Back at Regattabar by popular demand!   World-renowned drummer and former McCoy Tyner collaborator Francisco Mela returns with this powerful tribute to his legendary mentor, featuring standards and originals that McCoy made famous.  Joining Mr. Mela are Venezuelan-American virtuoso pianist Benito Gonzalez (Kenny Garrett, Pharoah Sanders), widely hailed as the torchbearer for McCoy’s hard-driving yet lyrical style, and master bassist Santi Debriano (Joe Lovano, Archie Shepp).  Tenor saxophone titan George Garzone will be the featured guest, heard here like never before.  This show sold out last year, so be sure to get tickets in advance! Francisco Mela, drums  Santi Debriano, bass  Benito Gonzalez, piano  George Garzone, saxophone    “[Francisco] Mela is just a fantastic player. He has his own style and his own sound, which is what I look for in a drummer.”  — McCoy Tyner  “Fans and critics of pianist Benito Gonzalez agree: He’s a Latin McCoy Tyner.”  — Michael J. West, JazzTimes  “I’m not the master of the sax, George Garzone is.”  — Michael Brecker 

Francisco Mela is a favorite amongst jazz's elite instrumentalists, among them, McCoy Tyner Trio, Joe Lovano “Us Five”, Kenny Barron, Quincy Jones All Starts, Esperanza Spalding, John Scofield, Cooper Moore, William Parker, Ingrid Laubrock, Gary Bartz, Bobby Watson, George Garzone and the Fringe. He moved to Boston in 2000 and quickly began as a thereafter at Berklee College of Music, Mela rapidly made a name for himself on the Boston scene, becoming the house drummer at the legendary Wally’s Cafe ́Jazz Club. It was at Wally’s that Mela began developing a concept for his own band, one that would feature the sounds of modern jazz with the traditional music he grew up with in Cuba. Fellow Berklee faculty member and world-renown saxophonist, Joe Lovano, heard Mela and was immediately impressed, hiring him shortly after to play in his quartet. Since 2005, Mela has been an integral part of Joe Lovano’s quartet and his new group, “Us Five,” a two-drummer quintet. Their 2009 Blue Note Records recording, titled Folk Art, was considered by many critics to be Lovano’s most adventurous to date. In 2009, he was tapped by jazz legend McCoy Tyner to join his trio. Said Tyner of his new young drummer, “Mela is just a fantastic player. He has his own style and his own sound, which is what I look for in a drummer.” Mela has released ten albums, Melao, Cirio, Tree of Life, Fe, Ancestros, MPT trio Volume one, Music frees Our Souls Vol 1, 2 and 3 with Master Bass player Willian Parker and Cooper More, Causa y Efecto Vol 1 and 2 With Zoh Amba. affirming Mela’s unique niche in the melting pot that is now New York’s “jazz and Avant-Garde” scene. Mela is also a faculty member at Berklee College of Music and Mentor of the International Free Jazz Residence Sounds of Freedom in collaboration with Record Label 577. Recently, Mela has recorded an album with the extraordinary Grammy-winning bassist, Christian McBride.

Benito Gonzalez, a Venezuelan-born pianist, is celebrated for his fiery technique and deep emotional expression. Known for blending Afro-Caribbean rhythms with the harmonic sophistication of modern jazz, Gonzalez has performed with luminaries like Kenny Garrett and Pharoah Sanders. His bold, adventurous playing has earned him a reputation as one of the most exciting pianists of his generation.