Juan Megna
1073 Wisconsin Ave. NW
Washington DC 20007
Thursday, October 8, 7PM
Juan Megna
The Juan Megna Group is a contemporary jazz ensemble led by Argentine percussionist and composer Juan Megna. The group blends jazz improvisation with the rich rhythmic traditions of South America, drawing inspiration from chacarera, milonga, candombe, and Afro-Brazilian music. Their debut album, Mariwô, has received critical acclaim both internationally and in Argentina, establishing the group as a distinctive voice in contemporary Latin American jazz.
Juan Megna is an Argentine percussionist, drummer, composer, and bandleader whose music brings together contemporary jazz and the rich rhythmic traditions of Argentina and Brazil. His distinctive artistic voice is shaped by more than a decade immersed in the vibrant music scene of São Paulo, Brazil, where he performed and collaborated with prominent Brazilian musicians including Rubinho Antunes, Vinicius Dorin, Jarbas Barbosa, Bruno Mangueira, and Felipe Silveira. In 2017, he relocated to the Washington, D.C., area, where he established himself as an active performer, composer, and bandleader.
As a bandleader, he leads the Juan Megna Group, an ensemble devoted to original music that explores the intersection of jazz improvisation, Argentine rhythms, and Afro-Brazilian musical traditions.
In 2024, Juan released Mariwô, his debut album as a bandleader. The album features mostly original compositions inspired by the rhythms and musical traditions of Candomblé, alongside Argentine forms such as chacarera and milonga. The recording features an international ensemble including saxophonist Tedd Baker, guitarist Shawn Purcell, pianist José Luiz Martins, bassist Leonardo Lucini, and guest artists Emmanuel Trifílio, David Sacks, and Alisson Crockett.
Mariwô has received international recognition from specialized jazz and music publications. JAZZIZ Magazine featured “Fára Ogunjá” as a Song of the Day, while Paris-Move named the album among its “Essential” selections, praising Megna’s ability to navigate between jazz and Afro-Brazilian traditions. Jazz Weekly highlighted the album’s original compositions and rhythmic vitality, while Take Effect Reviews described it as a “worldly and exciting” body of work. Other publications, including Sound In Review and Chalked Up Reviews, have praised the album’s sophisticated fusion of jazz improvisation, Argentine music, and Afro-Brazilian rhythms.
Through his performances and recordings, Juan Megna continues to develop a distinctive musical language rooted in rhythm, improvisation, and cultural dialogue.
Co-Presented with the Embassy of Argentina
1. Final sale, no refunds, not transferable.
2. $15 food/beverage minimum per person not included in ticket price.
3. Seating first come at the door. Doors open 6 PM & 8:45 PM respectively Monday thru Saturday, and 4:30 PM & 7:15 PM Sundays.
4. No Photography or Recording of any kind during the performance.
5. Keep conversation to a minimum during the performance.