A ‘Groundswell’ of Inclusivity and Talent at Sydney International Women’s Jazz Festival 2024
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John Moyle speaks to some of the incredible talent at this year’s Sydney International Women’s Jazz Festival.
“Women in jazz are in a period of positive development,” Sandy Evans, saxophonist said.
And celebrating that statement, from 24 October to 3 November, women in the music form will be showcased at the annual Sydney International Women’s Jazz Festival, to be held in various venues across the inner city.
Sydney International Women’s Jazz Festival spotlights ‘groundswell’ of inclusivity in jazz
“There is a lot of change happening, and there has been a groundswell over the past 15 to 20 years towards a more positive and inclusive environment,” Evans said.
“But I feel that we haven’t achieved our goals yet of a positive and inclusive environment across the board.”
As a stalwart of the wider Australian jazz scenes since the early ’80s, Evans has been at various time a member of cutting edge jazz bands including the Clarion Fracture Zone, Ten Part Invention, the catholics and her own trio.
She is now exploring a range of collaborations.
One of these is with South Indian vocalist Nadhamuni Gayatri Bharat who with Evans and others will perform under the guise of Shakti Spirit.
“She’s been here since 2017, but I only met her this year, and she is an absolutely brilliant singer,” Evans said.
“Her background is completely within Indian musical traditions, so when we collaborate, I understand enough about the way she thinks in rhythmic cycles to be able translate that into a western context.”
The theme that Evans and Gayatri will be working on will be poetry by three female Indian mystics that will be expressed by virtuosic Indian singing and accompanied by percussion by Piraashanna Thevarajah, ghatam and other percussion by Prahlad Iyer, veena by Lakshmi Narendra and electric guitar by multi-award winning artist Jess Green.
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In a second show at St Stephens Church on 2 November Shakti Spirit will joined by dancer and taiko artist Sayaka Ohno and award-winning shamisen player Norko Tadano.
Many will recognise Tadano from her spell-binding performance with George Kamikawa for the ABC’s 90th birth clip last year.
In praise of St Stephens Church in Macquarie Street, which holds regular jazz events, along with classical performances, Evans is effusive with her praise.
“I went to have a look at the venue for our concert and it is the most wonderfull venue to present our music,” Evans said.
SIMA is “the lifeblood of jazz in Sydney”
The Sydney International Women’s Jazz Festival is sponsored by the volunteer Sydney Improvised Music Association (SIMA), an organisation about which Evans feels strongly.
“SIMA have been super important throughout my whole career,” Evans said.
“They are the lifeblood of jazz and improved music in Sydney, and they have persevered on an absolute shoestring, and it is only the passion of the people running it that it has managed to survive.”
Headlining the Sydney International Jazz Festival is American powerhouse singer Jazzmeia Horn, who is appearing at St Stephens Church on 01 November along with Jonathan Zwartz on bass and Hamish Stuart on drums.
Other artists performing across Sydney at venues including Church St Studios, Lazybones Lounge, Butchers Brew Bar and Annandale Creative Centre include Audrey Powne, Sabine Tapia, Marlene Cummins and Sofia Carey, with Courtney Severini and Kira Kira having already performed.
Sydney International Women’s Jazz Festival is on from 24 October to November 3. You can find more information at sima.org.au/siwjf.
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