Carlos Melendez

Carlos Melendez was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and started playing guitar at the age of 10 years old. Interested in the sounds of R&B (Ray Charles and James Brown) and the classical guitar of Andres Segovia, studied Music Theory and at the (public)  Music School of Puerto Rico while in elementary school.

At 12 he was already learning the “essential blues” licks or phrases from the Vinyl recordings of the late Mike Bloomfield, Eric Clapton and the great B.B. King. At 15 he began studying classical guitar for about three years with guitarist Daniel Morrison.

His interest in jazz guitar led him to work professionally in the recording studios for several years while at the same time playing, listening and learning jazz music on the side.

He has taught guitar at the Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music’s Jazz Dept. The Interamerican University of Metro San Juan Puerto Rico & Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids.

He has performed with artists like Jose Feliciano, saxophonist Sonny Fortune, flute legend Herbie Mann, The Drifters, The Grand Rapids Jazz Orchestra, Grammy award-winning saxophonist David Sanchez, legendary jazz bassist Eddie Gomez, and award-winning composer and pianist Roger MacNaughton.

Studied harmony, counterpoint and composition with professor Robert Milano Di Matia.

He has also recorded with jazz flutist virtuoso Artie Webb for Atlantic records, the late great jazz pianist Paul Neves, whom he studied jazz with, and keyboardist Mark Gray ( Brecker Bros), among many others.

Currently he lives in Michigan with his wife, teaches guitar lessons and Jazz Improvisation. Works as a guitarist doing local gigs with local musicians!