The 7th Annual Sydney International Women’s Jazz Festival takes place in November with a great local and international lineup this year. The headline artist is the much acclaimed US vocalist Charenee Wade (pictured above). This exciting vocalist who, accompanied by her long time collaborator, pianist Oscar Perez, will be making her debut Australian appearance to perform her celebrated tribute to the late singer/poet Gil Scott Heron.
In addition to Charenee, the festival features the inaugural Australian performance of much lauded Finnish singer, Sanna Ruohoniemi who is known for her improvisational verve, successfully melding the open-sky freedom of jazz with the rich folk traditions of her homeland.
Gian Slater will be performing with Andrea Keller and Vince Jones in Andrea’s newest concept work ‘Still Night’. Also performing is award-winning vocalist Emma Pask has firmly established herself as one of Australia’s favourite voices in jazz. Spotted as a future star at 16 by multi-instrumentalist James Morrison during one of his regular school visits, her career has maintained an upward trajectory ever since.
Pianist/composer Helen Sung is the Artist in Residence performing with the festival band – the Sydney Women’s Jazz Collective – as well as with her Australian quartet. From Japan, the internationally acclaimed pianist/composer Satoko Fujii with her new project Kira Kira performs music from their debut album Bright Force.
The Festival also welcomes back the Sirens Big Band who last performed in the Sydney International Women’s Jazz Festival in 2013 and who will perform a new work ‘Apart‘ by Ellen Kirkwood which features Gian Slater, Andrea Keller and the great Sandy Evans.
The 7th Annual Sydney International Women’s Jazz Festival [Facebook] plays 7-17th November at various Sydney venues.
