Personnel:
Francisco Mela (d, vcl, perc), Joe Lovano (ts), George Garzone (ts), Anat Cohen (ts, cl), Lionel Loueke, Nir Felder (g), Leo Genovese (p, Fender Rhodes, keyb), Peter Slalov (b)
Reference: AV 040 CD
Bar code: 8427328883405
On Melao, Francisco is joined by some of the most talked about musicians of the day. In addition to Lovano, the date features saxophonists Garzone and Anat Cohen and the Benin, Africa-born guitarist Lionel Loueke, who was recently the subject of a cover feature in JAZZIZ Magazine.
The story of how Lovano came to be involved is one Francisco particularly likes to tell. One day, he remembers vividly, I was performing at the Berklee Performance Center, and Joe walked in. Later, some of the students told me that he had said my playing was beautiful, but I thought they were kidding. Then, when Chucho Valdés came to Boston, and Joe was his guest, I went to see Chucho, and Joe said, Hey Chucho, this is the drummer I was telling you about. And then Joe asked me for my phone number.
Playing behind Lovano, following his melodies and being able to have a dialogue -- an interplay -- with him, is, as Francisco notes, Very beautiful, exciting and challenging. And, wow, for me, what can you say when youve played with Joe? Its one of the hippest things you can do.
In addition to his intuitive, tasteful and airy drumming, one of the highlights of Melao is the opportunity to hear nine of the leaders self-composed works. I really got into composing when I came to Boston, and Danilo and Joe began to ask me to write down my ideas. Danilo gave me a little keyboard and told me I should write down my music ideas.
For my composing, when I decide to write something, I sing all of the parts, the bass, the melody, the harmony, everything, into a recording device. Then I go to the keyboard and work out the chords and I put the whole thing together. I have to begin with a melody. Then, I get together with my pianist, and we put the arrangement together.
Francisco's professional horizons continue to broaden as he collaborates with more and more musicians. One of them is saxophonist Paquito DRivera, a fellow Cuban and, as it turns out, a distant cousin. Now when he calls me, he says, Hey primo, Francisco says proudly. The first time he saw me perform, I only had one cymbal, one snare, a tom and a bass drum. It was very simple, but later he said that I was playing all the right stuff.
Playing the right stuff has attracted the attention of an increasingly wide circle of admirers, including JAZZ TIMES Magazine, which has dubbed Mela one of the most important Cuban drummers in jazz.
But for rancisco, its simply a matter of pursuing what he loves most. I want to keep developing a free kind of atmosphere, keeping the Cuban element really inside, he confides. Free jazz Latin is the concept I have for my music. I want to be one of the first from my country to create this kind of music.
"I am very excited and proud to have contributed in my way to Francisco Mela's First Recording as a Leader. The free flowing atmosphere at the session made us all explore his music in each setting with the most creative intimate approach. All of the Sounds and Feelings truely speak for themselves. Yeah Mela!! I'm glad we live in the same Worlds of Music together... "
—Joe Lovano
"Francisco Mela's new album recording is full of life soul and adventure. He has combined all the ingredients that I love so much; his native Cuba, his philosophies and unique vision . I want to say this recording is powered by warmth, spirit and great playing by all. "
—Jane Bunnett
