Kathmandu, September 24

Kathmandu is set to be swept up in a wave of samba, bossa nova, and jazz improvisation as Surya Nepal Jazzmandu gets underway.

Among the standout artists opening the stage are Dutch vocalist Femke Smit and pianist Mike Del Ferro, whose collaboration has been making waves across Europe and Brazil.

Smit, born in 1986, has built her career around a deep love for Brazilian music. Her voice carries the warmth and rhythm of samba and bossa nova so effortlessly that audiences often feel she could have been born in Rio rather than the Netherlands. Through projects like Cantorias, which earned the Edison National Vocal Award in 2024, she has earned international recognition for her ability to bring authenticity and soul to Brazilian repertoire.

At her side is pianist Mike Del Ferro, a world-traveling jazz explorer with roots in classical training. The son of opera singer Leonard del Ferro, Mike has carved out his own global path, working with legends such as Branford Marsalis, Toots Thielemans, and Jack DeJohnette. His style blends technical brilliance with sensitivity, drawing influences from Latin America, Africa, India, and beyond.

Together, Smit and Del Ferro create a sound that is both intimate and expansive, music that travels across continents while speaking a universal language. Their performance at Jazzmandu promises to take listeners on a journey from Amsterdam to São Paulo, from classical roots to jazz improvisations, reminding us how music connects cultures and people.

People attending the festival in Kathmandu can catch their performance on Friday, October 10, from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm, at Jazz Upstairs in Lazimpat. Gates open at 6:30 pm, and tickets are priced at NRs. 800. The evening will showcase Smit's soulful vocals alongside Del Ferro's piano mastery in a program that highlights the richness of vocal jazz from the Netherlands, filtered through global influences.

As Kathmandu prepares for nights filled with rhythm, groove, and global voices, this duo will set the tone for what the festival is all about: celebrating jazz as a bridge between traditions, emotions, and worlds.