The Freedom Jazzdance: Double Bill: Showa 44 Yutaro Okuda

Featuring guitarist Carl Dewhurst and drummer Simon Barker, Showa 44 utilise tuned metallic resonances, rhythmic densities and spontaneous invention via electric guitar and drum set to manifest compelling and evocative soundscapes.

“among the world’s finest improvisers”- (John Shand)
“the restless exploration of free-spirited improvisers, lives on undiminished.” – Jazz Local

Carl Dewhurst | Guitar
Simon Barker | Drums and Cymbals

Yutaro Okuda Quartet

Yutaro Okuda is a Japanese-Australian jazz guitarist, who’ll be premiering a new quartet comprised of Sydney’s best emerging improvisers, Jack Stoneham on alto saxophone, Holly Conner on drums and internationally renowned pianist Alister Spence.

The project will explore the vast diversity of sound and texture available through their individual instrumentation and collective expression. Their free improvisation odyssey will include beautiful lyrical motifs in open textural soundscapes, through to dense musical intersections of rhythm.

Entering the covid-era off the back of extensive touring through Europe, with Arcing Wires and Japan as a solo artist and with the Satoko Fujii Orchestra. Yutaro performs regularly as sideman, lending his unique voice on guitar to many ensembles within Sydney’s contemporary jazz & improvised music scene, including Sam Gill’s Scattered, Bri Cowlishaw’s Fetherstone, Gavin Ahearn’s Memewars & Jenna Cave’s Divergence Jazz Orchestra.

Jack Stoneham | Alto Saxophone
Holly Conner | Drums
Alister Spence | Piano
Yutaro Okuda | Electric Guitar