“share in their intimacy … (in a) carnival atmosphere”
Julia Newbould
4 Stars
Venue: Sydney Recital Hall
Sydney Festival
Dates: January 22nd 2025
Jazz singer Emma Pask and her 12-piece orchestra performed in an intimate fiesta to celebrate the 10th year anniversary of her album, Cosita Divina.
Emma released Cosita Divina (translated from Spanish as Little Divine Thing) to share her love and appreciation for Latin jazz, and it’s clear she is suited to it. The concert journeys through the classic and contemporary sounds of Brazil, Cuba, and Spain – a true fiesta of music with Emma moving effortlessly from Portuguese to Spanish and English lyrics.
It was a very welcoming event. Pask had worked with most of the band for many years and if felt as though they were inviting the audience to share in their intimacy – their sound was easy and comfortable, and they were clearly enjoying their jamming on stage.
The brass section which ranged from two trumpets, a trombone, and two saxophones to one of the saxophones being replaced by a flute, was powerful and a treat in the acoustically perfect Sydney Recital Hall.
Phil Stack, on bass, was singled out to feature in the piece Afro Blue, and his beautiful playing followed by Pask’s vocals was one of the highlights of the jazz.
Dr Kevin Hunt on piano was celebrated for his jazz riffs throughout the evening, and trumpeter and “new” friend of Pask’s, Lazuro Numo, brought the audience along with his storytelling for the interactive number Dónde Estabas Tú?.
The night was filled with stories, music, and links to important Latin musicians. They played to a very appreciative audience, most being dedicated fans of Emma Pask and many being Spanish or Portuguese speakers.
Interspersed between the classics were a couple of original songs which Pask dedicated to her husband, Rodrigo Ocano, who had suffered a serious motorbike accident in December 2023 which kept him in hospital for most of 2024. He was in the front row for the show, making it feel even more like an invitation to an intimate gathering.
Crowd favourites were the popular standard by Jorge Ben, made famous by Sergio Mendes, Mas Que Nada; Quizas Quizas Quizas – better known In English as Perhaps, Perhaps Perhaps as sung by Doris Day; and Beatles classic, And I Love Her, which Pask dedicated to her mother in a beautiful bossa nova rhythm.
There is also a version of Half a Minute by 1980s popstar Matt Bianco (most famous for his hit Yeh Yeh).
Brazilian friend Tiago De Lucca opened the evening with a mix of his own, and classic Brazilian songs. He returned for the second encore at the end of Pask’s set for another dedication to Rodrigo Ocana and was joined by talented backing singer Virna Sanzone.
The audience came away from the concert feeling energised from being swept up in the carnival atmosphere and enveloped in the love emanating from the stage by the Pask “family”.
4 samba beats
Julia Newbould, Theatre Now
