"Francisco Jose Mela is a Cuban drummer and percussionist who has performed with a wide array of prominent international Latin and jazz artists including Kenny Barron, Gary Bartz, JoAnne Brackeen, Jane Bunnett, Regina Carter, Anat Cohen, Paquito D'Rivera, George Garzone, Larry Grenadier, Stefon Harris, Lionel Loueke, Joe Lovano, Jason Moran, John Patitucci, John Scofield, Esperanza Spalding, Mark Turner, McCoy Tyner, Chucho Valdés, Kenny Werner, and many others.

Born in Bayamo, Cuba, Francisco Mela studied at the Music School of Arts El Yarey as a teenager before furthering his studies at the National School of Arts for Teachers, el CENCEA. He taught at Rafael's Cabrera Conservatory of Music and played with some of the country's top Latin jazz musicians, as well as leading his group, MelaSon Latin Jazz Band, that toured throughout Mexico. In 2000, he moved to Boston to study at Berklee College of Music and was invited to join the percussion faculty. He became the house drummer at the Wally's Café. It was here where he developed the concept for what would later be his own group.

In 2005, Mela joined the quartet of saxophonist Joe Lovano. Of particular note was the group's 2008 album on Blue Note entitled Folk Art.Later that year, Mela was approached by McCoy Tyner to join his trio.

Mela was named the Twin Cities Jazz Festival's first artistic director in 2014, Before appointment, he served as artistic director for the Xalapa Jazz Festival in Veracruz, Mexico (2010-2013).

In late 2016, Mela was part of an inaugural ensemble that joined Afro-Cuban pianist Chucho Valdés and saxophonist Joe Lovano for an international tour throughout Europe and North America. He also leads his own group, The Crash Trio."

"Hery Paz is a saxophonist and painter born in Cuba, who embodies a rich and diverse color palette. Explicit not only in painting but equally manifested in his distinction as a musician and composer. Ranging from a singular melodic imagination and harmonic depth to contrasting and contrapuntal textures. His solos are imbued with purpose, a sense of patience and a willingness to venture into the unknown. "Paz's melodic lines are made with art, his lyricism does not fit anything you anticipate listening to, having the ability to surprise." -Jazz Trail. He has won the acclaim and respect of legendary jazz musicians such as Fred Hersch. Who called him "... a revelation, a musician of extraordinary strength". Hery is currently an integral element of the creative music scene in New York City. Where he has worked with artists such as Francisco Mela, Ralph Alessi, Fred Hersch, Dave Liebman, Thomas Morgan, George Garzone, Tony Malaby, Ingrid Laubrock, Kris Davis, Ethan Iverson, Miguel Zenón, Frank Carlberg, Tom Rainey, Gerald Cleaver, Bob Moses, Ran Blake, Joe Morris, Charles Downs and Michael Attias. He also holds a Master's degree from the New England Conservatory in Boston."

"Juanma Trujillo. Born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela, guitarist Juanma Trujillo has performed with several important Venezuelan bands and artists including El Regaño, Domingo en Llamas, Gustavo Medina, Monsalve y los Forajidos. In 2005, he moved to Los Angeles, California and had the pleasure of performing regularly at major Los Angeles music venues with Gary Fukushima, Gary Pratt, Michael Mull, Brandon Sherman and Emilio Terranova among others. Since moving to New York City in 2014 Juanma has been an active member of the Jazz and Improvised music scene, playing in groups with artists such as Francisco Mela, Ras Moshé, Mimi Jones, Guillermo Gregorio, Nick Grinder, Rebecca Sullivan, Ethan Helm, Leonor Falcón, Juan Pablo Carletti, Christof Knoche, and Andrew Schiller among others. Juanma's activity in multiple musical ensembles has enabled him to perform in various venues all over the world, including Los Angeles, New York, Paris, Venezuela, Austria and Slovenia.

Juanma has positioned himself at the forefront of cutting edge improvisational and experimental creative music. He has the ability to generate emotive and powerful musical statements that transcend the scope of typical structures, analysis, or preconceived systems, and engage not only the ears, but the mind and spirit as well. Because of his boundless curiosity and constant study, he is capable of working comfortably and successfully in many genres of music. His compositions are challenging, clear, cohesive and profound. Juanma continually strives to innovate amongst his contemporaries while also incorporating the mastery of his predecessors into his forward-leaning artistic explorations."