We have been so lucky to perform with some of the finest musicians in the world.
Jeff Hamilton, John Clayton, Otmaro Ruiz, Justo Almario, Joe Rotondi, Rene Camacho, Ramon Banda, Putter Smith, Jim Szlyagi, Jose "Papo" Rodriguez, Gary Foster, Wayne Bergeron, Andy Martin, Scott Martin, Stan Martin, Kendall Kay, Charlie Otwell, Llew Matthews, Alex Acuña, Aaron Serfaty, Joey DeLeon, Bijon Watson, Pablo Calagero, Gilbert Castellanos, Ricky Woodard, Tito Puente, Celia Cruz, Freddie Hubbard, Chick Corea, and more.....Watch our slide show and you'll see!
Influences
Any musician, vocalist, writer, filmmaker, or human being who has heart and soul and is a master at what they do to elevate humanity.
Sounds Like
Latin Beat Magazine
"...Although most of the repertoire of standards and originals falls within the clave-based Cuban branch of what is known today as Latin Jazz, Cracchiolo and Jackson also prove to be equally fluent in the aforesaid genre's Brazilian field, as well as in straight-ahead idiom. Salvatore is able to move and change musical shape, without separating under pressure, ideally complementing the robust alto range of the other half of Norwalk, California's best kept musical secret, Melanie Jackson"
------------------------------------------A review by Luis Tamargo, Latin Beat Magazine
LA Jazz Scene
"Two highly gifted musicians, both are blessed with a superb sense of rhythm, and the ability to drench melody in emotion. Jackson possesses a strong and elastic four-octave range.
Cracchiolo is a prolific trumpeter. Jackson is a creative improviser who sings jazz with an R&B tinge, and has mambo, samba, chacha, and son in her bones. Cracchiolo has always stood out for his swinging, passionate delivery in trumpet or flugelhorn.
They are joined by some of the most talented musicians in town.
Cracchiolo and Jackson make an explosive team. He composes and arranges. She writes lyrics. He plays harmonies to her vocals, or they play lines together, in unison or harmony. Then they take turns to solo. Between songs, they're affectionate and humorous, at times, hilarious."
---------------------------------------------A review by Patricia Albela, L.A. Jazz Scene
"Dynamite, Exciting, Gorgeous, Classy, Soulful... some nice adjectives indeed. Those are the ones that come to mind when I listen to this debut new recording from Sal Cracchiolo & Melanie Jackson. When I first heard this CD I was listening to Jazz on the Latin Side with Jose Rizo on KKJZ. I stopped what I was a doing at the time and said 'Man oh man who is that??'
Melanie Jackson is the proud owner of a gorgeous singing voice. I mean when I heard her sing my mouth dropped. Her voice has such a rich sound, you need to hear it for your self and you will see what I mean.
All I can say is thank you Melanie and Sal. Thank you for your talents and for creating such a magical debut recording for all of us to enjoy.
"Fly" is right on!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------A review by
Erik Chico Manqueros,
Host & Producer for The Latin Style of Jazz radio show
& Contributing writer
Latin Style Magazine and LatinJazzclub.com--------------------------------------------
View Our Guestbook
Sal Cracchiolo, trumpeter of Grammy Award Winning Poncho Sanchez Latin Jazz Band has teamed up with singer, Melanie Jackson to incorporate a wonderful blend of jazz standards and originals done with a Latin touch.
Their CD "FLY", available at amazon.com and CDbaby.com, features well-known studio legend, Gary Foster on alto sax, Poncho Sanchez, on three cuts and a host of fantastic rhythm players such as Jose Papo Rodriguez on percussion, Joe Rotondi and Jim Szilagyi on piano, Rene Camacho and Putter Smith on bass, and Kendall Kay on drums. Larold Rebhun, sound engineer for the X-files and the Ghost Whisperer, also helped Sal and Melanie to produce this project.
Sal and Melanie came together because of their love of jazz, Latin jazz, and Brazilian music. This music has been carefully chosen and crafted to create moods of love, laughter and fun - all served up just for jazz lovers. This CD was nominated for a Latin Grammy, under the Latin Jazz category in 2002.
Sal has performed on numerous albums with the Poncho Sanchez Latin Jazz Band, jazz legend Bobby Shew, Brian Setzers Big Band, and many albums with the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra backing Diana Krall, John Pizzarelli, Gladys Knight, Joss Stone, Jamiriquoi, and others. He has also toured worldwide with Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, Poncho Sanchez, Brian Setzer, and Tom Jones . He has played with Dizzy Gillespie, Freddie Hubbard, Cal Tjader, Stanley Turentine, Tito Puente, Mongo Santamaria, Arturo Sandoval, Eddie Harris, and Celia Cruz. He has performed for and with these artists at the Monterey, Playboy, Concord, and Nice Jazz Festivals plus many others throughout the U.S., Europe, Canada, Mexico, South America and Japan. I
Melanie was rated L.A.s fourth best local jazz act by Music Connection magazine in 1979. In 1980 she moved to New York and sang with various big bands, performing at The Cookery and Micheals Pub. Later she moved back to L.A. and headed for the studio, recording commercials and network promos NBC, Disney, CBS, Fox, Playboy and Warner Bros. She has toured as a background vocalist throughout the United States, Europe, Canada, the Caribbean, South America and Japan, working with such acts as REO Speedwagon, Latin artist Jose Luis Rodriguez on CBS International, and Leonard Cohen.
Sal and Melanie and performed for The King of Thailand, Pope John Paul II. They have played for the Playboy Jazz Festival, the Vancouver International Jazz Festival and have traveled as far as Tahiti to share there music.
In January 2006, Sal and Melanie flew to Bangkok, Thailand to perform for the American School of Bangkok in a tribute to the King of Thailand and to raise money for the tsunami victims.
View Our Guestbook
I’m sorry you
haven’t heard from me in a while! I was busy finishing my debut album. Now it’s
finally done, you can listen to some tracks on my profile or order a
pre-release copy (see below). Let's stay in touch.
Greetings from
your Swiss brother, blessings,
Vlada
VLADA "All
about you" feat. Take 6, K. Whalum, A. Laboriel, V. Colaiuta, P. Jackson
Jr.
Doing a series of interviews with spiritual people who have global consciousness & live their lives to serve Light & people. Well-known & not, rich & poor. For spiritual magazine & future book. Submit someone you know! more info is in our Blog. With love & light, PolinaJ
Sal! Hey! I was trying to say hello to you last night at HH. I'm working for Kjazz now and I was there! Anyway..you were great! Look forward to seeing you again...Nadina
