about
zanzibar
zanzibar / juan direction / JAMRS
Around the COVID timeframe, new musical collaborations were formed with exciting musicians. Thus came to be... Juan Direction! or is it JAMRS ??? Maybe let's just stick with Zanzibar! Zanzibar was formed back in the 80's and still going strong!
Covering some of the greatest party hits ever written with experienced musicians, singers and with a fresh focus on musicality and performance, you are guaranteed to dance your socks off!
slb
salamanca latin band (slb)
Freddy and Giovanni formed musical ties more than 20 years ago and have been collaborating since then. We've been joined on occasions by a number of very talented guest musicians. Recently, Max has joined slb with his spectacular guitar playing. Come and see us live - but don't forget to bring your dancing shoes!
giovanni
giovanni
It's no surprise to my friends... I am passionate about music. What kind of music you ask? Well, there's lots, but especially passionate about latin, pop, but mostly operatic and neopolitan arias. I perform regularly with my band at restaurants, weddings and parties, but my greatest love as a tenor is to belt out a few arias.
I feel privileged to have been brought up in an environment that exposed me to some of the most beautiful music ever composed - although at the time it was just 'old-timer' music that dad listened to. If passion for this music is in the genes, then I inherited it from dad! Of course, mum being originally from the vicinity of Naples gave me at least a basic understanding of the dialect that is infused into so much of it's music. (Mum doesn't really have a musical bone in her!)
I have been privileged to work with Melbourne City Opera (The Pavarotti Story - a tribute to Luciano and Giacomo Puccini's La Rondine) and more recently with Millennium Opera (Gaetano Donizzetti's Maria Stuarda under the tutorship of Dr Joseph Talia and conducted by world-renowned Gaetano Colajanni, Erich Fackert and Michael Woods.
So, how does an Italo-Australian come to love and perform latin music? It was when I met the girl that would become my wife (of more than 20yrs now) that I was exposed to the world of latin music. Until then, I'm afraid it was just 'La Bamba' and 'Guantanamera' - neither of which I sang very well - let's just say my Spanish wasn't very good. Well, that all changed with time and work and I have added a few more latin songs to my repertoire. My first influences or exposure to latin music were the Mambo Kings soundtrack (which led to the discovery of Celia Cruz and Tito Puente - at this point I realised how little I knew about the world of latin music that would soon open up to me), Linda Ronstadt and Gloria Estefan. My repertoire now also includes music made popular by Ricky Martin, Enrique Iglesias, Selena, Jennifer Lopez, Santana, Marc Anthony, Chayanne, Juanes and many others. It includes latin rhythmic styles encompassing central and south America - everything from merengue, cumbia, salsa, cha cha, rumba, samba and a few others.
Check out the samples and downloads from this site. Enjoy the pictures and videos, or better yet, check out the Events page and come and see me live with my band.
freddy
freddy
Bringing an El Salvadorian culture and a strong Latin influence to the group, Freddy plays bass guitar and backing vocals.
Freddy contributes to the band’s psyche bringing with him a rich musical heritage. He comes from a very musical family (the Acosta/Caceres clan) and was the first bass player with Cacique, a successful, ground-breaking Latin/Australian salsa big-band created by his brother Ronald.
Now his son Ivan, following in the family’s footsteps, joins the band regularly on the congas.
max
max
Max joins SLB and plays guitar bringing Chilean flavour to the band.
He began his musical career at 20 in the 90’s with Chilean band Caradura. He is greatly influenced by progressive pop, rock and r&b and brings many years of experience playing casinos, restaurants, clubs, pubs and private functions in Chile. He was the founder of Lado B which focussed on 80’s progressive rock, latin rock and latin dance music.
His guitar playing and backing vocals with rich harmonies have brought a new dimension to SLB. There are moments that if you close your eyes, his guitar work would make you think Santana is in the room!
in the media
in the media
The following article appeared in Moda Vida Magazine - July 2016 (Moda Vida).
radio
Hear us on Melbourne's very own Latin Music internet streaming radio station - La Family tu radio con DJ David Ernesto.
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