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Jonathan Mele

Jonathan Mele is a New York City based drummer/percussionist.

After graduating in 1995 from UMass Amherst with Bachelors and Masters degrees in Jazz performance and composition/arranging, Jon took to the road with the musical "the Who's Tommy," playing large theaters across the U.S. and Brazil.

After moving to New York City in 1996, Jon has performed with many well- known artists including: Steve Swallow, Carla Bley, Sheila Jordan, Ronan Guilfoyle, Hugh Buckley, Richie Buckley, and Adam Kolker. He played drums on the Van Morrison 2005 Universal/Exile records release "Magic Time."

In addition, Jonathan has been writing for and performing with Nicholas Leichter Dance, while also working with other dance companies, including: NYU, Long Island University, Paul Taylor Dance, and Mark Morris.

He plays drums with U.S. based creative improvisers Equilateral, and an internationally-based organ trio, the Jazz Organism, which includes Australian guitarist Jeremy Sawkins and Irish organist Justin Carroll. Jon also performs with the Jeff Holmes Big Band and the New England Jazz Ensemble - groups that play music written by its members as well as music from the jazz ensemble/big band repertoire.

Jon has performed around the world on Stage, TV, Radio, and in recording studios, including: The Guinness Jazz Festival, Bray Jazz Festival, NYC's River to River festival, Summerstage, RTE (Ireland), Iowa City Jazz Festival, The Windmill Lane Studios, etc. He's also presented numerous clinics in the US and Europe.

Recently, The New England Jazz Ensemble released their CD entitled "Live at the Pittsfield Jazz Festival" on Seabreeze records.

Jon owns "Tunnel Street Studio," in which he writes, records drum and percussion tracks for singers, songwriters, producers, and other musicians, utilizing computers and the collaborative possibilities of the internet.

Jonathan is a Yamaha performing artist and endorses Sabian Cymbals, Evans drumheads, Vic Firth Drumsticks, and Grover Pro Percussion.

For More information, please visit: www.JonathanMele.com www.tunnelStreetStudio.com and www.ProfessionalDrumTrax.com

Gear

Yamaha drums, Sabian cymbals, Vic Firth sticks, Evans drumheads, Grover Pro snares


Tags

24
Album Review

Angela DeNiro: Swingin' with Legends 2

Read "Swingin' with Legends 2" reviewed by Jack Bowers


On Swingin' with Legends 2, her fourth recorded collaboration with arranger (and husband) Ron Aprea's big band, vocalist Angela DeNiro sings beautifully--and receives a lot of help from her friends, especially guests Ken Peplowski on clarinet, Randy Brecker on trumpet and Lew Tabackin on tenor sax and flute. And what a band! Well-stocked with stars who are eager to fly whenever Aprea raises his baton. Not that DeNiro needs much help. She is quite simply a marvelous ...

4
Album Review

Angela DeNiro: Swingin' with Legends 2

Read "Swingin' with Legends 2" reviewed by Pierre Giroux


Vocalist Angela DeNiro sings with blue-ribbon vocal abilities. This is evident in her release Swingin' With Legends 2 . Accompanied by the Ron Aprea Big Band, supplemented by special guests Randy Brecker, Ken Peplowski and Lew Tabackin, she sails through fourteen love songs written by some of the greatest composers of the American Songbook, providing a deep understanding and command of the material she performs. The album opens with “New York City Blues," a not frequently ...

2
Album Review

Angela DeNiro with the Ron Aprea Big Band: Swingin' with Legends 2

Read "Swingin' with Legends 2" reviewed by Nicholas F. Mondello


Swingin' with Legends 2 from Angela DeNiro with the Ron Aprea Big Band, is a follow-up to their first Legends effort in 1988. The album, as was its Grammy-entered predecessor, is a quintessentially classic big band recording featuring a fine female vocalist. The fourteen tunes here are predominantly from the Great American Songbook, with jazz greats Randy Brecker, Lew Tabackin, and Ken Peplowski delivering outstanding cameos. The opener “New York Blues" is a flat-out swinger with DeNiro belting ...

336
Take Five With...

Take Five With Jonathan Mele

Read "Take Five With Jonathan Mele" reviewed by AAJ Staff


Meet Jonathan Mele: Jonathan Mele is a New York City-based drummer/percussionist.Since moving to New York City in 1996, Jon has performed with many well-known artists including Steve Swallow, Carla Bley, Sheila Jordan, Ronan Guilfoyle, Hugh Buckley and Richie Buckley. He played drums on the Van Morrison 2005 Universal/Exile records release Magic Time.In addition, Jonathan has been writing for and performing with Nicholas Leichter Dance, while also working with other dance companies, including: NYU, Long Island University, ...

Read more articles
141

Recording

International Trio The Jazz Organism Release CD "Live in Dublin"

International Trio The Jazz Organism Release CD "Live in Dublin"

Source: Michael Ricci

The Jazz Organism has released Live in Dublin, the first live album by this formidable trio of Jeremy Sawkins (Sydney, Australia)—guitar, Jonathan Mele (NYC, USA)—drums and Justin Carroll (Dublin, Ireland)—hammond organ. All three musicians are well-seasoned performing veterans in the jazz field. This album was recorded live during one of their performances at Dublin's jazz club JJ Smyth's. Featuring compositions by Jeremy Sawkins, Live in Dublin also includes a beautiful version of the classic “Old Folks." Members of The Jazz ...

"...JONATHAN MELE contributes as a full partner here, as comfortable going way outside as he is playing ballads."

-Modern Drummer

Primary Instrument

Drums

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Swingin' with Legends...

Early Autumn Productions
2023

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