2024 Sydney international women's jazz festival
Friday 1 November from 7:30pm to 11:30pm
Now in its 13-year, SIMA has championed groundbreaking artistic innovation and diversity.
The 2 main SIWJF venues are St Stephen’s Church in Macquarie Street, Sydney City, and Annandale Creative Arts Centre, Johnston St Jazz. Umbrella events will be held all over Sydney, from Penrith to Marrickville and Annandale to the CBD.
Headlining the 2024 Sydney International Women’s Jazz Festival on Friday November 1 at St Stephen’s Uniting Church in Macquarie Street is Dallas born scat sensation Jazzmeia Horn (see photo). Sydney audiences will be blown away by the 33-year-old, one of jazz’s brightest young stars. Horn will be accompanied by a stellar local lineup, Victor Gould on keys, Jonathan Zwartz on bass,and Hamish Stewart on drums.
Melbourne vocalist and composer Gian Slater will inspire at the SIWJF opening night on Thursday October 24 at ACAC. Slater will launch her new solo album Glimmer and the SIMA commission of Tapestries featuring Simon Barker, Phil Slater, Jess Green and Freyja Garbett.
On Sunday October 27 at Johnston Street Jazz the explosive, dynamic, instrumental quartet Kira Kira will showcase new music written at by all four band members and featured on the band’s new album, Kira Kira Live, to be released in October 2024.It features Satoko Fujii (piano; Japan) Natsuki Tamura (trumpet; Japan), Alister Spence (fender rhodes electric piano; Australia), and Tatsuya Yoshida (drums; Japan).
UK-based Melbourne artist, producer and multi-instrumentalist Audrey Powne returns to Sydney on Thursday October 31 at ACAC, with debut material from her critically acclaimed album From the Fire which showcases Powne's unique style—from hook-laden synth-pop to long-form cinematic soundscapes, RnB ballads to free jazz improvisations—there are few genres Powne has not touched.
On November 2 at St Stephen’s Church, Noriko Tadano (JPN) will be joined by Sakaya Ohno (JPN). Tadano, the culturally diverse musician and performer, seeks out unique collaborations and creative practises that extend well beyond her music into acting and theatre, sound art and composing. This will be followed by a new Indian Jazz collaboration Shakti Spirit whichwill features poetry by 3 revered female Indian mystic saints: Andal, Ammayar and Venibai set to music by Nadhamuni Gayatri Bharat and Sandy Evans. Encompassing deep emotional expression, virtuosic Indian singing, stunning percussion playing and dialogue between electric guitar and veena.
Support your local music venue and experience the best of jazz at the umbrella SIWFJ events all over Sydney.
The Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre Penrith (The Joan) – Zela Margossian Trio + Nine to Five: Leonie Cohen and Nicky Crayson + Tea for Two Church Street Studios – Home Is + Sofia Carey Gladstone Hotel – She Ensemble, Wuppertal Ensemble Lazybones Lounge – Tuesday Night Jazz Orchestra plays the great Female Composers Manly Art Gallery – Hyphenated Sounds: Sandy Evans and Noriko Tadano Duo Butchers Brew – Magdalena Mira Band, Courtney Severini Trio, Sabine Tapia Band, Ruby Jackson & Tilly Street ACAC – 343 Brass Band and Spectra Jazz Orchestra
Photo: Jazzmeia Horn