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One of the world's most celebrated jazz drummers brings an extraordinary new project to Perth for a single night.Israel Varela — Recording Artist, Drummer, Singer, Composer and Producer — is a figure of rare distinction in contemporary world music. Winner of the Euro Latin Award and the prestigious "Distinguished Mexicans" prize (awarded by the Embassy of Mexico, 2023), Varela has spent two decades performing across more than 40 countries alongside some of the most revered names in music: Pat Metheny, Charlie Haden, Yo-Yo Ma, Andrea Bocelli, Victor Bailey, Richard Bona and Markus Stockhausen, among many others.
Originally from Tijuana — where he grew up in a household steeped in classical and sacred music as the fourth generation of a celebrated family of musicians — Varela studied privately in Los Angeles with Alex Acuña and Dave Weckl before relocating to Italy in 2000. He has since become one of the most in-demand jazz and world music artists in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and the Americas.
For his 12th album and new project Flamencoltrane, Varela turns his gaze to one of jazz's greatest visionaries: John Coltrane, whose centenary we celebrate in 2026. Drawing on sacred compositional geometry and the driving rhythms of flamenco, Flamencoltrane is a deeply spiritual homage — an encounter between Coltrane's transcendent jazz language and the fire and soul of flamenco. Alongside original compositions, Varela presents several of Coltrane's iconic works, each reimagined in his own singular flamenco-jazz idiom — music that seeks, in his own words, to offer the listener an experience of rebirth.
For this exclusive Perth performance, Varela is joined by some of the city's finest musicians: Tom O'Halloran (piano), Sean Little (saxophone) and Zac Grafton (acoustic bass).
Presented by Michael Pignéguy.
A rare opportunity to witness a world-class artist at the height of his powers, performing music of profound beauty and rhythmic intensity.
Not to be missed.
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Event Venue
Lyric's Underground, 181 Guildford Rd, Maylands WA 6051, Australia, Perth
Tickets
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