THE BLUE MARTINI SET

Kylie Agnew – Vocals

Joquithe Manricks – Keyboards

Nik Aleksiev – Bass

Brad Ledger – Drums

 

The Blue Martini Set is a jazz combo presenting a refined blend of jazz, blues and Latin music. Alongside well-loved standards, the band also showcase lesser-known works that merit greater recognition, bringing depth and variety to their performances. Their versatile repertoire is perfect for Swing dancing as well as Latin dances like Cha Cha, Rumba, Samba and Bossa Nova.

Kylie Agnew

Hailing from Townsville, Kylie’s love of jazz singing was ignited 25 years ago when her music teacher gave her some recordings of Ella Fitzgerald and Emma Pask. She honed her skills singing with and being mentored by some of North Queensland’s finest jazz musicians. Kylie is a regular participant in the Brisbane Jazz Club’s ‘Jazz Singers Jam Night’ and performs with the Redlands Big Band. Inspired by artists like Julie London and Diana Krall, Kylie loves singing with The Blue Martini Set, where the jazz combo style allows her to explore an expanding repertoire and share her love of jazz music with the audience.

Joquithe Manricks

Joquithe hails from a long line of musicians. He studied classical music from an early age and in his late teens played double bass in the Ceylon Symphony Orchestra. He found his love of jazz when his brother, a cellist with the QSO, played him an Oscar Peterson album. He was hooked and began his jazz journey inspired by artists like Oscar Peterson, Herbie Hancock, Red Garland, and  Tommy Flanagan. Apart from keyboards, he also plays electric bass, saxophone and drums and does arrangements for the band.

Nik Aleksiev

Nik has many years of experience playing double bass in jazz combos and fretless electric bass in the Redlands Big Band. He knows what a sophisticated dance audience wants to hear due to his involvement with swing and Latin dancing. When he is not playing bass, he is likely to be building another one or dabbling in music arrangement.

Brad Ledger

Canadian-born Brad is an accomplished drummer and percussionist who performs across a wide range of styles. His experience spans jazz, rock, fusion, and Latin music. He plays drums in the Redlands Big Band and Ipswich City Big Band, and orchestral percussion in the Redlands Concert Band.