Francisco Mela

Francisco Mela is a Cuban jazz drummer born in Bayamo in 1968. His playing fuses Cuban traditions with modern jazz polyrhythms and Afro-Latin grooves. He has performed with McCoy Tyner, Joe Lovano, and Kenny Barron, and leads Crash Trio and Cuban Safari; leader albums include "Tree of Life" (2008). Known for charismatic, polyrhythmic sets that blend hard-swinging post-bop with Cuban roots.