THIS SAT, FEB 5, 8:30PM-1AM, $8ALL AGES WELCOME - CALL 714-871-8800 TO RSVP
MELENA AND HER LATIN JAZZ BAND
Steamers Jazz Club and Cafe
138 W. Commonwealth Ave
Fullerton, CA 92832
Melena (congas & bata drums) with Sal Chrachiolo (trumpet), Jorge Carbonell (drums), Jorge "Sawa" Perez (bass), Jeff Goodkind (piano) & Joel Nunez (sax).
Afro-Cuban Percussionist Melena Francis Valdez, born in Havana, Cuba, has mastered the traditional rhythms that have traveled from Africa to Cuba, to the dance floors of America. Her Afro-Cuban sound is a conversation of melodies which she plays with fierce passion. Melena is a multi-talented percussionist who plays Congas, Timbales, Bata Drums, and Shekere. She is an artist who exemplifies the sound of legendary players from the past, to the modern sound of today. Melena's formal training began on the drums when she was a teenager.
Master percussionist Luis Conte was instrumental in shaping her early development, but Melena returned to her native country of Havana Cuba several times to study privately with the Conjunto Folklorico Nacional De Cuba, as well as with many gifted percussionists on the island such as: Miguel "Anga" Diaz, Yaroldy Abreu, Jose Miguel Melendez, Roberto Vizcaino Guillot, Adel Gonzalez, Cristobal Larrinanga, Mario Jauregui, Daniel Herrera, an Jose "Pepe" Espinosa.
Melena has toured, performed, and recorded with legendary artists such as: Barry White, Stevie Wonder, Macy Gray, Julio Iglesias, and Chayanne. She fronts her own Latin Jazz and Afro Cuban Salsa band. Festivals Melena has performed at with her band include: Jazz at Drew, African Village Festival, Santa Barbara Caribbean Festival and Brownsville Latin Jazzz Festival, where Melena was blessed to share the same stage with her biggest inspiration, Giovanni Hidalgo!
Melena Francis Valdez has also been featured as a guest musician for several recordings and Live DVD/PBS specials for artists such as: John Tesh, Eva Ayllone, Peru Negro, Joel Holmes and Unwrapped Vol. 2. & 3. Melena was also the featured percussionist for the HBO Loco Slam Comedy Series with Carlos Mencia. In addition she was featured on the televisin show "Prison Break" playing congas alongside actor Amaury Nolasco. She has recently played with Poncho Sanchez, Frank Cano, and Jose Rizo's Mongorama Band, and has specialized her studies in the Afro-Cuban tradition and on the Sacred Bata Drums; Melena has taught her students the importance of the history and knowledge of Afro-Cuban drumming and the language of the Batas. Melena is someone to be recognized as one of the most accomplished and proficient female percussionist in the music community.
Upcoming @ Steamers this month:FEB 3-RON ESCHETE TRIOFEB 4-THE JACK SHELDON CALIFORNIA COOL QUARTET
FEB 5-MELENA AND HER LATIN JAZZ BAND
FEB 6-EVAN STONE @ STEAMERS JAZZ JAM
FEB 7-THE HAL WILLIS BIG BAND
FEB 8-DALE BOATMAN AND THE CALJAS QUINTET
FEB 9-THE MIKE LEVAN/EVAN STONE TRIO
FEB 10-VOCALIST TERYN CARTER
FEB 11-12 JOEY DEFRANCESCO TRIO W/ STEVE WILKERSON-RAMON BANDA
FEB 13 EVAN STONE @ STEAMERS JAZZ JAM
FEB 14-BILL STROUT'S BIG BAND 2000
FEB 15-THE CHRIS WILLIAMS SEXTET
FEB 16-ELAINE MILES
FEB 17-EVAN STONE AND THE TRANSLUCENT HAM SANDWICH BAND
FEB 18-GINA SAPUTO
FEB 19-THE FRANK CANO LATIN JAZZ BAND
FEB 20-EVAN STONE @ STEAMERS JAZZ JAM
FEB 21-ARLENE AND THE GUYS BIG BAND
FEB 22-CHRISTOPHER JEAN'S THE MOONLIGHT EXPRESS BIG BAND
FEB 23-TONY GUERERRO QUARTET
FEB 24-VOCALIST NANCY SANCHEZ
FEB 25-CAROL WELSMAN
FEB 26-THE FRANCISCO AGUABELLA LATIN JAZZ BAND
FEB 27-EVAN STONE @ STEAMERS JAZZ JAM
FEB 28-THE MARK HIX BIG BAND
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