Conversations With The Professionals

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Far right jazz guitar great Mike Wheeler

Yellow Jackets, Dave Weckl, Stewart Copeland, Tony Williams and Jeff Vaccaro, that’s quite a list. But it’s not that surprising either because when you talk with him about music you can tell that his heart is expressing the passion of what he feels. Speaking of heart Memo continues to support many worthwhile charities in greater Houston. He says, “If I am available yes I want to give back.” This brings me to write about his tribute shows. Shows that always sell out whether in Houston, San Antonio or Nashville. Memo is the band leader for such tribute shows as Candlelight for Selena and the ever popular Juan Gabriel Candlelight performances. An equally interesting tribute is for jazz guitar great Mike Wheeler (see photo below). Plus there is another event in the works right now but at press time I cannot disclose it. However, I am sure you will see it advertised in the near future. When I asked Memo about what it was that got his interest early on he said that was easy to answer, his Uncle. At five years old Memo’s uncle gave the young boy his first set of drums. That started it then he learned about a guy named Ringo Starr and that sealed the deal. Not too long after that he learned about a group named Rush. Today he remains in awe of those top performers, those stars, and you can add Foo Fighters to his list as well. So here we have this young man being raised in a musical family including four older sisters that were into rock. Then you add the family’s passion for multiple genres such as jazz, Latina and opera. Combine those multi-genre influences with a giving uncle who brings the drum scene to life and you get the roots for something really good to happen and it did. Meet Memo Reza the highly respected drummer. Memo continues to teach drums, for 29 years now, and he does it in The Woodlands Texas at the Teora Music School. There, he instills in his students that perfection comes from practice and that practice reveals the essence of one’s soul and this personal element is what allows your originality to grow, you expand and finally a creation arrives that becomes something notable, pleasurable to both yourself and others. He shares with them that it really and truly takes five to eight months to get what you are creating to where you want it and then you are ready to take it to the stage. I asked Memo about the soul like presence I feel in his expressions and words. He told me that he used to attend an African American church. While he had always been musical because of his influences the joy and praise he witnessed within that church within the music they chose to bring to life was so inspirational that he still carries that around with him to this very day. The closing thought he had for me was that if someone has an old musical instrument that they do not use please consider donating it to a band director or a young person you know could get into it. Look what it did for me. If you would like to make contact with Memo just reach out to John in Houston PR