Press

Camila Meza  

Press Reviews
"Meza captivated the crowd . . . an extra dose of eclectic brashness."
- Natalie Weiner, Billboard (5 Artists To Watch From NYC Winter Jazzfest 2016)  
"Chances are good you will not hear a better CD this year . . . music that lingers in the mind's ear long after the final notes fade." - Richard Kamins, Step Tempest  
"Ms. Meza brings an appealing combination of lightness and depth to all the material, singing in a bright, clear voice against the agile stir of a first-­rate band. Her improvising, on electric or acoustic guitar, is serious business..."
- Nate Chinen, The New York Times (Playlist, Sunday, February 28, 2016)  
"Music-savvy New Yorkers have been aware of Camila Meza for a while now . . . [Traces] is a mesmerizing trip."
 - Christopher Loudon, JazzTimes Magazine
"Camila Meza possesses a rare gift; she excels in all departments. Her voice is exquisite, her guitar playing first-rate, and her songwriting imaginative . . . The overall feel to “Traces” is one of warmth, optimism, collaboration and heartfelt expression. It’s difficult to offer up a comparison to Camila Meza. She really is a songbird taking flight, perhaps in a way that Joni Mitchell once did, breaking new ground without realising it, blending a gorgeous jazz-folk sound. The beauty of it is that it all just sounds so naturally effortless . . . clearly a star in the making." 
- Mike Gates, UK Vibe
"Meza delivered pure, unaffected vocals, sung alternately in Spanish and English, that flooded the subterranean space with a genuine warmth and uplifting spirit. When she soloed on numbers like 'Para Volar,' 'Emerald' and the enchanting title track of her Sunnyside debut, Traces, it was clear that this triple threat from Santiago, Chile, had more to offer than just a beautiful voice, thoughtful lyrics and refreshing stage presence."
- Bill Milkowski, DownBeat Magazine ("Players" feature, April 2016)
"One of the best-kept secrets in New York City (but well-known among the cats who play there), Camila Meza is poised to step into a broader spotlight. The Chilean-born musician will soon issue Traces, a gorgeous album that features her beautiful, unorthodox compositions while showcasing her amazing vision and dexterity on voice and guitar." 
- Simon Rentner, NPR's A Blog Supreme
"A powerful and entrancing performance in support of her forthcoming album-Traces (Sunnyside Records, 2016). Armed with guitar and voice, and accompanied by a killer unit . . . she delivered a set that spoke both to her adopted home and motherland . . . all delivered with passion and dynamism . . . Meza's reputation as a talented triple-­threat-guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter/composer proved true . . ."
 - Dan Bilawsky, AllAboutJazz.com
"This Chilean singer/composer/arranger is the classic rising star on the global jazz scene. She is a guitarist of epic talent and sings beautifully in both English and Spanish. She is part of a new generation of adventurous jazz musicians in New York who are imposing their disparate influences on jazz with glorious results."
- Totally Dublin (Jazz CD of The Month) 
"Drawing on a wide sphere of musical influences and an abundance of talent, Camila Meza may be one of the most remarkable talents to emerge in recent years. In recent months, Meza has received a lot of critical buzz in New York. From the evidence of this album, it is well-deserved and only the beginning of greater triumphs. " 
- Thomas Cunniffe, JazzHistoryOnline.com
"Formidable command of her voice and whose formidable guitar playing would be impressive enough without the vocal chops to go with it." 
- JazzScene (Portland, OR)
"Meza's artistry combines the musical landscapes of South America and New York City . . . The album marks a stretching out . . ." - Hot House Magazine
"As a guitarist, Meza maintains a warm tone on guitar and prefers liquid, legato phrasing . . . As a singer, Meza has a high, clear tone with an elastic ease reaching the higher registers" 
- Cory Walsh, The Missoulian
"On one of the tracks on this wonderful album, Camila Meza sings “I’ve decided to stay, stay in this open place, here’s where my heart sings, here’s where there’s no mistake.” And not only does that sum up well the music she gifts us with, but it also describes the feeling I get when listening to her music; it makes my heart sing. Go and buy this album now, if it makes your heart sing too, and in turn we pass on the message, we can have a world full of people with singing hearts. And that would make the world a better place. For now though, I’m content with the fact that my world is a better place having heard Camila Meza sing." 
- Mike Gates, UK Vibe
“Camila Meza is just the latest evidence that this music - stereotypically thought of in today’s culture as fussy, niche, over-elite, cold, old - is capable of crossing every barrier. There’s an audience for this kind of beauty, melody, invention, flight.” 
- Will Layman, PopMatters
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