Pianist and composer Danilo Rojas presents an intimate and powerful Latin Jazz night with an outstanding international quintet.

A journey through original compositions and Latin American rhythms, blending jazz, chamber music, and improvisation.

Cueca — Tradition and Innovation in Latin Jazz

Bolivian-born Australian pianist and composer Danilo Rojas explores and reimagines the Cueca, one of Latin America’s most important musical forms, through the lens of contemporary jazz.

This concert features music from Cueca, Rojas’s first album created and recorded in Australia. Composed in Melbourne with an ensemble of outstanding Australian and Bolivian musicians, the music moves seamlessly between tradition and innovation, weaving soulful rhythms, intricate improvisations, and heartfelt storytelling.

Alongside Cueca, the program includes Rojas’s Afro-jazz compositions and fresh reinterpretations of South American standards such as tango, huayño, and zamba, enriched by the captivating voice of Ecuadorian improvisational singer Sarah de la Cerda.

The son of acclaimed Bolivian composer Gilberto Rojas, Danilo carries forward a deep musical legacy while celebrating identity, migration, and connection through virtuosic piano artistry and a boundless creative spirit. Now based in Melbourne, he continues to perform, compose, and arrange music, including projects such as the Afro–Latino American Jazz Ensemble and the chamber group Camerata Tierra.

Musicians

Sarah de la Cerda — Voice
Ecuadorian-born vocalist based in Melbourne, blending Andean traditions, contemporary jazz, and improvisation. Her work centres the voice as a vehicle for emotional resonance and cultural dialogue across Latin American and global musical practices.

Stephen Hornsby — Double Bass
Australian double bass player and leader of the award-winning ensemble Koi Kingdom, recipients of the 2025 Art Music Award for Work of the Year: Jazz. Known for his lyrical and adventurous improvisation within Australia’s creative music scene.

Mirko Guerrini — Saxophones / Flute
Italian saxophonist and composer based in Melbourne, long-time collaborator of Stefano Bollani and artistic partner of Paul Grabowsky. A leading voice in contemporary jazz with over twenty albums as a leader.

Al Kerr — Drums
Australian drummer, composer, and musical director, and one of Australia’s leading interpreters of Brazilian music. Founder of Panorama Brasil and PhD graduate from the University of Melbourne, specialising in Afro-Brazilian rhythms and contemporary jazz.

🎟️ Tickets
General $45
Concession / Students $40
Music Students $30
Early Bird $35 (limited)

🎫 Book via QR code or online

📅 Saturday 21 February 2026 – 8:00pm