWOOD’s Mieville Project (Australia), ALEX HAHN & THE BLUE RIDERS (Australia), MICHELLE NICOLLE QUARTET (Australia), SANDY EVANS TRIO with BOBBY SINGH (Australia), THE BOP DARLINGS feat. VIRNA SANZONE (Australia), LAURA ALTMAN and PETER FARRAR, MARY RAPP QUARTET, FRANCESCA PRIHASTI TRIO (Australia)
Fourth Sydney International Women’s Jazz Festival 2015 Wed 4 – Sun 15 November
There’s a truly eclectic roster of artists with internationals from from Canada, Cuba and the United States. Jane Bunnett and Maqueque rejoice with the rhythms and vitality of Canada and Cuba while Mimi Jones and Camille Thurman demonstrate what the new generation of artists on the New York scene has in store for us. Mimi and Camille, who are in Australia to perform exclusively for the Festival, have an absorbing and complex sound that picks up where post-bop left off, where modern jazz meets pop, soul R&B and gospel.
Closer to home, the Australian artists featured in this program have made a name for themselves on the international stage – Kristen Berardi is a Montreux Jazz Festival Award winner while Fiona Joy has contributed music to a Grammy Award winning album.
PROGRAM at FOUNDRY 616 (616 Harris St Ultimo)
JANE BUNNETT & MAQUEQUE (Canada/Cuba)
Wednesday 4 Nov (8:30pm)
Friday 6 Nov (8:30pm) followed at 11.00pm by – Late Night Afro-Jazz Jam with special guests from Maqueque
Saturday 7 Nov (11:30pm) – full 70min set
Four-time JUNO Award winner, two-time Grammy nominee, and Officer of the Order of Canada, soprano saxophonist/flautist Jane Bunnett brings her Maqueque to Australia for the first time. Introducing the world to some of Cuba’s most promising female musicians, the group blends scintillating Afro-Cuban rhythms, folkloric influences, exhilarating jazz and soulful vocals into an utterly intoxicating blend.
FIONA JOY and THE BLUE DREAM ENSEMBLE (Australia)
Thursday 5 Nov (8:30pm)
Since winning the 2013 Best Instrumental Piano Album for her multi-format album 600 Years in a Moment at New Orleans, ZMR Awards, pianist/producer and vocalist Fiona Joy’s career has been on an upward trajectory. Her evocative solo piano and ethereal vocals cross contemporary, classical and jazz genres creating beautifully simple yet musically sophisticated performances.
KRISTIN BERARDI with SEAN FORAN and RAFAEL KARLEN (Australia)
Saturday 7 Nov (8:30pm)
Hope in My Pocket, Sydney Premiere
Vocalist Kristin Berardi is one of Australia’s first calls when it comes to jazz. Having won a swag of awards both here and abroad, Beradi delights audiences with her warm beautful tone, extensive jazz vocabulary, pop appeal and magical stage presence (Chris Walker, USA). Commissioned to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the ANZAC Legacy, Hope in My Pocket explores the powerful experiences and emotions contained in the correspondence of men and women involved in our military past.
DIVERGENCE JAZZ ORCHESTRA conducted by JENNA CAVE (Australia)
Sunday 8 Nov (7:30pm)
Conductor, band leader and Composer-In-Residence for the Divergence Jazz Orchestra, Jenna Cave is an exciting voice on the Australian big band scene. The group’s debut album Opening Statement (2013), which featured seven of Cave’s compositions, was released to critical acclaim. She has written for the Sirens Big Band, WA Youth Jazz Orchestra and Melbourne International Women’s Jazz Festival as well as film scores for the ABC and Sydney International Film Festival.
