Umina resident helps organise women's jazz festival

A Umina resident will help organise this year's Sydney Women's International Jazz Festival.

Umina's Ms Zoe Hauptmann has been named a co-artistic director of the festival that will bring several of the world's best female jazz musicians to Sydney from November 2 to 17.

"My co-artistic director Peter Rechniewski and I are proud to be bringing one of the most diverse line-ups of female jazz talent to Sydney for this year's festival," Ms Hauptmann said.

Ms Hauptmann is a jazz bassist and has worked as an artistic director and event organizer for festivals and music events including the Wangaratta Jazz and Blues Festival and the Ettalong Jazz Festival.

First Nations jazz singer Wilma Reading will open the festival.

"Wilma is a singer whose dazzling international career boasts collaborations with legends like Duke Ellington, Oscar Peterson and Ray Brown, and performances on the Johnny Carson Show.

"We're also thrilled to introduce two New Yorkers, fiery saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin, who has shared stages with Stevie Wonder, Macy Gray and Alicia Keys, and 24-year-old superstar vocalist Veronica Swift, who toured with Wynton Marsalis and appeared at the Monterey and Montreal Jazz Festivals," Ms Hauptmann said.

SOURCE:

Media release, 9 Sep 2019

Emma Collinson, Sydney International Women's Jazz Festival