Mezcla

Mezcla is a Cuban music group that has been active for 25 years and has played a significant role in the Cuban jazz scene. The band was featured in the Smithsonian Institution's documentary *La Combinacion Perfecta* and has performed at festivals across Europe, Latin America, and the U.S., including appearances at La Zorra y el Cuervo with notable musicians like George Benson and Wynton Marsalis.

The group’s album *I'll See You in Cuba* was praised by All About Jazz for blending jazz, blues, and soul. Pablo "Mezcla" Menéndez, the band's guitarist and founder, is a Cuban-born musician who has collaborated with prominent artists such as Silvio Rodríguez, Pablo Milanés, and Bonnie Raitt. In 1993, when Mezcla’s visas were denied, Carlos Santana publicly supported them, calling them his favorite Cuban band.

Menéndez has released solo albums, including *Havana Blues Mambo* (2005), and has led a Cuban All Star band in the U.S. He also performed at the Jazz Guitar Summit in Olympia, Washington, with Larry Coryell and John Stowell. Mezcla’s discography includes albums like *Somos Hijos De La Mezcla*, *Fronteras De Sueños*, and *Pure Mezcla*. Their work spans various genres and has earned them a dedicated following both in Cuba and internationally.