CD Details
Synopsis
Product DescriptionIt's no secret that for most of the 20th Century, Cuban music and musicians played important roles in influencing and revitalizing North American popular culture. From Ernesto Lecuona and Desi Arnaz to Chano Pozo, Paquito D'Rivera and Gloria Estefan, a wide stylistic panorama, from classical to pop and jazz idioms, has been constantly invigorated by the presence of supremely talented Cuban musicians and their distinctive music traditions.
Half Note Records will release Cirio (Sept. 23), Francisco Mela's first live record and second recording as a leader. The Cuban-born drummer assembles a superior cast of playmates - Jason Moran, Lionel Loueke, Mark Turner and Larry Grenadier - for this live recording captured at the Blue Note Club in New York City. Together they make music informed by the rhythms of Mela's homeland, while also going beyond into adventurous modern jazz. In the process, he evinces a versatility rare among young players; his interactions with different combinations of group members underscore his collaborative instincts.
His debut release, Melao (AYVA Musica) which The Village Voice called the best debut by a jazz artist in 2006 (in the newspaper's first annual jazz critics poll), included luminaries such as Joe Lovano, George Garzone, Jane Bunnett, Anat Cohen and Lionel Loueke. Since then, Mela has increasingly become one of the most talked about and in-demand drummers on the scene in New York and beyond. He is currently a favorite among elite jazz instrumentalists such as Joe Lovano (Us Five), John Scofield (John Scofield Trio), Joanne Brackeen and as a regular member of Kenny Barron's working trio, all of whom cite his charisma, sophistication, and life-affirming spirit.
He brings to this impassioned performance compositions inspired by family - his recently departed father Cirio as well as his newborn son (the portrait of his father, Cirio, on the cover of the album was drawn by Mela as a pre-teen).
''One of the most important Cuban drummers in jazz. ''
- JazzTimes
''Mr. Mela is a bandleader on the rise. ''
- The New York Times
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CD Reviews
Great live album by a killer band Anthony R. Guarriello | Rutherfordton NC | 09/11/2009 (5 out of 5 stars) "On Cirio you get a wonderful live set of let me call this muti-cultural jazz because it draws from many areas of influence and not to mention Francisco Mela is cuban so he brings some of his homeland groove in as well,but this is by no means a latin jazz album,no more a modern jazz with latin overtones album which for me is great. The band here represents some of the heaviest cats on the jazz scene today. You've got Marc Turner on sax who besides leading his own groups appears along side everyone from Kurt Rosenwinkle to Fly trio with Jeff Ballard, to many to name here but you get my drift. Larry Grenadier on upright is currently one of my favorite bassists on the scene who like Turner is a musical chameleon but most noted for his long run with Brad Meldau trio's and Pat Metheny's trio. Larry plays with more of that old school Paul Chambers vibe a big bass,gut type strings and a huge sound. Then we have Lionel Louke a rising jazz guitarist from Africa who's been playing with Herbie Hancock and making waves on the scene as a great player. The guitar here is understated and used mostly in a support role,there are very few guitar solos but I think he does a fine job of bringing Mela's vision to reality. On piano is Jason Moran a highly inventive stylist who in my opinion doesn't get his do & proper. Most of the tunes are extended pieces, the average tune being about 7minutes but overall they hold the listening attention very well. The tunes are a mixture of originals & covers mostly latin covers. There aren't any standard jazz tunes but thats ok. Mela's original material is a beautiful blend of his cuban heritage and modern jazz past & present. My favorite tracks would have to be # 1,2,3 & 8. On some tunes the guitar lays out. I recommend this album highly for fans of good jazz especially if you enjoy the raw energy present on live albums, which you get here. I also say that Francisco Mela is a talent to be watched. Check him out on Joe Lavano's newest Us Five release Folk Art & on Esparanza Spauldings newest album. He's playing now all over the NYC jazz scene with old vets like Kenny Baron and rising young artists such as Esperanza. He's definitely a artist and bandleader on the rise and of the highest caliber, make Cirio part of your music collection you won't regret it."
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