Adrian Sherriff’s KALACHAKRA – Afro-Cuban Crossings – Debut

Kalachakra (The Wheel of Time) returns with a new program exploring connections between Afro-Cuban music, jazz, Indian and Japanese classical forms, and contemporary improvisation. Led by composer and multi-instrumentalist Adrian Sherriff, the ensemble combines traditional Afro-Cuban repertoire with reworked versions of existing compositions, incorporating Afro-Cuban rhythms, percussion and vocals into its evolving musical language. Sherriff is joined by Rohan Dasika (double bass), Jay Dabgar (tabla), Ria Soemardjo (voice and percussion) and Sooji Kim (violin), whom he knows through their shared work with the Australian Art Orchestra. Kim is one of Australia’s leading creative improvisers on violin, bringing an exploratory approach to the ensemble’s collective sound. Soemardjo is known for her work with contemporary world music trio Fine Blue Thread and her engagement with traditional gamelan, drawing on diverse musical practices in her performance and composition. They are joined by Aloy Junco, a percussionist and dancer with extensive experience in Afro-Cuban music and dance, and Luis Poblete, a percussionist and vocalist who has led Melbourne-based Latin music ensembles including Quarter Street and LABJACD. Sherriff’s own long engagement with Indian music and experience studying in Cuba and New York further inform the project’s approach to musical exchange. Alongside his familiar instruments, Sherriff will play batá drums and sing, extending the ensemble’s exploration of rhythmic interplay, cross-cultural exchange and collective improvisation. Moving between traditional repertoire and transformed compositions, Kalachakra celebrates the creative possibilities that emerge when musical traditions encounter one another—where rhythms intersect, identities evolve, and the wheel of time continues to turn.

Presented by:

The Melbourne Jazz Co-operative is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to supporting and promoting original live jazz performance by established and emerging artists in Melbourne.

Since 1983 our objectives have been to increase the exposure of contemporary jazz performance by making it accessible to audiences, and to provide award waged performance opportunities for emerging and established artists.

In addition to support derived from member contributions, the MJC is assisted by  the Victorian Government, through Creative Victoria, via its Arts Development Programs. MJC was assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body from 1983-2017 inclusive, and was delighted to receive Australia Council funding of $60,000 for our 2019 program.

The MJC received $40,000 from the Australia Council over the 2021/2022 Financial Year, and was pleased to received a grant of $75,341 from Creative Australia (with Music Australia contribution) for our 2025 Annual Program.

Our sold-out 40th Anniversary Concert at the Melbourne Recital Centre in May 2023 was supported by a $20,000 grant from Creative Victoria’s Creative Projects program.