Paoli Mejias Latin Jazz Quintet

On the second night of the festival, something transpired that left the audience in awe. What happened was that LP artist Paoli Mejias was booked in the prestigious Tito Puente Amphitheatre to open for two acts that will remain nameless. Paoli came on with his quintet and delivered such an inspired performance that the audience was left wanting for nothing. He and his band put on a show that was difficult, if not impossible, to follow.
- Latin Percussion

El quinteto del boricua Paoli Mejías comenzó la velada con el tema "Transcend", de Néstor Toro. Un tema que combinó ritmos griegos con líneas melódicas que evocaban motivos flamencos y del Medio Oriente, y que mostró la tendencia a la integración polirrítmica que caracteriza al grupo....

El grupo exhibió una energía y un acomplamiento excelente que pocas veces se logra tomando en cuenta el nivel alto de ejecución que demandan los arreglos y los retos que los músicos de la banda se han impuesto.
- El Vocero - Élmer González

Paoli Mejías makes world music. Not only because he shares the idea that music is universal, but because he incorporates in his repertoire rhythms from diverse regions which gives substance and an interesting cadence to the unique and distinctive flavor that characterizes him.

As impressive as his talent was his humbleness during the entire festival. With both he left the public speechless and on their feet, as they broke into applause for the passion and intensity with which he plays his drums. The Grammy nomination of Paoli's CD [Mi Tambor] is definitely not in vain, and is one of the 25 possible candidates for the Grammy Awards in February 2006. - Sol de Margarita

Paoli Mejias, young master of the conga and Latin percussion, brings a welcome infusion of new blood to the Latin jazz tradition. Though he is steeped in that tradition, he doesn't follow the old ways by rote, instead pushing the music forward with his own imagination. From his ground in the rich history of Afro/Cuban music, Mejias is creating a genuinely new sound. There is a fresh flexibility to his rhythmic approach, accented by surprising twists and turns, and the instrumental solos of his Quintet are exhilaratingly modern. - Staff writer

The [HotHouse] festival’s biggest surprise was PAOLI MEJIAS AND HIS QUINTET. This group took everyone by surprise with their musical skills and energy in their interpretation of modern jazz and fusing it with Caribbean and Latin music. Paoli Mejías is truly becoming a recognizable figure as one of the most talented percussionists on the planet. This group brought the house down. - Carlos Flores, PuertoRicanChicago.Com Newsletter

[Paoli's] range of talents becomes clearer as he demonstrates his mastery of Afro-Caribbean percussion instruments (congas, timbales, bongo, buleador, plena drums, etc.), and the integration of music from other cultures. Paoli continues to grow, surprise, and delight listeners who seek quality in their music. - Aguzate.org

Paoli played three numbers from his latest CD "Mi Tambor". His first number was a Miguel Zenon arrangement "The Dance Step" followed by "Hello Nany"; this particular number was written by Yan Carlos Artime. It’s a duo with Yan Carlos Artime on Piano and Paoli on Bongos. The Chemistry between these two excellent musicians on stage can only be described in one word Awesome. Yan Carlos’s smooth melodic playing and Paoli’s rhythmic patterns of playing complimented one another. Closing this segment he interpreted a tune which is called: "Cuidado con la Percusion" which is a Latin Jazz Salsa Fusion which had everyone on their feet and dancing to the tune...
- Nota Musical Magazine

LATIN & WESTERN SWING BANDS TOUCHED BY JAZZ

Latin bandleaders these days are making music that becomes simultaneously more modern and more ancient. “Jazzambia,” by the Puerto Rican percussionist Paoli Mejías, 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. (Available from paolimejias.com.) - New York Times, Ben Ratliff

Paoli Mejias transcends the conventions of mainstream jazz, creating a rich tapestry of original, Latin-flavored, improvisational music - JAZZ IMPROV

The virtuoso percussionist Paoli Mejias and his quintet erupted Saturday night in the sedate surroundings of The Seasons. No one was hurt in the explosion; quite the opposite, we all left feeling better. Most of the repertoire was from Mejías's CD Transcend, which features Latin stars Miguel Zenón, Luis Perdomo, Hans Glawischnig and Antonio Sánchez. The sidemen in Mejias' road band are less well known outside the hard-core Latin jazz community, but the authority of their work in the pre-Easter concert indicates that their relative obscurity cannot last.
http://www.artsjournal.com/rifftides/2008/03/paoli_mejias_in_concert.html
- Arts Journal - Doug Ramsey