Jazz Sessions in The Rocks

Chilean-born vocalist Magdalena Mira brings a rare blend of warmth, depth, and elegance to the stage. She weaves a rich tapestry of sound that draws from the soulful traditions of Latin America, jazz, and beyond.

Magdalena is joined by two of Australia’s finest: guitarist Ben Hauptmann and percussionist Ben Kidson. Together, they create a dynamic interplay of rhythm and harmony, blending modern textures with traditional roots. For this special performance, the trio expands into a quartet with the addition of the extraordinary Jonathan Zwartz on double bass—adding depth, gravitas, and a touch of magic to the ensemble.

Expect a night of evocative melodies, intricate grooves, and music that speaks to the soul.

Murmurations is a rising Sydney-based jazz trio featuring Sabine Tapia, Thomas Odell and Matt Simmonds, redefining contemporary Australian jazz through a deeply collaborative sound. Blending influences from folk, improvisation and modern jazz, the group moves beyond traditional piano trio roles to create rich, textured music shaped by collective artistry. All graduates of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, they bring technical excellence and a distinctly Australian voice to their work. Following the recording of their debut album in 2025, Murmurations is quickly becoming one of the most exciting new jazz acts to watch.

Driftwood is an innovative Australian experimental duo featuring Nick Ashwood and Aviva Endean, creating immersive, boundary-pushing soundscapes within the contemporary new music scene. Using re-tuned antique pump organs alongside woodwinds and guitar, they craft hypnotic textures shaped by microtones and shifting harmonic colour. Their music offers a deeply atmospheric and transformative listening experience, blending elements of experimental, ambient and folk-inspired sound worlds. Following their acclaimed debut release on Room40, Driftwood is fast emerging as a standout voice in Australia’s experimental music landscape.

Lisathe is a Sydney-based instrumental trio featuring Brendan Clark, Oliver Thorpe and Miles Thomas, known for crafting cinematic, atmospheric soundscapes within Australia’s contemporary jazz and ambient music scene. Blending jazz, blues, country and folk influences, their music unfolds with quiet intensity, guided by a shared focus on texture, space and emotional storytelling. Drawing inspiration from artists like Bill Frisell, Daniel Lanois and Icelandic composers, Lisathe creates immersive performances that feel both intimate and expansive. With a sound defined by restraint and subtle power, Lisathe is an emerging act to watch in Australian instrumental and experimental music.

FCPE (Flora Carbo Percussion Ensemble) is a dynamic project inspired by community, electronic music and patience. Focusing on restraint, pulse, glitch and disintegration; the music is loopy, fluid and intoxicating featuring the strengths of the diverse percussive improvising community.

Damian Wright ( flamenco guitar) and Gary Daley ( accordion and piano) form a unique duo exploring iconic classical and jazz music reimagined through an improvisational lens. Their performances unfold as a spontaneous musical conversation, where ideas, rhythms and textures are discovered in the moment. The warm, expressive harmonies of piano and accordion intertwine with the rhythmic brilliance and colour of flamenco guitar, creating music that is fluid, atmospheric and constantly evolving.

Vocalist Kate Wadey masterfully presents a unique blend of original compositions and classic jazz repertoire with an other-worldly charm and warmth that belies her youth. Supported by some of the country’s finest jazz instrumentalists, this technically masterful singer will take you on a musical journey that is playful yet sophisticated, celebrating both classic and contemporary jazz styles, exploring the power of storytelling through song. The toe-tapping interpretations are destined to hold their own amongst the greats leaving you with a spring in your step and a song in your heart.

Hilary Geddes is an award-winning guitarist, improviser and composer based in Eora/Sydney on Gadigal Land. Hilary is the bandleader of the Hilary Geddes Quartet, and released her acclaimed debut album 'Parkside' (ABC Jazz) with the band in 2021.

Spanish-Dutch saxophonist and composer Bernard van Rossum performs with his quartet on an Australian tour joined by some of Sydney’s leading young jazz figures. Also known as the leader of the award-winning BvR Flamenco Big Band, van Rossum presents a vibrant modern jazz journey weaving together global influences, from Brazilian folklore to rhythms of flamenco.

ALLY is a fabulous concoction of ideas that take musical shape by musicians who work seamlessly together to explore new ideas. Their music is drawn from Afro-Peruvian, Brazilian, Cuban and Andalusian traditional rhythms paired with a modern jazz aesthetic. Over 2022/26 ALLY toured extensively in regional NSW & nationally with sell-out shows in Melbourne, Canberra, Adelaide and Devonport. They collaborated with Cuban pianists Elio Villafranca and Dominican musicians Josean Jacobo and Otoniel Nicolás, and toured to Germany and New Zealand to collaborate with global ensemble Realms beyond Borders.