PressKit
Jazzmandu 2023 is the nineteenth edition of the festival, and like all Jazzmandus before it this one would not be possible without our supporters and sponsors—especially our main sponsor, Surya Nepal, which has stood by the festival for over a decade now. We’re also blessed to have as partners a long list of great organisations and venues, many of them long-term friends and a few of them joining hands with Jazzmandu for the first time. We’ve been able to come back stronger after the pandemic thanks to the good people behind all the logos you’ll see on this flyer and on our stages, and also thanks to an incredible team of musicians, staff and volunteers who have worked hard to put the shows together. To all of them, and to all of you who come to listen, thank you!
Happy Jazzmandu!
Artists 2023
Plurism (Switzerland/South Africa)
After three album releases in the ensemble’s previous avatars—Fufu Tryout, More Fufu! and Azania in Mind—the latest iteration of Plurism sees Swiss drummer and bandleader Dominic Egli combine forces with the esteemed South African trumpeter Feya Faku and a stellar cast of musicians with a shared friendship as well as musical sensibility. As before, Pluralism remains anchored in Egli’s intense curiosity about the many colors of African rhythm, melody and groove. The nostalgic sensitivity of his playing is grounded by the bass of Xaver Rüegg, with Faku displaying his uncanny temperament on the trumpet, Mthunzi Mvubu his prolific vocabulary on the alto saxophone and Sisonke Xonti his audacious yet vulnerable style on the tenor saxophone. This time around, each member brings his own compositions to the collective. Plurism remains complex yet simple, explosive yet tender, down-to-earth yet otherworldly, with the musicians always drawing out more from each other and the audience.
Feya Faku – Trumpet and flugelhorn
Mthunzi Mvubu – Alto saxophone
Sisonke Xonti – Tenor saxophone
Xaver Ruegg – Bass
Dominic Egli – Drums and cymbals
Lucile Chriqui (France)
Lucile Chriqui, a prize-winning young singer-songwriter, is one of the brightest new talents in French jazz. Blessed with natural musical and vocal flair, she honed her craft training under the American jazz singer Sara Lazarus and the French violinist Didier Lockwood, among others. Her list of collaborators includes rising names in international jazz such as Philippe Baden Powell, Munir Hossn and Nils Frechilla, and she has shared the stage with the renowned French singer Camille. Performing with the group Alba Neiva, Lucile won first prize in the vocal jazz competition category at the 2019 Jazz en Ville festival in Vannes, France. She has also worked on numerous stage and film productions, including a collaboration with the composer Chassol on music for the Netflix series “En place”. Lucile’s music melds influences from Cuba, Andalusia, Brazil and more, with daring harmonies that define an inimitable style
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Lucile Chriqui – Vocals
Bruno Schorp – Bass
Arthur Links – Guitar
Gaetan Diaz – Drums
Under the Surface (Netherlands)
Under the Surface is an extraordinary combination of three generations of Dutch musicians seeking communion in improvisation. Sanne Rambag’s voice rhymes, whispers and sings over the melodic lines of Bram Stadhouders’ guitar and the subtle percussion style of Joost Lijbaart, transporting listeners into an almost dreamlike new reality. Their music offers both intellectual and emotional pleasure, springing from unshackled improvisation yet far from abstract, adopting surprising forms akin to thoughtful composition. Their eponymous debut album, released to great acclaim in 2017, was nominated for the Edison, an annual Dutch award for outstanding musical achievement. The group’s live album Trinity, from 2019, captures the essence of a sound they have shared with audiences at major festivals across Europe, Asia, South America, Africa and the Middle East.
Joost Lijbaart – Drums and percussion
Sanne Rambags – Vocals
Bram Stadhouders – Guitar and electronics
Nick Aggs & Cadenza Collective (Australia/Nepal)
The Cadenza Collective, headed by the drummer and composer Navin Chettri, is one of the most unique and eclectic bands to emerge from Kathmandu. The group moves seamlessly across jazz, afro-funk and Nepali folk music, creating a genre-bending sound that’s irresistible to the ears and the booty. In addition to pumping vitality into the improvised music scene in Nepal, Cadenza has played across the world and collaborated with a long list of both Western and traditional Nepali musicians. The Cadenza Collective has seven albums of original music already to its name—the latest is Himalayan Songlines—and is working on a new single due out soon after Jazzmandu.
The Cadenza Collective is joined by the Australian saxophonist and composer Nick Aggs. Hailing from Brisbane, and a key member of the acclaimed Australian fusion band Afro Dizzi Act, Aggs has fronted numerous musical ensembles and performed around the world, collaborating with esteemed musicians such as percussionist Trilok Gurtu, guitarist Jesse Van Ruller, kora virtuoso Jali Buba Kuyateh and many others. Aggs is presently based in Singapore, where he heads a jazz program at the Australian International School and leads his ensemble Space Direct.
Navin Chettri – Drums, percussion and vocals
Nick Aggs – Saxophone
Rajat Rai – Guitar
Samir Chettri – Bass
Palouse Forro(USA)
Drawing its name from its home base in the Palouse region of the northwestern United States and the forró music of northeastern Brazil, the Palouse Forró Experience brings to the world a much-beloved Brazilian genre that is yet to get its international due. The band is led by American accordion player Adrian Crookston, who has played with forró ensembles such as Gente Boa, Xaxado Mission and Forró de Quintal, and has taken his music to audiences across the United States, Europe, South America and Asia.
Adrian Crookston – Accordion and vocals
Navin Chettri – Drums
Rajat Rai – Guitar
Himalayan Highway (Nepal)
A Nepali-American instrumental fusion band formed in Kathmandu, Himalayan Highway weaves together American Bluegrass and old-time Nepali folk music. Inspired by unexpected similarities in the two traditions, the band’s members put a fresh spin on traditional tunes, with infectious harmonies and catchy beats that bring a unique new collaboration to the global music scene.
Prince Nepali – Sarangi
Zoe Levitt – Mandolin
Anish Tamang – Guitar
Yuson Maharjan – Percussion
