SIMA Jazz:NOW – Standing Room

“Jaw-dropping fun: Phenomenal players with joyous, infectious energy and certainly, ‘ones to watch.’” – eastsidefm

“The band’s essence lies not only in technical skillsets but also in the transformative power of music and the unspoken language that binds like-minded individuals in the pursuit of sonic exploration.” – Happy Mag

Amidst the culturally fertile warehouses and alleyways of Marrickville SIMA proudly presents our second Jazz:NOW show of the program in collaboration with CG Discs; focusing on the spirit of the dance floor and featuring the new-wave of Sydney improvisors in Manfredo Lament, Cracked Suzies + LEVOS and Mimi J on DJ duties.

Birthed at a humble café residency off of Oxford St in 2021, Manfredo Lament is the improvised music group led by Kurt Lam on synth and keys, and Gabriel Haslam on drums. Nominated for Best Live Act at the FBi SMAC Awards last year and fresh off a support slot for US phenom MonoNeon, Manfredo Lament are spearheading the new-wave of underground Sydney improvised music. A rotating roster of Sydney’s ‘who’s who’ of improvisors joins Lam and Haslam as they weave their way through an entirely improvised set while the audience is invited along for the ride.

Cracked Suzies is the creative project of Sydney jazz drummer Abby Constable. Having developed a reputation as one of Sydney’s most exciting young drummers and collaborators, Constable’s music blends the raw energy of early jungle and dubstep beats with the freedom and energy of jazz. Her drumming is rooted in a profound understanding of swing, while being deeply inspired by Latino rhythms she has learnt from her time spent in Brazil and Colombia. For this special debut performance she collaborates with CG Discs founder LEVOS (Anton Levings) on Buchla modular synth and Pattern Delay (Tom Levings) on keys and effects. 

Keeping the dance floor heated with vinyl selects throughout the night will be Mimi J – founder of TRIPL8 and a resident DJ at Sydney’s Chinese Laundry. Known for her groove-driven house selections, her sets move fluidly through warm basslines and timeless rhythms drawing from the deep Chicago dance music scene.

“This second Jazz:NOW show - a collaboration with CG Discs - is something I’ve been excited about for a long time. CG Discs have been at the forefront of some of Sydney’s most thrilling and best-kept musical secrets. They understand that there is a deep relationship between jazz music and the dance floor, and it is a relationship that too often goes unrecognised. At this Jazz:NOW show, SIMA and CG Discs look to spotlight that connection. Here, we embrace the new-wave of improvisors - including Manfredo Lament and Cracked Suzies - who have been making all the right noises in Sydney’s underground warehouse scene and building a community that is helping to define our new cultural voice. It’s standing room only - see you in the inimitable NOW!” – SIMA Artistic Director, Novak Manojlovic