Australian Music Centre | Breaking sound barriers

Event Details

Lionel Loueke & The Vampires (9pm)

Guitarist Lionel Loueke brings a presence to jazz unlike any other due in part to his West African upbringing heard in the uniqueness of his playing, vocals and phrasing allaboutjazz.com Lionel Loueke has enjoyed a meteoric rise in the jazz world, collaborating with seminal jazz figures including Wayne Shorter, Esperanza Spalding and Herbie Hancock, the latter praising Lionel as “a musical painter”. Originally from Benin, his idiosyncratic musical approach is informed by the music of West Africa and the jazz tradition, resulting in something exciting, beautiful and unique.

Sydney’s The Vampires are renowned for their blend of soulful jazz, old-school reggae, exotic Balkan melodies and all-out funk-laden Afrobeat. Combined with risk-taking improvisation and sophisticated compositions, the band defy these genres, creating a style of their own. This performance—part of a national tour—will premiere new music by Jeremy Rose and Nick Garbett, written specifically for their collaboration with Loueke.

Special Support Act: Miriam Lieberman (8pm) Miriam is a singer-songwriter with a unique perspective. She accompanies her powerful vocals on the kora—a 21-stringed African harp—and acoustic guitar, delivering well-crafted songs with passion and commitment. Reviewing her latest album, Birds of the Moon, (2014), The Sydney Morning Herald said Miriam “has a knack for giving her songs a feeling of significance, even while they float with effervescent pop pleasure”.

Further information for this event is available online at the event's website or by phone on (02) 9036 6292 or by email to admin@sima.org.au

Featured artists

• Jazz/improvisation by Jeremy Rose
• Jazz/improvisation by Nick Garbett
• Jazz/improvisation by Jonathan Zwartz
• Jazz/improvisation by Danny Fischer
• Jazz/improvisation by Alex Masso