Suite Suomi feat. Iro Haarla

Sydney International Women’s Jazz Fest
Presented by SIMA

Suite Suomi feat. Iro Haarla
Opening performance by Claire Edwardes

“Haarla’s writing is deeply melodic, but it retains a certain cool melancholy that reflects her northern roots.” – ALL ABOUT JAZZ, JOHN KELMAN

To celebrate the extraordinary ECM recording artist, Iro Haarla (Fin), SIMA invited composer Jonathan Zwartz (Aus) to write a new suite of music. His Suite Suomi is an exploration of their diverse and vast landscapes, while finding commonality through elemental language.

“Iro Haarla is an extraordinary musical voice, equally at home on the Concert Harp or the Piano; an amazing composer in her own right, and I’m beyond excited to have the opportunity to write for such a profoundly musical and accomplished artist.”

Exploring compositional minimalism, the world premiere of Suite Suomi features distinguished and long-standing ECM composer/pianist/harpist Iro Haarla (Finland), ARIA Award-winning bassist and composer Jonathan Zwartz, and wonderful improvisational some of Australia’s finest musicians.

From the enormity of the northern Lights to the sound of wind through the eucalypts, Suite Suomi is sure to be a beautiful and evocative musical journey.

Iro Haarla | Concert Harp
Jonathan Zwartz | Bass
Phil Slater | Trumpet
Julien Wilson | Tenor Saxophone
Ben Hauptmann | Guitar
Hamish Stuart | Drums

Special guest opening performance from Claire Edwardes, presenting Rhythms of Change – a solo show that sees Edwardes address the disparity in the representation of women in art music, with a specific focus on her cherished world of solo percussion music.

Claire Edwardes | Percussion

SIMA would like to thank Create NSW, Australia Council, The City of Sydney and the Anthony and Sharon Lee Foundation for their generous funding towards the Jazz: NOW Winter program.