NSCS Jazz Concert Series - Francisco Mela Duo at Newcastle Saranac Community Studio

The NSCS Jazz Concert Series returns Thursday, February 12th, 2026, at the Newcastle Saranac Community Studio, located at 607 Columbus Avenue in Roxbury, in the heart of Boston’s historic Jazz Square. Doors open at 6:00 PM, and the concert runs from 6:30–7:45 PM.
This concert features Francisco Mela, a Cuban-born jazz drummer, composer, and educator from Bayamo, Cuba. His artistic work is deeply rooted in Afro-Cuban musical traditions while engaging with contemporary jazz, avant-garde practices, and free improvisation. He will be joined by Tommy Liu, a Boston-based jazz guitarist that fuses the influences of free improvisations with contemporary jazz colors....

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The NSCS Jazz Concert Series returns Thursday, February 12th, 2026, at the Newcastle Saranac Community Studio, located at 607 Columbus Avenue in Roxbury, in the heart of Boston’s historic Jazz Square. Doors open at 6:00 PM, and the concert runs from 6:30–7:45 PM.
This concert features Francisco Mela, a Cuban-born jazz drummer, composer, and educator from Bayamo, Cuba. His artistic work is deeply rooted in Afro-Cuban musical traditions while engaging with contemporary jazz, avant-garde practices, and free improvisation. He will be joined by Tommy Liu, a Boston-based jazz guitarist that fuses the influences of free improvisations with contemporary jazz colors.
Since relocating to the United States in the 1990s, Mela has developed an international career, performing and recording with leading figures in modern jazz, including McCoy Tyner, Joe Lovano, Kenny Barron, Esperanza Spalding, Quincy Jones, William Parker, Paul Motian, George Garzone, and Cooper-Moore. His work has been presented at major concert halls, festivals, and academic institutions throughout the Americas, Europe, and Asia.
The NSCS Jazz Concert Series is a collaboration between Fenway Forward and New England Jazz Connections, designed to:
Foster meaningful connections between jazz fans, musicians, and presenters in the Boston area.
Highlight the incredible local talent that thrives in our community.
Build bridges between Fenway Forward’s low-income residents and the greater Boston arts scene.
Admission is $10 for students/seniors and $20 for general admission. Fenway Forward residents attend for free. Light snacks and soft drinks will be provided, and the venue is fully accessible.
This series celebrates Boston’s deep jazz heritage while creating new spaces for community, creativity, and connection.

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