| FRANCISCO MELA | ||
| --------------- | ||
 |
||
| --------------- | ||
| FRANCISCO MELA is one of the most charismatic musicians to hit the Big Apple in some time. I first met Mela as the percussionist and vocalist with Jane Bunnett and the Spirits of Havana; but though Mela was born and raised in Cuba, and Afro-Cuban rhythms are second nature to him, his goal is to be the first Cuban drummer known simply as a great Jazz drummer. Mela is already the drummer of choice for heavyweights Joe Lovano and Kenny Barron, so he's well on his way to achieving that goal. Mela is also a bandleader of rapidly-increasing stature, whose debut CD Melao was played in Starbucks cafes throughout the U.S., and whose new Half-Note CD Cirio was named one of the Top 50 CDs of 2008 by JazzTimes. His own working quartet featuring organ sensation Sam Yahel played a week at the Village Vanguard at the end of January, a sure sign that Mela has arrived as a leader in his own right. | ||
TOURING SCHEDULE | ||
| --------------- | ||
| MELA'S Official WEB SITE | ||
| ------------------ | ||
 |
||
| Phone 434-979-6374 Fax 434-979-6179 | ||
| 1006 Ashby Place; Charlottesville, VA 22901 USA | ||
| - | ||