No Way José – Music and Cuisine of Latin America

Present by Ipswich Civic Centre

 

Dreaming of visiting Latin America and drinking cocktails while laying back on an endless white beach. Well, we have the next best thing without the airfare… join us for Dinner and Show!

No Way José is a salsa and jazz-inspired Latin ensemble where jazz, salsa, bolero and powerful vocals come together in an explosion of colour perfect for dancing.

No Way José interweaves original works and unearthed classics from the mid to late 20th century Latin Americas, bringing the energy and passion of Latin music to audiences in a way that connects with both young and old.

 

Amila Sargeant (Voice)
Amila Sargeant is a Brisbane born and Ipswich raised vocalist and musician with a devotion to bringing Latin American folk music to contemporary audiences. Her obsession with salsa, bolero, ranchera, llanera and other traditions have led to collaborations in multiple projects including Latin jazz/salsa ensemble No Way José. Her voice ranges from sweet and delicate to powerfully deep, and expresses honest emotion.

Juan Manrique (Keys)
Originally from Colombia, Juan Manrique has been living in Australia for the past 13 years. Music and the piano have been his shadow from a very young age. In 2000, Juan travelled to Israel, to record his first piano single, Passive Blue. Then moving to Barcelona, Spain, Juan studied piano harmony and composition with teachers Kiko Gener and Rafa Madagascar at the Escuela de Musica Moderna y Jazz de Barcelona (Barcelona School of Modern Music and Jazz). In Spain, Juan joined local band, Ovni, playing synthesizers and piano in the album ‘Plastic Land’. Together with Ovni, he played large music festivals, such as the Lagarto Festival in Jaen and other venues in Barcelona and Madrid. From the year 2001 until 2008, while living in Spain, Juan had the opportunity to play, produce and record at the International Church of Barcelona ‘Growing Together’; Express-so band ‘Wait for me’ and ’Who Cares’ and also to play for the well- known Spanish hip hop band, PRAXIZ. Moving from Barcelona to Adelaide in 2008, Juan has recorded with bands and musicians, including: Michael Kapsis ‘The Whirlwind Call’; Phat Panda ‘Paws for Reflection’; Swinging Hammocks ‘Los Pillos’; Abbey and the Bad Habits and The Wholias ‘Guata Beauty’.

Fredy Uscategui  (Congas, Cajón and Percussion/Backing Vocals)

Born and raised in Bogotá, Colombia, Fredy is a highly versatile musician with extensive experience across multiple genres. He holds a university degree in singing, and Afro-Latin and Colombian percussion techniques, and has been an active member of the Colombian music scene since 1997. Fredy has performed and recorded with several groups including SHA-I, Efecto Caribe, and Sello Negro as both a singer and percussionist.Fredy’s current focus is on Cumbia, Salsa, and other Latin American folk and jazz genres, as a Conga player and lead and backing vocalist. In 2022, Fredy moved to Brisbane to bring his unique talents to Australian audiences.

Adam Haks (Trombone)

Adam Haks is a highly skilled trombonist and pianist. He graduated with a Bachelor of Music (Performance) with Distinction from the Queensland Conservatorium, Griffith University, studying under renowned Australian trombonists Jason Redman, Ash Carter and Ben Marks. Adam’s love of music began at a young age and he played many instruments before focusing on trombone and piano in 2015. He completed his Grade 8 ANZCA Modern Pianoforte exam with First Class Honours and is now a piano teacher at Brisbane Piano Studio where he teaches primary-aged students. Adam’s experience as a trombonist is extensive and includes solo recitals, small ensembles encompassing classical chamber, Ska, Pop-Rock, and Jazz groups, and large ensembles including Queensland Youth Symphony, Ensemble Q and the Australian Youth Orchestra. He has performed in diverse venues such as HOTA (Home of the Arts, Gold Coast), Hamer Hall (Melbourne), Sydney Town Hall, St John’s Cathedral (Brisbane), Suncorp Stadium, and the iconic QPAC Concert Hall.

Jono Fraser (Bassist)

Jono Fraser is a Brisbane based bassist with over 10 years of performance experience in the Brisbane and Gold Coast area, mixing influences from jazz, Brazilian, fusion, funk and popular music.

Zac Chambers (Trumpet)