Album Notes

Her guitar playing has been compared to everyone from Carlos Santana to Stevie Ray Vaughan and her powerful and passionate vocal style has been compared to everyone from Janis to Bonnie Raitt.

Considered by many to be one of the top lead guitarists in the country, Liz Melendez is quickly becoming one of the most exciting new artists on the musical horizon. To her fans and professionals in the industry, she is a rare talent: a prolific songwriter, powerful vocalist, and super dynamic performer.

Melendez has garnered a sizeable following touring the southeast and beyond. She has headlined major festivals such as Riverbend Music Festival's Bessie Smith Strut in Chattanooga (the only female headliner in Riverbend history besides Koko Taylor), and co-headlined major festivals such as the Cape Fear Blues Festival in Wilmington, N.C. and the Blues 2003 Festival in New York and been invited to open for artists like the Nappy Roots. She has performed on stage with such notables as Bob Margolin, Henry Butler, Francine Reed, E.G. Kight,Hubert Sumlin, Chris Duarte and Candye Kane.

Born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Liz was taught and heavily influenced by her father Dan Melendez. She began playing guitar at 5 with her father teaching her rock and roll and blues standards. "He taught me the fundamentals and what it meant to be a good musician." That combined with the unconditional support of her mother she says. "I can honestly say that everything I know and everything I've become I owe to being blessed with great parents."

"She rocks and swaggers and moans and sizzles as well as any current player-of any gender. "
-Jesse Fox Mayshark, MetroPulse, Knoxville, TN