Shakti Spirit + Noriko Tadano with Sayaka Ohno

SIMA | Sydney Int'l Women's Jazz Fest

Join us for an extraordinary double bill at the Sydney International Women’s Jazz Festival, featuring  Shakti Spirit and  Noriko Tadano. Nadhamuni Gayatri Bharat and Sandy Evans lead the world-class ensemble ‘Shakti Spirit’ that celebrates female creativity through a fusion of Indian mystic poetry, jazz, and virtuosic performances. Noriko Tadano, an award-winning shamisen virtuoso, fuses traditional Japanese music with contemporary influences in her captivating performances that inspire and empower. Together, these extraordinary female artists celebrate cultural diversity and creativity through dynamic, cross-cultural collaborations.

7:30pm Shakti Spirit

Sandy Evans - Saxophones, composer, Nadhamuni Gayatri Bharat - Voice, composer, Jess Green - Guitar, Lakshmi Narendra - Veena, Pirashanna Thevarajah - Mridangam and other percussion, Prahlad Iyer - Ghatam and other percussion

Shakti Spirit is a new Indian Jazz collaboration celebrating female creativity through the shared joy of improvised music-making. The concert features poetry by 3 revered female Indian mystic saints: Andal, Ammayar and Venibai set to music by Nadhamuni Gayatri Bharat and Sandy Evans. Encompassing deep emotional expression, virtuosic Indian singing, stunning percussion playing and dialogue between electric guitar and veena.

Nadhamuni Gayatri Bharat has a beautiful voice, deep knowledge of raga and extraordinary command of melodic and rhythmic improvisation. Sandy Evans is an eminent Australian saxophonist, and award-winning improviser and composer. She has created many successful Indian jazz collaborations including Bridge of Dreams, Ahimsa and Kapture. Bharat’s mystical voice and Evans’ powerful tone will be complimented by world class guitarist Jess Green, renowned veena player Lakshmi Narendra and percussionists Pirashanna Thevarajah (internationally acclaimed for his work with Anoushka Shankar) and Prahlad Iyer.

9:00pm Noriko Tadano with Sayaka Ohno

“Noriko breaks boundaries and creates new, unique works” - Limelight Magazine

“Tadano, hammers away on the shamisen in a way that’s as beautifully exotic as it is crazily percussive and generally badass” - The Georgia Straight 

Noriko is an ever-evolving creative force who continues to take her Japanese music to places few have ventured.

A culturally diverse female musician and performer, Noriko seeks out unique collaborations and creative practises that extend well beyond her music into acting and theatre, sound art and composing. She strives to empower and encourage women by making art that inspires and connects while also showcasing the beauty of difference. 

She’s an award-winning, virtuoso of the Japanese shamisen and a traditional Japanese vocalist, who has performed internationally. Her ability and drive to cross over between traditional and modern, has seen her perform with renowned musicians as well as traditional Japanese artists.

From busking on the streets, to being watched by millions as a finalist on Australia’s Got Talent, Noriko has performed solo at the Sydney Opera House, WOMADelaide and her work has also featured on radio, short films, and international theatre productions.