Kathmandu, September 26
Surya Nepal Jazzmandu 2025 will see a thrilling cross-continental collaboration as Nepal's pioneering Cadenza Collective joins forces with Australian saxophonist and composer Nick Aggs for a dynamic Afro-funk set that promises to be one of the festival's standout performances.
A trailblazer of the Nepali jazz scene, Cadenza Collective, led by drummer, composer and vocalist Navin Chettri, has been redefining Kathmandu's soundscape since 1998. Known for fusing jazz, Afro-funk and Nepali folk, the group helped shift the Valley's music culture away from its rock-and-pop roots to embrace more original and improvised sounds. With five albums, including the award-winning Back to the Roots (2014), and performances at festivals and clubs across Europe, Australia and Asia, Cadenza has become synonymous with innovation and groove.
Nick Aggs, hailing from Brisbane, Australia, brings to the mix his distinctive, genre-bending saxophone style that weaves jazz with global rhythms. His work with the renowned fusion band Afro Dizzi Act and collaborations with artists like Trilok Gurtu, Jesse Van Ruller and Jali Buba Kuyateh have earned him a reputation for creating music that is both exploratory and irresistibly danceable. Now based in Singapore as the director of the jazz programme at the Australian International School, Aggs continues to perform internationally, inspiring audiences with his soulful improvisation.
Their partnership at Jazzmandu will highlight the festival's ethos of musical exchange and improvisation, bringing together Cadenza's Kathmandu-grown jazz-Afro-funk energy with Aggs' vibrant saxophone voice. Audiences can catch them live at "Valley Jams" on October 10 at Electric Pagoda, Thamel, where they will deliver a set that promises driving rhythms, fluid improvisations and an infectious groove that bridges cultures and continents.
