MARA! Big Band @ Newcastle Conservatorium

This ‘dynamic’ 13-piece ensemble, sits between the Eastern European Gypsy brass band and jazz big band traditions... a “killer line-up” of Australian jazz and world music royalty.

Experience some incredible, original music by the Mara! Big Band focusing on the migrant experience in Australia and the spectre of incarceration (physical and psychological) hovering over it in the past 230+ years. Three women (Irish, Bulgarian & Iranian) speak to us from different times and different circumstances of the trauma that scarred them and we pose the question ‘Zashto?’ (‘Why?’ in Bulgarian language).

Composed by six current and past members of the Mara! Band, ‘Zashto?’ features texts by Bulgarian/Australian migrant Marcia Malinova-Anthony and Iranian refugee Maryam Faghihi Rad, along with texts penned by Mara herself.

Mara Kiek – Voice & percussion

Llew Kiek  – Bouzouki, bağlama, acoustic & electric guitars

Sandy Evans  – Soprano & tenor saxophone

Paul Cutlan  – Clarinets & saxophones

Steve Elphick – Double bass

PLUS

Andrew Robson – Alto & baritone saxophones

Sam Golding  – Trumpet, tuba

James Greening  – Pocket trumpet, trombone & tuba

Gary Daley – Piano accordion

Jess Ciampa  – Drums & percussion

Silvia Entcheva – Voice (soprano)

Jenny Dornan – Voice (soprano)

Jarnie Birmingham – Voice (alto)