Lou Mecca appeared briefly as a Blue Note recording artist in the 1950's. His crisp guitar style was impressive and amazing. Indeed, numerous newspaper reviews of the time stated how refreshing his style was. Mecca won the Canadian Broadcasting Award for the outstanding Jazz Guitarist in Canada and a year later, was rated top in the Downbeat Critics Poll of upcoming stars.

Lou first studied trumpet at the age of eight under the guidance of his father but, after finding the trumpet did not suit him, he changed to guitar at age nine. He left High School in his fourth year to become a pro musician and took a position at a music school in New Jersey during the day and played the bars and clubs at night. He developed the first Guitar Department at Fairleigh Dickinson School in Rutherford, N J, where he held the position as Adjunct Professor of Guitar for 7 years. Lou also took up the trumpet again for a season with the Clifton Symphony Orchestra.

In 1947, Lou met and became friends with Johnny Smith, who helped him get the most out of his guitar, as well as tal farlow and the late Joe Pass. This helped to influence Lou in finding his own voicing and style which have become his trademarks. In 1955 Lou recorded as leader of his own quartet featuring Jack Hitchcock on vibes, Vinnie Burke on bass and Jimmy Campbell on drums.

Lou Mecca realised that this was not enough to support a family. One week he would play with Ella Fitzgerald, Archie Bleyer and other greats and then spend the next week trying to find a gig. So for six years, he went to school in the evenings in New York and taught students during the day whilst continuing to perform in various clubs and private functions in order to study to become a Chiropractic Physician. In 1967, he graduated from the Chiropractic Institute of New York and for the next 25 years he practised in New Jersey, occasionally playing in the evenings.

In 1992, Lou retired from his job and took a sabbatical, teaching himself to play piano and at the same time continuing on guitar. In 1996, he moved to Florida for a year where he performed at SUNFEST 97 with Vinnie Burke. He made several appearances at the Melon Patch Inn, Hutchinson Island, Florida and performed with several musicians at "Jazz on the Lawn" with Burke, Tony Argo on accordion, Buddy Brower on keyboards and Tony Lund on drums.

Lou moved back to New Jersey in 1997 and is looking forward to another career in his first love - music. He recently released his latest CD - "The Lou Mecca Trio - Bridging The Gap" and is currently working on more CDs. Lou plays a Gibson Super V Archtop but is torn between this and the Heritage Golden Eagle.

Look out for Lou Mecca and his unique voicing making more appearances at various venues in New Jersey, New York, the United States and Europe during 2000.

Gil Melle Quartet featuring Lou Mecca (Blue Note 5054)

Gil Melle Quartet featuring Lou Mecca (Blue Note 5063)

Lou Mecca Quartet (Blue Note 5067)

Gt Guitars w/ Lou Mecca / Tal Farlow / Sal Salvador (Blue Note Japan)

Jazz Live at Ballard - Tribute to Tal Farlow (Contemporary Studio records)

The Lou Mecca Trio - Bridging The Gap (Contemporary Studio records)

Lou Mecca - Guitar

Mickey Golizio - Bass

Nick Garratano - Drums

Stompin' At The Savoy; Nuages; Black Orpheus; Body And Soul; Lullaby Of The Leaves; What's New; Yesterdays; Angel Eyes; Green Dolphin Street; Tenderly; Wave; Moonlight In Vermont; Days Of Wine And Roses

Way back in the fifties, the name Lou Mecca was on everyone's lips. In a short space of time he'd recorded two albums with Gil Melle for Blue Note, replacing Tal farlow in the quartet and then his one and only leader album of the period, again for the Blue Note Label. It seemed that he was destined for the top. But that was that. Mecca disappeared off the scene almost as quickly as he had appeared.

Possessed of a fine facility on the instrument, Mecca was a major talent but he decided early on that making music was not enough to support his family. So, for many years, indeed decades, he played only occasionally. Now he's back on the scene and this new CD is an able showcase for his talents. There's no doubt that there's a lot of the influence of friend and mentor Tal farlow in Mecca's playing. The CD is packed with the usual standards and whilst there's nothing here to set the world alight , Mecca's style and finesse shines through. He's musical and precise in his playing with a lot of lovely ideas…….. If you are a fan of the playing style of Tal farlow, this will be your kind of CD. I've a feeling, however, that we haven't really heard the best of Lou Mecca as yet. There are two more CDs scheduled so watch this space.

Rating ***+/****

(Article from Jazz Guitar International - Musicweb - UK)