A showcase of some of Australia's as well as the world's most talented, inspiring and creative jazz musicians, the Sydney International Women's Jazz Festival returns for its 11th year for a week-long celebration (27 October to 5 November).
The four main headliners are Chilean saxophonist Melissa Aldana (Blue Note), Finnish pianist/ harpist Iro Haarla (ECM Records), Guguyelandji and Woppaburra woman Marlene Cummins, and world-renowned pianist Andrea Keller from Melbourne/ Naarm."Celebrating the ground-breaking creative work by leading female musicians from Australia and abroad, the Women's Jazz Fest returns in force with plenty of live performances this October/ November," shares SIWJF organisers.
"Four headline shows. . . plus a stack of club gigs across eight venues. Jazz jams, artist-led initiatives, intimate speakeasies and a closing party where you'll actually dance to jazz again!"
Adds Melissa Aldana: "We are so looking forward playing at the Sydney International Jazz Festival."
Digging deeper into the 2022 programme, the vibrant Club Program will offer more than 20 shows with venues includes Jangling Jacks & The Dock, Lazybones, Butchers Brew, Church St Studios, Brand X Tempe, Foundry616, Johnston St Jazz, The Women's Club and Mary's Underground.
Lazybones and Foundry616 will host an array of styles from the likes the Tuesday Night Jazz Orchestra, the Monday Night Jazz Jam feat. Joy Yates, and Pharos (the innovative 10-piece all-female ensemble led by bassist Hannah James).
Another Chilean, vocalist Magdalena Mira will captivate audiences with her special blend of Latin and jazz, while Zela Margossian (Ropeadope Records) combines Armenian folk, classical music with western jazz.
Those jazz lovers looking to unearth the next generation of local stars should spend tome at Church St with Jiem (a new contemporary quintet that explore the dynamic spectrum of jazz) and the Hilary Geddes Quartet (Hilary is the winner of the 2021 Freedman Jazz Fellowship).
Another international guest will be Berklee College of Music graduate, Kenyan singer Lisa Oduor-Noah with her Nairobi-based trio, with punters invited to enter a ticket ballot to win free passes to their concert.
Finally, the festival will wrap up with an epic closing night future-soul-funk-jazz party featuring performances from Monstress and Natalie Slade, with FBI Radio DJ Honey Point keeping the vibes high between sets.
"We are presenters of exceptional jazz, and we are passionate about taking you on a journey to a world of the unexpected, the thrilling, and the ground-breaking," SIWJF organisers says.
"We aim to inspire, excite and disrupt, and open your mind to the cool and creative universe of improvised music."
The 2022 Sydney International Women's Jazz Festival takes place at various venues from 27 October to 5 November.
2022 Sydney International Women's Jazz Festival Programme
27 Oct - Melissa Aldana Quartet & Jo Lawry + Dan Tepfer @ Seymour Centre York Theatre
27 Oct - Jodie Michaels Trio @ Seymour Centre Foyer
28 Oct - Marloo's Blues feat Marlene Cummins + SHAMIN @ Seymour Centre York Theatre
28 Oct - Tilly Street Trio @ Seymour Centre Foyer
29 Oct - Suite Suomi feat. Iro Haarla + Claire Edwardes @ Seymour Centre York Theatre
29 Oct - Bernice Tesara Trio @ Seymour Centre Foyer
30 Oct - Jodie Michael & Ben Lerner Quartet @ Jangling Jacks (free entry)
30 Oct - Belinda Holland @ Lazybones
30 Oct - Magdalena Mira @ Butchers Brew
31 Oct - Jiem & Hilary Geddes Quartet @ Church St Studios
31 Oct - Monday Night Jam Ft. Joy Yates @ Lazybones
1 Nov - Lisa Oduor-Noah @ Phoenix Central Park
1 Nov - Jetsets (three female special guests) @ Brand X
1 Nov - Tuesday Night Jazz Orchestra @ Lazybones
1 Nov - Pharos @ Foundry616
2 Nov - Abby Constable, Wilbur Whitta, Jack Stoneham @ The Dock (free entry)
2 Nov - Hinterlandt + Keyna Wilkins @ Lazybones
3 Nov - Andrea Keller Trio with String Sextet @ Pier 2/3 - ACO
3 Nov - Zela Margossian Quintet @ Foundry616
3 Nov - 343 Brass Band @ Johnson St Jazz
4 Nov - Jo Fabro @ Butchers Brew
4 Nov - Major Zulu @ Foundry616
5 Nov - Festival Closing Party – Monstress, Natalie Slade, Honey Point @ Mary's Underground
