Jazz Articles about Marco Mezquida

About Marco Mezquida

Album Review

This trio has collectively accompanied such legends and mentors as Dave Liebman, Billy Hart, Miguel Zenón and Arturo O'Farrill. Their Despertar introduces us to double bassist Manel Fortia, whose deep-rooted, emotional precision recalls the late Charlie Haden, pianist Marco Mezquida's sensual lyricism, and drummer Raphaël Pannier's many vivid colors. This is a nine song, eye and ear opening cycle of stirring, Gotham inspired, Euro- tinged Fortia originals. Meaning to awaken, Despertar sheds illumination on the darkness from which ...

Album Review

Manel Fortia: Despertar

Read "Despertar" reviewed by Jerome Wilson

by Jerome Wilson
June 4, 2022

Bassist Manel Fortia is from Barcelona, Spain, but between 2016 and 2020 he lived in New York City. His experiences in both cities are the building blocks of the music he composed for this trio album which combines elegant Mediterranean romance with bristling big city energy. The solemn resonance of Fortia's bass plucking on the opening track, “Dormir," resembles the sound of the late, great bassist Charlie Haden, an admitted influence. Fortia's notes could be an alternative version ...