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Anna Salleh with Stan Valacos- Glasshous

MUSIC

PHOTO: MAX MASON HUBERS

about anna's music

Watch videos of Anna's performances on YouTube, download her music from Apple Music, and stream it on Spotify

 

Singer/guitarist Anna Salleh (pronounced 'Sah-lay') is one of Australia's much-loved exponents of Brazilian jazz and other crossover styles - including honey-smooth bossa nova, irrepressible samba, enchanting choro and surprise favourites and originals all in the mix. Songs of beauty, sorrow, irreverence and joy.

Anna cut her teeth performing in many venues including clubs, festivals, concert halls and other venues - from Australia to Malaysia, and from the United Kingdom to Brazil. Apart from jazz, she has also explored a cappella and music for improvised theatre. 

In 2010, Anna fell under the spell of Brazilian music that first captured her imagination as a child when her father took her to see the cult film Black Orpheus. She spent three months in Rio de Janeiro performing with local musicians and seeking out the wisdom of elders to deepen her understanding of Brazilian music. Anna's journey of musical discovery in Brazil led to an ABC radio documentary, an ongoing show, and two albums including the live recording 'A Felicidade' (pronounced 'Ah-felee-see-dah-jee') released in 2012, and 'Gorgeous Songs from Brazil & Beyond; released in 2016. 
 

Bossa nova pioneer, Roberto Menescal said of Anna that she comes to jazz with a Brazilian bias, with a natural groove that is in tune with Afro-Brazilian rhythms. "As we say: She plays a little drum at midnight. Makes a little macumba," he said. (Macumba is an African-Brazilian religion with rituals that include playing drums late at night).
 

From 2013 Anna appeared regularly at Sydney's top jazz club Foundry616 with some of Sydney's best jazz/world musicians including guitarist Guy Strazz. Her most recent quartet SERAFINA featured celebrated clarinet, sax and flute player Loretta Palmeiro, guitarist Gino Pengue and percussionist Jess Ciampa. In the Summer of 2020/21 Anna and band were nominated as one of the Sydney Morning Herald's top picks. Critic John Shand wrote that Anna's had "the right sort of light, supple voice (and excellent Portuguese) to give this music the lilt it demands". "If this isn't the sound of summer, I don't know what is," he added.
 

WHAT PEOPLE SAY about anna

"An outstanding artist"
-   Jazz Scene
 
"She makes a little macumba at midnight.”
-   Roberto Menescal (bossa nova pioneer)
 
“There's something very special here: a real understanding and passion for the idiom ….. really well played with a lot of life and energy."
-   Peter Rechniewski (co-founder of the Sydney Improvised
Music Association and Foundry616 jazz club)
 
“Sublime rendition of Brazilian classics with little bubbles and arrows of phrases energised by a rhythm that just won't stop. Soft and sensual - soul and dream hold each other in a waltz' Impressions from an earlier show."
-   Danny Gardner, poet and writer
 
“She seduces the audience as only a woman with a real love and respect of Brazilian music could."
-   Tina Harrod, acclaimed Australian soul singer
 
"It's like having your heart in a hammock by the sea."
-   Vivi Martin (fan)
 
“Unaffected, warm-hearted"
-   Sydney Morning Herald
 
"What a gorgeous concert. Top shelf band. Beautiful singing. Engaging lyrics and melodies. Thanks Anna and her band!"
-   Nic Dalton, Half a Cow Records
 
“Amazing performance.”
-   Marcelo Bussacarini, president Brazilian Community
Council of Australia (BRACCA)
 
"Captivating!"
-   Georgina Reed and Peter March, Northside FM

SOME OF THE PLACES ANNA HAS PLAYED

Edinburgh Festival, UK
No Black Tie, KL, Malaysia 
Sancto Scenarium, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 
Modern Sound, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 
Foundry616, Sydney
Brisbane Jazz Club
Paris Cat, Melbourne 
The Basement, Sydney 
The Glasshouse, Port Macquarie
5 Church St, Bellingen
Django bar at Camelot, Marrickville
Bondi Pavilion Theatre
Venue505, Surry Hills
The Sound Lounge, Seymour Centre
The Vanguard, Newtown
Darling Harbour Latin Fiesta
Glebe Music Festival
Sydney Fringe Festival
Aroma Festival, The Rocks
Manlv Jazz Festival
Illawarra Jazz Festival
The Opera Bar, Sydney 
The Park Hyatt, Sydney
Portuguese Food and Wine Festival, Petersham
Lane Love Country Club
Hydro Majestic Hotel, Katoomba
Wauchope Arts
Kempsey Hotclub
Royal Exchange Theatre, Newcastle
Butchers Brew Bar, Dulwich Hill
El Rocco, Kings Cross 
Café Church Space, Glebe
Red Rattler, Marrickville
Central Coast Conservatorium
The Co-op Club, Church Point
Humph Hall, Allambie Heights

Well Connected Cafe, Glebe
The Troubadour Club, Central Coast
Avoca Picture Theatre, Central Coast
Fairlight Folk, Manly
Lazy Bones, Marrickville 
Balmain Fair Trade Fair
Taste Canowindra Mudgee Brewery
Hotel Blue, Katoomba 
Brazuca Bar, Manly 
Star City Casino, Sydney
Adina Vineyard, Hunter Valley
The Manly Fig
Johnston Street Jazz, Annandale
Servo Food Truck Bar, Wollongong 
Music at StreetMarket, Crows Nest
Lane Cove Plaza
Leura Resort

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