Date Night Friday: Alemay Fernandez & Sharik Hasan - an intimate evening of piano & vocals

Hailed by MusicTalks Sydney as "one of the best jazz singers in the world", Singapore vocalist Alemay Fernandez is a veteran performer in the Asian jazz scene. In her illustrious 20-year career, she has performed with the likes of David Foster, Gregory Porter, Incognito, Ray Parker Jr., Nat Adderley Jr., Ernie Watts, Randy Brecker, Antonio Hart, Jay Anderson, Lewis Nash and The Platters' Bobby Soul, while also opening for Laura Fygi and Benny Golson. She has performed with three of the top jazz orchestras in the world at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Count Basie Orchestra and Duke Ellington Orchestra. Fernandez has performed with all manner of Singapore orchestras and bands including the Singapore Symphony Orchestra and the Jazz Association of Singapore Orchestras. As an educator, she has worked with vocal students of all ages, conducting vocal and performance workshops. She is a vocal coach for National University of Singapore’s Jazz Band and Lecturer at LASALLE College Of The Arts.

Sharik Hasan is one of the leading pianists and composers of his generation to emerge from India. Based in New York City, he has garnered a reputation for his exceptional virtuosity and versatility, making him the top-call pianist for many well- known bands and venues. He tours much of the year internationally with the world-famous Postmodern Jukeboxas well as his own band MND FLO. Hasan is also a Berklee On The Road instructor, traveling globally on behalf of the college conducting clinics, auditions and performances.

He has performed at venues all over the world including Blue Note, Newport Jazz Festival, Panama Jazz Festival, Kriol Jazz Festival, Nancy Jazz Festival, Mondriaan Jazz Festival and Lincoln Center. Hasan has shared the stage with luminaries such as Jeff “Tain” Watts, John Patitucci, Joe Lovano, Wayne Shorter, Terri Lyne Carrington, Sean Jones, Bill Pierce, Adam Nussbaum, Ralph Peterson and David Liebman, among others.

Hasan’s latest album with MND FLO, From Time, features his original compositions, which embody an eclectic blend of cultures and acoustic-electric soundscapes. His fluid improvisations convey a natural sense of storytelling, all the while demonstrating an equal fluidity in jazz and Indian classical idioms.