Seven years after first crossing paths in Los Angeles, pianist-composer Liv Andrea Hauge (NO) and drummer Chloe Kim (AUS) reunite to fulfil a long-held promise — to make music together. Back then, they connected instantly through jazz, humour, and the kind of easy laughter that only happens with the right people. In October, joined by acclaimed bassist Jacques Emery, the trio will develop brand new music in Australia, premiering it at the Sydney International Women’s Jazz Festival. This cross-continental collaboration blends deep musical roots from Oslo and Sydney into a fresh, spontaneous dialogue.

Hauge, one of Norway’s most distinctive young voices in jazz, is celebrated for her improvisational spark and ambitious compositional projects, from intimate trios to orchestral works with the Arctic Philharmonic. Emery’s versatility spans jazz, orchestral, and experimental realms, performing with Australia’s most celebrated improvisers while forging a striking solo practice. Kim, praised for her percussive mastery and fearless creativity, moves effortlessly between explosive improvisation and contemporary classical composition. Together, the Liv Andrea Hauge Trio promises a performance of shared invention, dynamic interplay, and boundary-pushing artistry — a rare chance to witness three leading voices meet in the moment.

Percussionist-composer Niki Johnson and guitarist-composer Hilary Geddes unite for an intimate duo performance that traverses the boundaries between jazz, improvisation, and experimental sound. Johnson’s work spans solo percussion commissions for the Sydney Powerhouse Museum and AGNSW to interdisciplinary collaborations with sculptors, theatre-makers and sound artists, creating immersive sonic worlds that blur art forms. Geddes, one of Australia’s most compelling young jazz guitarists, is the 2021 Freedman Jazz Fellow and leader of her AIR-nominated quartet, equally at home in lyrical jazz interplay and the driving energy of her rock band, The Buoys. Together, their duo promises richly textured soundscapes, spontaneous dialogue, and fearless musical exploration.