Melech Mechaya

Line up

André Santos (Guitar)
Francisco Caiado (Percussion)
João da Graça (Violin)
João Sovina (Doublebass)
Miguel Veríssimo (Clarinete)

country:
Portugal
region:
Lisboa
style(s):
- Fado
- Klezmer
label:
Felmay srl
type:
Band, Composer/Songwriter
instrumentation:
instrumental
artist submitted by:
Mapamundi Música

Melech Mechaya is a Portuguese Klezmer band based in Lisbon and Almada, and it is generally considered as the first and most prominent band of the genre in Portugal. They achieved some mediatism due to their festive concerts and contagious Klezmer sound, inspired also by Gypsy, Arabian and Balkan music, as well as Fado and Portuguese folk.

The group was formed in late 2006 with Joao Graca on the violin, Miguel Verissimo on the clarinet, Andre Santos on the guitar, Joao Sovina on the doublebass and Francisco Caiado on the percussions. They released the EP "Melech Mechaya" in 2008, the LP "Budja Ba" in 2009, and in 2011 they released their second album, "Aqui Em Baixo Tudo E Simples", which features the fado singer Misia and the american trumpetist Frank London, from the Klezmatics (Grammy Award winners in 2006).

The latest album was considered one of the best albums in Portugal, by Blitz magazine, and was distributed worldwide by the italian label Felmay.

Melech Mechaya played over 170 shows since mid-2007, and performed in renowed World Music Festivals in Portugal (Sines), Spain (Burgos) and Croatia (Varazdin), as well as other mainstream festivals like Rock In Rio Lisboa and Super Bock Surf Fest.

In addition to their work in live shows and studio albums, Melech Mechaya made the musical direction and guest starred theatre plays, made soundtracks for short-films and had their music in tv shows and short-films, and produced their own videoclips, which were distinguished in several film festivals.