Biography
Emerging from Chile as an inventive jazz guitarist and vocalist with songwriting instincts, Camila Meza crafts ambitious, lyrical works that merge progressive fusion, post-bop, and Latin American folk traditions. This refined style reflects her admiration for Pat Metheny, Milton Nascimento, and Joni Mitchell. Initial notice arrived with her 2007 debut Skylark, issued before she relocated to New York. Subsequent projects linked her with other forward-thinking musicians including Ryan Keberle, Aaron Goldberg, and Fabian Almazan. Applying her singular voice to jazz and pop standards alongside her own emotionally charged originals, Meza has earned broad praise for her genre-blending recordings such as 2009's Retrato, 2016's Traces, and the vibrantly orchestral 2019 release Ambar.
Born in Santiago in 1985, Meza was raised in an intellectually engaged household as the child of two journalists. Her father, himself a pianist, prompted her musical involvement, while her brother, a drummer, sparked early interest in prog-rock. During adolescence she pursued guitar instruction and absorbed the sounds of Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, and singer/songwriters such as Joni Mitchell. At age 15 she assembled a rock band with school peers. Jazz later entered her world, particularly the boundary-crossing output of Pat Metheny, who swiftly exerted major influence. She soon examined the approaches of additional guitarists including George Benson, John McLaughlin, and John Scofield, while cultivating deep affinity for Latin American traditions embodied by Victor Jara, Milton Nascimento, and Mercedes Sosa. Alongside live performances she trained with established Chilean figures Jorge Vidal and Jorge Díaz. Her first solo album, Skylark, appeared in 2007.
In 2009 Meza relocated to New York City to enroll at the New School, refining her technique under guitarists Peter Bernstein, Vic Juris, and Steve Cardenas. That year she also issued her second album as leader, Retrato, comprising original material together with interpretations of works by Luiz Bonfa, Led Zeppelin, Joni Mitchell, and others. Around this period she expanded her network, forming close creative ties with artists such as Ryan Keberle, Lucas Pino, Fabian Almazan, and additional collaborators. The EP Prisma followed in 2013, showcasing work with pianist Aaron Goldberg, bassist Pablo Menares, drummer Clarence Penn, and saxophonist John Ellis.
Meza issued her Sunnyside debut Traces in 2016, singing in both English and Spanish. Contributions came from Shai Maestro, Matt Penman, Kendrick Scott, Sachal Vasandani, and further musicians. The recording secured two Independent Music Awards for her: Best Adult Contemporary Album and Best Latin Song for "Para Volar." She returned in 2019 with the string-orchestra-infused Ambar on Sony Masterworks, again presenting her own compositions alongside selections by Antônio Carlos Jobim, Milton Nascimento, Chico Buarque, and others.
Born in Santiago in 1985, Meza was raised in an intellectually engaged household as the child of two journalists. Her father, himself a pianist, prompted her musical involvement, while her brother, a drummer, sparked early interest in prog-rock. During adolescence she pursued guitar instruction and absorbed the sounds of Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, and singer/songwriters such as Joni Mitchell. At age 15 she assembled a rock band with school peers. Jazz later entered her world, particularly the boundary-crossing output of Pat Metheny, who swiftly exerted major influence. She soon examined the approaches of additional guitarists including George Benson, John McLaughlin, and John Scofield, while cultivating deep affinity for Latin American traditions embodied by Victor Jara, Milton Nascimento, and Mercedes Sosa. Alongside live performances she trained with established Chilean figures Jorge Vidal and Jorge Díaz. Her first solo album, Skylark, appeared in 2007.
In 2009 Meza relocated to New York City to enroll at the New School, refining her technique under guitarists Peter Bernstein, Vic Juris, and Steve Cardenas. That year she also issued her second album as leader, Retrato, comprising original material together with interpretations of works by Luiz Bonfa, Led Zeppelin, Joni Mitchell, and others. Around this period she expanded her network, forming close creative ties with artists such as Ryan Keberle, Lucas Pino, Fabian Almazan, and additional collaborators. The EP Prisma followed in 2013, showcasing work with pianist Aaron Goldberg, bassist Pablo Menares, drummer Clarence Penn, and saxophonist John Ellis.
Meza issued her Sunnyside debut Traces in 2016, singing in both English and Spanish. Contributions came from Shai Maestro, Matt Penman, Kendrick Scott, Sachal Vasandani, and further musicians. The recording secured two Independent Music Awards for her: Best Adult Contemporary Album and Best Latin Song for "Para Volar." She returned in 2019 with the string-orchestra-infused Ambar on Sony Masterworks, again presenting her own compositions alongside selections by Antônio Carlos Jobim, Milton Nascimento, Chico Buarque, and others.
Albums
Singles
