Italian food meets passion with jazz at the junction
a perfect combination
Leena Salim sings jazz and Davide Benati cooks handmade authentic Italian – a night for jazz enthusiasts and anyone who loves a special night out
“The secret is to create a dish that truly represents what is fresh and in-season, to bring out the flavours of each separate component.“ Davide Benati
The two course menu prepared especially for this event includes a mix of rich Modena flavours with the lighter cuisine of Tuscany using local produce wherever possible. To complement the food – “Family and food are everything for me…
I’m Italian!” – Davide
Leena has travelled around the world singing the music she loves. Her voice is soulful with the elegant resonance of a modern day jazz vocalist. Tonight, with her jazz ensemble, Leena will take you on a captivating journey through the rich textures of jazz.
About Davide Benati
Davide grew up up in Modena, Italy, hometown of Luciano Pavarotti and Enzo Ferrari, Davide spent most of his time in the family restaurant perfecting recipes that showcase simple, fresh food. Davide prides himself on using fresh, local ingredients to create true Italian cuisine from old family recipes. Trattoria Benati is one of the more authentic Italian restaurants in the country – a place where Italian food culture meets passion and where Benati’s family create the cuisine masterpieces that are sure to enchant all of your senses. This perfect combination of delicious handmade food and the welcome will make you feel at home.
About Leena Salim
Born to the sounds of Singapore Leena’s childhood home was filled with songs from the transistor radio. She was born with an insatiable desire to take to the stage and travel. Leena has performed in stage musicals, recognised as the youngest award-winning comedy actress at the Asian Television Awards, a cabaret club headline act and acknowledged as being one of the top cross-over artistes in Singapore. These experiences have all played a part in Leena’s rise to stardom and have made her the impressive performer that she is today. Leena is now based in Brisbane and you will see that she possesses that rare twinkle in the eye that immediately reflects the performance of a star.
The Influencers
Female vocalists and performers such as Diana Krall, Shirley Bassey, Ella Fitzgerald, Etta James and Erykah Badu have all played their part in building the foundations for Leena’s voice. Her attraction to the world of jazz was developed from a love of having the freedom of expression, and the ability of the musician to interpret the song with their own voice. Her insatiable desire to be heard above the constraints of her cultural origins can be heard in Leena’s message of hope, determination and triumph. Leena possesses a classic exoticism in her performance that is synonymous with the jazz artistes who have preceded her.
The Lineup
Leena will be joined by a renown line-up of jazz musicians. Many festival supporters will know these musicians and know what a special occasion this will be.
- Brett Iggulden tpt/sax
- Eamon McNellis tpt
- David Burrows gtr
- Matt Eves bass
- Calvert Duffy dms
Be a part of something special at the Jazz Festival – be entertained – have fun and Book Now!
