New Orleans Artists

The Meritxell Project

Meritxell (pronounced Mah-dah-chel) is the lead voice and co-leader of the Meritxell Project, one the most original new sounds emerging in the "world fusion" music scene today. Originally from Barcelona, Meritxell and co-leader Gary Grainger blend a groove of Mediterranean vocals with passionate Latin soul fusion. Co leader Gary Grainger is an internationally recognized jazz-fusion electric bass artist who has toured and recorded with everyone from jazz guitar legend John Scofield to R&B star "Maysa." The Meritxell Project has donated their new recording "Bello Futuro" to the fundraising multi artist CD "See With Your Heart" available here, also see meritxellmusic.com

Armand Ntep

Armand Ntep, "le bantu Africain" is a vital and original world music singer and composer from Cameroon. His compositions run the gamut from salsa to hip-hop to traditional "lihongo" from his native Cameroon. Armand spent years in Paris developing his unique world fusion sound, before moving to Washington DC and recording with Sustained Note Records. Armand has dedicated his most recent recorded track "Bon Bes" (For the Children) to the fundraising multi artist CD "See With Your Heart."

Al Williams

Multi-reed player, Al Williams began his career recording five albums with world-renown Cuban percussionist Mongo Santamaria, including "Dawn", a Grammy Award winner for Best Latin album. Known for his graceful and melodic style on tenor, alto and soprano saxophones, "JAZZTIMES" has described his saxophone solos as "poetic beauty" Al was a member of master bassist Stanley Clarke's groundbreaking School Days Band and has played with legends including, Billy Cobham, Dave Sancious, Steve Gadd, and George Duke. Al has won Washington DC Area Music awards in 1997 and 1993 as Best Contemporary Jazz Instrumentalist. Al donated his recording, Sweet Lil' Chillin to the fundraising CD "See With Your Heart" available here and the night of concert.

What About Band

The "What About Band" is a Washington DC based world fusion music group of musicians originally organized as a studio band by producer, songwriter, drummer and non profit director, Arch Cromer for the "See with Your Heart" project. The theme of this collaboration band, is an organic mix of world rhythms with new American and latin soul fusion. Lead singers Meritxell and Gary Grainger are featured, along with Grainger on bass, Derek Wille and Eli Staples, keyboards, Wes Crawford, Ekendra Das, Alfredo Mojica and Monty Montgomery on world percussion, Arch Cromer on drums, and featuring multi reed artist Al Williams, along with Dan Leonard on Guitar. Cromer's composition "What about the Children" recorded on the "See with Your Heart" CD is being dedicated to "Covenant House New Orleans" and will be a feature of the concert performance.