TAKING THE LEAD
a celebration of women's voicesA celebration of women in music — their presence, their stories, their sound.
This year at KatJazz Festival, 5 concerts are led by women who bring boldness, grace, and depth to the stage. From rising voices in Nepal to artists carrying global experience, Taking the Lead honors expression that is as powerful as it is personal. Each performance brings its own atmosphere and energy. Together, they help shape the spirit of this year’s festival.
FESTIVAL BLUEPRINT
Concerts
For all music students: Rs. 500/- for all concerts on presentation of your student card. Tickets available at the door.
Sun-Thu 13-17 April
The New Players
KJC Student Performances
Moksh 6:00 pm onwards
Jhamsikhel Free
Twelve recitals over five days, each marking the culmination of the two-year Diploma in Jazz and Contemporary Music at the Kathmandu Jazz Conservatory. These graduating students have spent the past years immersed in performance, composition, and collaboration; shaping their own relationship to contemporary music while engaging deeply with the language of jazz. Come witness a new generation of musicians ready to take the stage.
Fri 18 April
TAKING THE LEAD
Emerging VoicesYaju & Samita Kunzanee Nami
Nepal
Bhumi 7:00 pm
Lazimpat Rs 1000
Three singers and one instrumentalist from Nepal share original music shaped by collaboration, curiosity, and genre-crossing ideas. Yaju & Samita blend folk and classical influences, Kunzanee explores tradition through a contemporary lens, and Nami presents a vibrant and personal set of original songs drawn from jazz, pop, and the spaces in between.
Sat 19 April
Farewell concert
Ser o Duo
& friendsChile
Kyampa 6:00 pm
Sanepa Rs 1000
After many years of musical exchange and collaboration in Nepal, Ser o Duo return to the stage with friends and collaborators from around the world. This concert is a chance to reconnect through music, share what’s been built, and mark the next chapter together.
Sun 20 April
Paul Tynan
Canada
Jazz Upstairs 8:00 pm
Lazimpat Rs 1000
The compositions of Paul Tynan are rich with an esoteric sense of harmonic color and playful rhythmic textures. Full of creative interplay, his music is inspired by the rich tapestry we call Earth.
A Canadian trumpeter and composer with a long history in jazz performance and education, Paul is known for his lyrical playing and detailed compositions. He joins a group of Nepali and international musicians for an evening of improvisation and exchange in a cosy gig at the legendary Jazz Upstairs.
Tue 22 April
Roots Rewired
21st century nepali groovesRajat RaiSonagi Blues
Nepal
Electric Pagoda 7:30 pm
Thamel Rs 1000
A double bill featuring two bands reshaping Nepali music in their own ways. Rajat Rai brings together nepali folk, jazz, and West African rhythms. Sonagi Blues blends traditional instruments & percussions with the energy of rock and Indian classical.
Wed 23 April
TAKING THE LEAD
a celebration of women's voicesYa Si Ver & co
Spain
La Terrasse 7:30 pm
Chundevi Rs 1000
Ya Si Ver & Co is a jazz-based project rooted in the folk traditions of Spain and shaped by each member’s background. Through original arrangements and improvisation, they explore what tradition can mean today—and how it can evolve without losing its voice.
Thu 24 April
TAKING THE LEAD
a celebration of women's voicesOnce We Knew
Switzerland / Nepal
Moksh 7:30 pm
Jhamsikhel Rs 1000
Once We Knew is a vocal group formed in Basel in 2023, with singers from Switzerland, Portugal, France, and Nepal. Inspired by groups like Säje, they write and arrange music that explores harmony, texture, and the possibilities of the human voice.
Fri 25 April
TAKING THE LEAD
a celebration of women's voicesCarole Alston
& Martin ZenkerUSA / Germany
Dhokaima Cafe 7:30 pm
Patan Dhoka Rs 1000
Carole Alston brings a rich and soulful presence to this year’s festival. With a background in jazz, gospel, and musical theatre, she offers a voice shaped by decades of performance and storytelling. A rare opportunity to hear a truly seasoned artist in an intimate setting.
Sat 26 April
TAKING THE LEAD
a celebration of women's voicesFixel trio
ft. Jatziri Gallegos & Siddhartha GautamBrazil / Mexico / Germany
+ Carole Alston + Once We Knew + Ya Si Ver & Co
Yellow house 3:00 pm onwards
Sanepa Rs 1500
A series of concerts from the afternoon into the night with the four festival artists who are part of this year’s “Taking the Lead” series. Featuring the Brazilian-rooted Fixel Trio, the vocal group Once We Knew, the jazz-folk of Ya Si Ver & Co, and American vocalist Carole Alston, this is a meeting point of stories, styles, and voices. A grand celebration of women's voices in music.
Tue 29 April
Pathorn Srikaranonda
Thailand
Jazz Upstairs 8:00 pm
Lazimpat Rs 1000
Saxophonist Pathorn Srikaranonda has spent decades performing around the world, from royal ceremonies in Thailand to jazz festivals in Europe, Asia, and the US. In this special Katjazz concert, he performs with musicians from the festival community.
Wed 30 April
Future Harmonies
katJazz Festival Finale
Gyan Residency Showcase ConcertInternational Jazz Day
Carole Alston / Once We Knew / Ya Si Ver & Co / Paul Tynan / Pathorn Srikaranonda
Residency led by SER O DUO
EDEN Amphitheatre 7:00 pm
Sanepa Rs 1500
A unique performance for the grand finale of the festival. The Gyan Residency brings together Nepali maestros, folk musicians, and the festival's featured international artists for a week of exchange, arrangement, and exploration. Together, they co-create new music inspired by Hindustani traditions, Nepali folk, and contemporary sounds — and perform it live in one extraordinary concert on April 30, celebrating International Jazz Day. This year, we’re thrilled to host Future Harmonies at EDEN Amphitheatre, Sanepa.