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Paoli Mejias

Paoli Mejias - percussion, composer, recording artist, bandleader

Performing for more than 20 years, Grammy nominee Paoli Mejias has already distinguished himself as a young master percussionist and is ranked among the best in both salsa and Latin jazz. Paoli is now at the vanguard of Latin jazz as leader of his own Quintet with three successful CDs as band leader: “JAZZAMBIA”(2008), “Transcend” (2006) and “Mi Tambor” (2004) which received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Latin Jazz Album.

Born March 7, 1970 in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, percussionist Paoli Mejias' rise to Latin jazz fame is a story of sweat and dedication. Completely self taught, Paoli purchased his first set of congas at age twelve, inspired by records of conga great Carlos “Patato” Valdes and Latin jazz innovators Batacumbele and Irakere. Learning by imitating the sounds he heard on the records, Paoli taught himself the language of the congas without the benefit of an instructor. By his mid-to-late teens, he could be found at jam sessions in the streets and on the beaches of San Juan. He earned invitations from bandleaders like Rafú Warner, José Nogueras, Glen Monroig and Charlie Sepúlveda. As he worked his way up the live music food chain in Puerto Rico, Paoli found himself performing alongside the Latin jazz legends who had inspired him in his early years.

Paoli's résumé includes top jazz and salsa artists like Tito Puente, Dave Samuels, Dave Valent�-n, Paquito d'Rivera, Chick Corea, David Sánchez and Danilo Pérez, who all have called on Paoli for his unique blend of melodic sensitivity and blinding technique. As Puerto Rico's first-call conguero, Paoli has performed and recorded with artists like Luis Enrique, Marc Anthony, La India, Tito Puente, Seis del Solar, & Eddie Palmieri with whom he toured the largest jazz festivals for more than a decade. Paoli's discography as side-man includes more than 20 commercial recordings, among them Grammy nominated “Acuarela de Tambores” by Alex Acuña, and Grammy Award winner “Masterpiece” by Eddie Palmieri and Tito Puente.

Paoli made his successful debut as a bandleader in 2004 with his self-produced record “Mi Tambor” which received a Latin Grammy nomination for Best Latin Jazz Album in 2005. Showered with positive press and accolades from the worldwide jazz community, Paoli's transition from sideman to focal point was explosive. His 2006 follow-up release “Transcend” features some of the New York Latin jazz scene's finest: Luis Perdomo, Miguel Zenón, Jaleel Shaw, Hans Glawischnig, Antonio Sánchez, all of whom are also recording on his 3rd CD “JAZZAMBIA” released November 30, 2008.

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"Latin bandleaders these days are making music that becomes simultaneously more modern and more ancient. "Jazzambia," by the Puerto Rican percussionist Paoli Mej�-as, is the latest proof. It includes several other like-minded musicians, including the pianist Luis Perdomo and the saxophonist Miguel Zenón, and it's exciting to see where it goes.

There are standard structural elements of Afro-Cuban music here �" tumbaos and montuno sections �" but there are also rhythm strategies that come from various kinds of new jazz that many would say are not Latin at all. (One track, "Diaspora," culminates brilliantly with Mr.Zenón soloing with more free-jazz gusto than he ever seems to use, over the interlocking patterns of two hand drummers.) The point is that jazz was part Latin from the start, and has become only more so." NEW YORK TIMES, Ben Ratliff

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Jonathan Suazo
saxophone

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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Revolution

Self Produced
2019

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Coming Back

Outside in Music
2019

buy

Days

Inner Circle Music
2015

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Days

Inner Circle Music
2015

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JAZZAMBIA

Unknown label
2008

buy

Mi Tambor

RCA Italiana
2004

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