cymbalgroove

Thanks Peter. Miss having you around here! Hope all is well.

Thanks Bill.

Thanks so much Larry. Means a lot coming from you!

Hi everyone, I just wanted to let people know I just released a new CD called New York Connections with Peter Bernstein guitar, Jerry Weldon tenor, Jeb Patton piano and Neal Miner bass. It can be purchased here at CD baby http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/mikemelito2 thanks for your interest.

Got to work a handful of times with him with Rochester over the years. He was a nice guy, loved the music and was very humble. He actually moved back here last month but I didn't get a chance to see him. Strazz worked with a lot of guys Kenny Dorham and Philly Joe as well as all the others. Very sad he passed.

Thanks so much Tom. Frank Basile is a great player for sure. He is also a great guy as well. Thanks again for the support.

I just released my fifth CD as a leader called THE RIGHT TIME. It's a hardbop record and It features me on drums, John Marshall on trumpet, Frank Basile on baritone saxophone, Neal Miner bass, Bob Sneider guitar and Dino Losito on piano. The album features seldom heard tunes by Sonny Clark, Gigi Gryce, John Coltrane as well as a few originals. You can find it here http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/mikemelito check it out.

Lewis is a good guy as well I may add. He sounds good in a lot of different settings.

Lewis is a good guy as well I may add. He sounds good in a lot of different settings.

Thanks Tom! I appreciate it!

I just put out a brand new CD called The Right Time. It features me on drums, the great John Marshall on trumpet (who lived in NYC for years before moving to Germany) Frank Basile on baritone saxophone (who can be seen with the Vanguard Orchestra a lot), Neal Miner on bass (currently touring with Jane Monheit) and two upstate NY guys who have both played with many people as well Bob Sneider guitar and Dino Losito piano. The CD is available here http://cdbaby.com/cd/mikemelito and is also on itunes. The record has two obscure John Coltrane compositions, a tune by Sonny Clark, one by Gigi Gryce and a few originals. Check it out.. I think it's my best effort to date.

John really plays great. I don't think he is playing much trumpet these days but he's playing EVI. He's a very natural player who is comfortable in any setting. I remember him bringing me to Philadelphia one weekend at Chris's Jazz Cafe a few years back when he was playing trumpet and he was killin! The band was great as well. The late great Sid Simmons on piano, Madison Rast bass, Bootsie Barnes and Jon Gordon one night and Mike DiRubbo one night. John is very hard on himself. He's a legend in Philly and well deserved I might add.

Jimmy is a really good friend of mine and great drummer! I talk with him all the time. He has shown me pictures of him playing with Kenny Dorham, Mal Waldron, Al Haig and a bunch more. Jimmy has a very organic sense of the music. Still playing great. I heard him on the Smalls live feed last night with Tardo and Lee Hudson-Swingin..

I forgot to say how much I love Horace Parlan's playing. His Blue Note On The Spur Of The Moment is a great one!

Joe Romano is really good on that session. I first encountered his tenor playing on a Gus Mancuso record that Fantasy reissued on compact disc back in the 90's. His sound then seemed to be under a heavy Rollins influence, but on Act One you can tell he's listened to Coltrane. Still, he manages to be himself. Noto's sound is gorgeous on that record. I sure miss Joe Romano! Act One was probably his best recorded effort in my opinion. It was actually some of his best playing ever. His playing was very connected on that date.