David Wilfred - yidaki (didgeridoo) and voice

Sunny Kim - voice, percussion, and electronics

Peter Knight - trumpet, electronics, percussion

Aviva Endean - clarinets, harmonic flute, electronics

The project is organized by the National Forum of Music in Wroclaw in partnership with the Polish Cultural Institute New York.

SHORT BIOGRAPHY 

Vocalists Daniel Wilfred and Sunny Kim form the heart of Hand to Earth, which has quickly developed an international reputation as one of Australia’s most distinctive contemporary music ensembles. The quintet’s self-titled debut album has won international praise and was nominated for an ARIA award in 2022 with international performances, including at the iconic Pierre Boulez Saal in Berlin. 

Daniel sings in language and is the keeper of Yolngu Manikay (songs) from North East Arnhem Land that can be traced back for over 40,000 years. His is the oldest continuously practiced music tradition in the world. Sunny sings in English and Korean, intoning gestures that invoke raw elemental forces. Together they sing of the stars, of fire, and of the cooling rain against the drone of David Wilfred’s didgeridoo and atmospheres created by trumpeter and sound artist Peter Knight and clarinetist Aviva Endean, who draw on the minimalism of Brian Eno and Jon Hassell to create a bed for these beautifully contrasting voices. 

“While many contemporary projects strive to combine ancient and modern influences, this innovative and ethereal musical alliance actually achieves that lofty goal – with the old cultural ground being respected, while the new artistic ground is broken. Hand to Earth is a truly exquisite album. “

* * * * * Songlines UK

Website

www.handtoearth.com.au

Funders: Creative Australia, Arts NT, Jazztopad (Poland)

For the past twenty years, Jazztopad Festival has commissioned music from major American and European artists, including Wayne Shorter, Charles Lloyd, Jason Moran, Joelle Leandre, Vincent Courtois, William Parker, Vijay Iyer, and Terence Blanchard. Jazztopad's international creative partnerships have included such prestigious organizations as the Monterey Jazz Festival, Kennedy Center, London Jazz Festival, and Los Angeles Philharmonic. Live recordings from the festival have been released by ECM and Blue Note Records.

The American edition of Jazztopad is, first and foremost, an opportunity to get to know the most important artists of the Polish contemporary jazz scene, which is a strongly recognized brand in the world both in terms of the quality of the festivals and the artistry of the featured musicians.

The project is organized by the National Forum of Music in Wroclaw in partnership with the Polish Cultural Institute in New York.

 “Jazztopad Festival makes it possible to experience internationally highly profiled musicians in a variety of situations (concert hall, club, private homes, combinations of it, also informal ones). All appearances of chosen musicians and music always felt as a very typical Jazztopad one and are remembered with a strong trace in one’s memory.”

HENNING BOLTE, Jazzhalo