Paoli Mejias

Born March 7, 1970 in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, percussionist Paoli Mejias' rise to Latin jazz fame is a story of sweat and dedication. Completely self taught, Mejias purchased his first set of congas at age twelve, inspired by records of conga great Carlos "Potato" Valdes and Latin jazz innovators Batacumbele and Irakere. Learning by imitating the sounds he heard on the records, Mejias taught himself the language of the congas without the benefit of an instructor. By his mid- to late-teens, he could be found at jam sessions in the streets and on the beaches of San Juan. He ea...