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George Mel

George Mel has worked as a freelance drummer and percussionist in New York City since late 2000. While in New York, he has performed at such landmark venues as Carnegie Hall; Blue Note, NYC;Irridium,NYC; The Kitano,NYC; Zinc Bar, NYC; 55Bar, NYC; The Bitter End, NYC; Smalls, NYC; Smoke,NYC; Jazz Standard,NYC; The Deer Head Inn, Delaware Water Gap, PA; World Cafe Live, Philadelphia, PA; among others. Over the years George has performed both in the USA and Internationally with such diverse group of world-class artists of all generations as Duane Eubanks (trumpet), Bob Rodriguez (piano), Mark Helias (bass), Leni Stern (guitar/ voice),Essiet Essiet(bass), Valeri Ponomarev (trumpet), Avishai E.Cohen (trumpet), Emilio Solla (piano),Gabriel Grossi(harmonica), Enrique Haneine(piano),Jesse Murphy (bass "Brazilian Girls"), John Ellis (sax),Daniel Santiago(guitar), Raul Midon (guitar/voice), Wayne Escoffery (sax), Freddie Bryant (guitar), Edsel Gomez (piano), Nilson Matta (bass), Lionel Loueke (guitar/voice), Craig Handy (sax), Badal Roy (tablas w/Miles Davis),Sergio Brandao(bass),Victor Prieto(accordeon),Anat Cohen(sax), jazz clarinet legend Perry Robinson,Brazilian piano legend Dom Salvador and countless other top musicians from all-over the world.

Born George 'Gia' Melikishvili, George Mel is a native of Tbilisi, Georgia, where at a young age he taught himself to play the drums. Western music was seen by the communist establishment as subversive and George kept music as a hobby, quietly forming underground rockband Limousine with other forward thinking locals. The subsequent collapse of the Soviet Union brought an instant dissolution of the strict prohibitions on western culture and virtually overnight, Limousine found itself catapulted to national recognition. Limousine instantly graduated from the basement of a local university building to playing large concert halls, major rock festivals,receiving major award and nominations, and appearing on national radio and television. The fame was short-lived, though, as Georgia erupted into civil war shortly thereafter, pushing George to emmigrate to Holland, where he performed for several years as sideman to EMI recording artist Wendy Sheridan and Walter Trout of John Mayall's Bluesbreakers among others. Years into life as a professional musician, George finally received his first formal musical education after being offered a scholarship to the famed Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA , going on to become the first Georgian-born musician to graduate with a degree in Jazz Performance in the United States. Upon graduating, George relocated to New York City, quickly establishing himself as one of the most versatile and in-demand drummers & percussionists on the scene. Based on all of the above and George’s contributions to the arts in the U.S.A., as well as his fantastic reputation among the world class colleagues earned by years of work of the highest standard as a sidemen as well as a leader, the American Federation Of Musicians and the US Government unconditionally granted George Melikishvili highly prestigious “Extraordinary Abilities in The Arts” category status of permanent residency in the United States in 2007.

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Obituary

Jazz Singer George Melly Dies at 80

Jazz Singer George Melly Dies at 80

Source: All About Jazz

LONDON (Reuters) - Flamboyant jazz singer and author George Melly died on Thursday at the age of 80, his wife Diana said in a statement. Melly had been suffering from lung cancer but refused all treatment. He also developed dementia. His last appearance was a performance in June at London's renowned 100 Club in aid of a dementia charity. His wife said in a statement: “For 60 years he has been an acclaimed, popular and much-loved performer." Melly, wit. raconteur ...

Primary Instrument

Drums

Willing to teach

Advanced only

Credentials/Background

Private Instruction. All levels welcome. Advanced preferred.Teaching methods are custom designed for each student according to ability,level,etc. Limited number of students. Rates: beginner-intermediate = $60 per 1 hour lesson , advanced = $100 per 1 hour lesson M-F 11am-6pm

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Triple Life

Self Produced
2011

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