Sydney International Women's Jazz Festival returns in force in 2022 (running 27 October to 5 November) for its 11th year.
The first week of the festival will take place in one central hub, the vibrant Seymour Centre in Chippendale. The York Theatre will be home to the headliners, with opening artists from 7.30pm, while a late-night festival club with live music will take over the foyer.One of the many artists headlining the 2022 festival at the Seymour Centre is powerhouse Chilean saxophonist Melissa Aldana (Blue Note). A curated programme of festival events at clubs and venues around town is also in the mix.
Co-Artistic Director of the SIWJF, Zoe Hauptmann suggests five must-see 2022 SIWJF performances.
1: Pharos
Pharos is a powerhouse. A festival favourite, the ten-piece band have been killing it since 2016. Led by bassist Hannah James, Pharos brings together some of Australia's most forward-thinking musicians and improvisers and multiple award winners.This unique and electrifying collective merges the best of the big band with the flexibility, creativity and genre-bending exploration expected in any modern ensemble. It isn't a jazz festival without an all-star big band. Foundry 616 on 1 November.
2: Suite Suomi feat Iro Haarla
We are very excited to be inviting international artists back to the festival in 2022. Iro Haarla is an exceptional musician from Finland, who is equally at home on the concert harp or the piano.On 29 October at the Seymour Centre show, audiences can experience music written by ARIA Award winning bassist Jonathan Zwartz specifically for Iro and the band, commissioned by SIMA. It's a tranquil musical journey that is guaranteed to evoke vivid images of nature.
3: Marloo's Blues
Marlene Cummins is a proud Guguyelandji and Woppaburra woman, who has lived and breathed the blues her entire life. Don't miss her show on 28 October at the Seymour Centre.Her story is one of vulnerability, strength and survival. She is an incredible woman and it has been such an honour for me to get to know her over the past year.
This show will be very special, we are playing repertoire chosen by Marlene that includes her original compositions. Marlene is one of Australia's foremost Indigenous female blues writers and performers, who knows the blues from an Aboriginal woman's perspective.
4: Andrea Keller
Andrea Keller, one of Australia's best loved jazz composers and pianists, will perform a brand-new project, in a spectacularly beautiful new theatre in Walsh Bay, home to the ACO on 3 November. She will be joined by Miroslav Bukovsky on trumpet, John Mackey on saxophone and a six-piece string section led by Veronique Serret.Combining her dedication for creative music and improvisation with an affinity for chamber music, this series of new works features varying combinations of the trio and strings.
5: Closing Party 2022 SIWJF
After over 20 shows in 10 days, we will be ready for a party to celebrate the end of the 2022 SIWJF. This night of future soul, funk will have us all dancing till late into the night. Monstress are a killer, all-female quartet that play groovy, funky soul with an irresistible energy.Natalie Slade, a Sydney soul queen, is fresh back from London to headline at Mary's Underground on 5 November. To ensure the music never stops, FBI Radio DJ, Honeypoint will keep the tunes going between sets.
Sydney International Women's Jazz Festival takes place at various venues between 27 October and 5 November.
2022 Sydney International Women's Jazz Festival Programme
27 Oct - Melissa Aldana Quartet & Jo Lawry + Dan Tepfer @ Seymour Centre York Theatre27 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