ELLEN KIRKWOOD’S Mieville Project and ALON ILSAR and SANDY EVANS (Australia)
Tuesday 10 Nov (8:00pm) – In association with Jazzgroove:
In a special co-presentation with Jazzgroove, this double header opens with the imagination of the saxophone and AirSticks as Alon Ilsar and Sandy Evans create new sound worlds. Trumpeter and bandleader Ellen Kirkwood has rapidly been gaining recognition for her compositional work. Following the success of her five-part suite Theseus and the Minotaur (2012), Tonight Kirkwood unveils a new piece inspired by the work of new weird fantasy fiction British author, China Mievelle. Commissioned by Ars Musica especially for the Sydney International Women’s Jazz Festival
ALEX HAHN & THE BLUE RIDERS (Australia)
Wednesday 11 Nov (8:30pm)
Direct from the Wangaratta Jazz and Blues Festival, emerging jazz and blues singer Alex Hahn and her band The Blue Riders descend on to Sydney. The group are making waves with their brutally honest soul music that is underpinned by Hahn’s powerful vocals. Hahn recently returned from a successful tour of the US/UK where she headlined San Jose Summer Jazz Fest (USA), Guinness International Cork Jazz Festival (IRE) and Callander Jazz & Blues Festival (UK) with Wallflower, a tribute to Etta James.
MIMI JONES – CAMILLE THURMAN QUARTET (USA)
Thursday 12 Nov (8:30pm )
Friday 13 Nov (from 11:00pm ) – Late Night Nu Soul Freestyle Jam
Saturday 14 Nov (8:30pm )
Bassist, vocalist and composer Mimi Jones is the founder and power-house behind indie-label Hot Tone Records. Mimi’s elegant sound is an eclectic mix of genres based on a strong jazz foundation that leave room for funky bass grooves, world beat rhythms, and gentle textures. Also represented on the Hot Tone label is multi-talented saxophonist, flutist, vocalist and composer Camille Thurman. Runner up in the 2013 Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition, Thurman’s lush and velvety melodies, reminiscent of yesteryears legends Ella Fitzgerald and Minnie Riperton, are combined with all the nuances of jazz now.
MICHELLE NICOLLE QUARTET (Australia)
Friday 13 Nov (8:30pm)
Award-winning arranger, band leader and jazz vocalist Michelle Nicolle is one of Australia’s most celebrated jazz singers. A gifted improviser, Nicolle’s precision in timing and phrasing compliment her courageous inventiveness. Her clear and warm tone and risk taking approach has earned her the Australian entertainment industry’s Mo Award (Jazz Vocalist of the Year) in 2001, 2003 and 2004 as well as a National Jazz Award (1998) and two ARIA nominations. She performs at this year’s festival with her long standing quartet.
FREE EVENTS:
CORNER JAZZ featuring LAURA ALTMAN and PETER FARRAR (Australia) at the LORD WOLSELEY HOTEL (265 Bulwara Rd, Ultimo)
Saturday 7 Nov (3:00pm – 6:00pm)
Head down to this beloved Ultimo old-timer, and spill out onto the leafy co-opted neighbourhood park for sunny Saturday jazz before heading down to the Foundry for Kirsten Berardi in the evening.
THE BOP DARLINGS featuring VIRNA SANZONE (Australia)
Wed 11 November (9.00pm) at the TATLER (169 Darlinghurst Rd, Darlinghurst)
Transport yourself back to 1960’s Manhattan as The Bop Darlings perform live Jazz as you sip on Bourbon Old Fashioneds and swing into steam chanteuse inspired jazz where Ella Fitzgerald meets Art Blakey!
FUTURE VOICES (Australia) at FOUNDRY 616
Mon 9 Nov (7.00pm)
Three individual voices, three local artists we think are definitely worth hearing. First on the bill, duo Laura Altman and Peter Farrar will present Ethiopian inspired jazz and Improvisations, followed by Francesca Prihasti’s piano trio and then bassist/cellist Mary Rapp will close the evening with her quartet.
SANDY EVANS TRIO with BOBBY SINGH (Australia) at the GLEBE STREET FAIR
Sunday 15 Nov (3.00pm) – Foley Park Stage, 140 Glebe Point Rd
Multi-award winning saxophonist/composer Sandy Evans has been exploring intersections between improvisers from jazz and Indian music backgrounds in much of her recent musical work. Tabla-master Bobby Singh, together with her long-standing trio of Brett Hirst and Toby Hall, has become her most important collaborator on this creative journey. Redefining the fusion of jazz and Indian music, thrilling improvised dialogue, breath- taking improvisations and stunning percussion solos make this a must-see for all music lovers everywhere.
More info http://siwjf.org/
