Look who I found

[Dan Gould]

Did anyone else know that Lou Mecca had returned to music recently? Certainly his single LP for BN is amongst the most obscure dates Alfred put out, but apparently after leaving the biz in the early '60s, Mecca has returned. Here's the link:

http://www.jazzpromo.com/sections.php?op=v...ticle&artid=149

The sound clips sound pretty good, I might just order this one.

[jazzbo]

It's a very cool cd!

[Harold_Z]

That's a good cd, but the bad news is that Lou died last spring, I think from cancer.

[jazzbo]

Argh! Yeah, I forgot about that. Damn.

[Larry Kart]

Interesting how echoes of Mecca, Joe Cinderella (both Gil Melle guitarists) and Billy Bauer are cropping up in the work of several younger players, e.g. Liberty Ellman and Jeff Parker. I know that Parker is a Bauer fan, but it's also quite possible these days for people to "invent" stuff that was in fact invented 50 years ago, without the younger players ever having heard the stuff they seem to have been influenced by.

[Harold_Z]

To add to what Larry said - both Joe Cinderella and Lou Mecca taught guitar extensively in the Northern New Jersey area and I know that people that studied with them are now teaching also - I'm sure their influence will continue to show up for a long time to come.

[clinthopson]

Hey Harold!

I am totally unfamiliar with Lou Mecca.

Who did he play with?

Edited November 29, 2003 by clinthopson

[jazzbo]

From the Mecca website, NOT up to date:

Lou is considered a contemporary artist and when he plays the guitar, it is as though Lou and the instrument are one. Warm rich tones are what most jazz artists strive for, Lou holds that thought.

Selected by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) as outstanding Jazz Guitarist. Voted a "NEW STAR" in the Guitar Category in the Downbeat critics Poll.

Recognized by Leonard Feather as a brilliant new guitarist heard on Blue Note Records. Illustrated in the "Encyclopedia Yearbook of Jazz" and "History of Jazz" written by Leonard Feather, and also illustrated in "The Jazz Guitar Book", in the third and fourth editions, by Maurice J. Summerfield, UK.

Performed at the 1st "Newport Jazz Festival" with the Gil Melle Quartet, and at Town Hall, N.Y.C., also performed at Gullivers, Trumpets and the Cafe D'Angelico, and various Jazz Clubs in N.J., N.Y., Canada, FL, PA, RI, and throughout the country.

Worked with such outstanding artists as Ella Fitzgerald, Bill Evans, Teddy Charles, Eddie Costa, Al Cohn, Chris Conners, Archie Blyer's Orchestra, accompanist for Julius La Rosa, Stan Purdy, accompanist for "The Unsinkable Molly Brown Show", performed with the Ron Metcalf Orchestra, at the Worlds Fair in N.Y., Vincent Lopez Orchestra, John Lewis, Maxzine Sullivan, Rex Stewart, Vinnie Burke, Gary Mazzaroppi, Jack Six, Al Caiola and many other great musicians and singers.

Lou Mecca, Al Caiola, Bob Paterson, showing Jason Cook (student) some new ideas at the Orlando, FL Guitar Workshop

Lou spent many hours jamming with the great Guitarist, Johnny Smith.

Lou developed the first Guitar Department at Fairleigh Dickinson University, Rutherford, N.J. Campus, where he held a position as Adjunct Professor of Guitar for seven years.

Lou is scheduled to do several guitar workshops at area music stores also scheduled to perform in concerts , festivals in N.Y.,N.J.,FL and Europe in the upcoming months.

Contributing consultant to "Just Jazz Guitar" Magazine.

Lou went to the Chiropractic Institute of New York for six years in the evening to become a Chiropractic Physician while teaching students in the daytime and performing at various clubs and private functions. Lou graduated and for the next 25 years he worked hard as a Chiropractor in New Jersey. Lou continued to play, but as his practice grew there was less time for Lou to perform. Lou Mecca retired from his practice and moved to the New Jersey Shore. After a sabbatical in Fl, where he started to perform again at concerts and festivals. Lou moved back to the New Jersey Shore and after a slow start Lou is back in full swing. and is looking forward to another career in his first love, music.

Lou can be found playing at various venues in N.J.and N.Y. area, he performs with a duo, trio, quartet and sometimes a quintet.