Prepare to be taken on an aural journey from Chicago and Louisiana to Rio, Persia and beyond. Eight nights of live jazz sounds from around the world are coming to Parramatta Square as Parramatta Nights presents Jazz After Dark – which is the best time to enjoy jazz, after all – and it’s totally free.
The program has been curated by jazz organisation SIMA (Sydney Improvised Music Association) and there will be a different act each night. First up it’s a New Orleans street party with Eamon Dilworth's Crawfish Po Boys (Thu Mar 17); then more sounds from the Big Easy with the six-piece 343 Brass Band (Fri Mar 18). Alma Orchestra combines jazz with Fado and other popular music styles of Portugal; catch them on Sat Mar 19. On Sun Mar 20 the award-winning Eishan Ensmble perform a fusion of Persian chamber jazz and Middle Eastern jazz that you just have to hear.
Cope Street Parade will play their brand of swaggering gypsy swing (Thu Mar 24) and Anna Salah will perform bossa nova, samba and Latin jazz from Brazil (Fri Mar 25). Kate Wadey Trio tackles sophisticated jazz standards (Sat Mar 26) and the unique Sumn Conduit are a duo consisting of Dharawal/Inuit vocalist Sonya Holowell and modular synthesist Ben Carey (Sun Mar 27).
Parramatta Square eateries CicciaBella, Lilymu, Ruse Bar & Brasserie, Betty’s Burgers and Rivareno Gelato are all open for Jazz After Dark. You can eat in or grab their takeout options to enjoy at the outdoor jazz café tables. The music kicks off at 6pm.