Melena - Promo Video
Melena performs live with her band. Promotional video for bookings.
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Welcome, Melena!
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Melena
"Musicians needed for Modern Jazz Ensemble
All original compositions. Play and collaborate Jazz, Latin, Odd Meters & World type compositions.
New CD that has just been released and will record new material.
Please serious musicians, strong…"
Romero Wyatt commented on Melena's photo
Melena -Batas
"Very nice photo Melena I would like to hook up sometime and play I'm a producer percussionist engineer. you can also find me at www.myspace.com/romerowyatt join me! ;-)"
Joel Holmes left a comment for Melena"hey mami, Como estas? African Skies just got nominated for a Grammy, i will be in touch.... lets when this thing.....
Besos.....
JH"
Profile Information
- Where are you located?
- Los Angeles
- What is your affiliation to the Jazz World?
- Musical Artist, Educator, Clinician, Jazz Presenter, Entertainment Publication, Jazz Historian
- Tell us a little about your background...
- Melena
Cuban Percussionist
Music is in her blood. Shaped from the rhythms that dance through her veins, Melena, 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, whether on Congas, Timbales, Batas or a range of other percussion instruments. Melena has been traveling the world having performed with legendary artists such as: Barry White, Stevie Wonder, Macy Gray, Chayanne, Julio Iglesias, Eva Ayllone, Peru Negro, Chucho Valdes and Irakere and many others. Melena returned to her native country to study with Conjunto Folklorico Nacional de Cuba, as well as with many of the gifted percussionists on the island, including Roberto Vizcaino Guillott, Miguel “Anga” Diaz, Yaroldy Abreu, Jose Miguel Melendez, Adel Gonzalez, Mario Jauregui and Daniel Herrera. Melena was also blessed to share the same stage with her biggest inspiration, Giovanni Hidalgo. Melena performed with her Afro Cuban band at the Ninth Annual Brownsville Latin Jazz Festival in Texas and also conducted a clinic at the Brownsville University.
Her dream is to travel the world and to be a major contributor to the Afro/Cuban music legacy, sharing the richness of this culture with others. Festivals she has performed in the past include: Jazz at Drew, African Village Festival, Latin Music Festival, Puerto Rico Percussion Festival, Montreal Drum Festival and more. Presently, Melena is conducting Workshops and Clinics Nationally and Internationally. She has specialized her studies in the Afro-Cuban tradition and on the sacred Bata Drums and has taught her students the importance of the history and knowledge of Afro-Cuban drumming and language of the Batas. Melena is one of the very few female percussionists that plays at her level of proficiency
- How did you hear about the Jazz Network? Please give full name of contact
- Nick Smith
- What Instrument do you play?
- Percussion
- What is your website address? Only websites that pertain to your business and how you can be contacted.
- http://www.myspace.com/melenamusic - www.lacasting.com/melena
Talent Entertainment Network, Inc. and Facebook Link
Melena Francis Valdes's Profile
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Please join my mailing list Rumbera for upcoming peformances, clinics, views and news!
Melena's Photos
Melena's Videos
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Melena - Promo Video
Added by Melena 0 Comments 0 Likes
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HBO LOCO SLAM
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Melena's Blog
Melena Performs at The Brownsville Latin Jazz Festival
Posted on March 29, 2009 at 9:43pm 0 Comments 0 Likes
http://melena.com/melena_article_online.pdf
WPR MAGAZINE- INTERVIEWS AND ARTICLES BY: MELENA
Posted on March 29, 2009 at 3:49pm 0 Comments 0 Likes
www.melena.com/melenaAricles.pdf
Cuban Rhythms Meet The African Skies
Posted on March 27, 2009 at 10:23pm 0 Comments 0 Likes
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/news.php?id=32677
Comment Wall (18 comments)
- At 11:06am on July 23, 2009, Joel Holmes said…
- hey mami, Como estas? African Skies just got nominated for a Grammy, i will be in touch.... lets when this thing.....
Besos.....
JH
- At 10:15pm on March 2, 2009,
Dave Percell said… - Hey Melena,
Great to meet you here. Love your style. Hope that you enjoy my music.
Dave Percell
- At 8:37pm on February 28, 2009,
Heshima Moja said… - Vaya Melena!,
Me encanto el video de bata. Hay que preservarla esa tradicion. Sigue pa'alante con el sabor latino.
Bendiciones desde Nueva York,
Heshima
"Inhale Music< Exhale Life"
- At 2:46pm on February 18, 2009,
Gary Taylor said… - hey Melena,
thanks for the compliment. Mood of Midnight has been one of the few songs i've written that i still listen to. it's even more fun when we do it LIVE. i'll be working out some new sounds in that direction soon... stay in touch and stay blessed always...
G..."Blackness"
www.morningcrew.com
- At 1:21am on February 10, 2009,
RAFAEL RAMIREZ said…
- Hola Melena ~ I am honored and humble bye your invitation. Your drumming is magificant and spirit shines thru when ever you touch a drum. I am a very old and close friend of Romeo & Ricky Carrido. Ricky has sent me a couple of youtube clips of your playing & performing.
I was blown away and very impressed.
Wishing you continued success in all your music endeavors and aspirations.
Benditiones, Alafia y Ache`, Rafael Ramirez
- At 4:20am on February 9, 2009,
Serafin Aguilar said… - Thank you for the invitation Melenita. The true blessing is having thoughtful friends like yourself. Cuidate y sigue pa'lante. I hope we get a change to hang soon.
- At 10:36pm on February 8, 2009,
Ricardo "Ricky" Luis Carrido said… - Cu ta Cu Cha, Alla !! :):):)
- At 7:47am on February 3, 2009,
Vince di Mura said… - Melena. Great work. I am going to be playing 51 performance at Laguna Playhouse in Laguna beach in July and August and I want to network with some players in the area. I don't know southern California very well and I really want to do some playing outside of the gig as well. Any suggestions?..vince
- At 4:21pm on February 2, 2009,
Rosendo Quiñones Jr. said… - Bien venida a Jazz Network. Listened to your video recordings and loved them. Glad to have you in the Percussion group. If you're ever in the Houston, TX area send me a line to visit the club.
Suerte y con mucho amor.
Quindo
- At 6:31am on February 2, 2009,
Martin Clay said… - Thanks for hookin' up sis'!...Really enjoyed the videos but still not hearing the player?...Blessings from Canada.
The Jazz Network is exactly what the title suggests, a place where you get to mix and mingle with those who have not only an appreciation for Jazz but a forum to hear new up and coming artists as well. I've hooked up with so many of my old friends that I've lost contact with over the years here and it's been a great place to meet folk, appreciate good music and Musicianship. What an incredible idea!!
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