Melody of Two Worlds is the creative vision of Ponya Ferdinand and Leonardo Lucini, two dedicated arts educators and accomplished musicians teaching in the New York City Department of Education. Born from a deep mutual respect and admiration for each other’s artistry, this collaboration is a heartfelt exploration of their cultural roots—Ponya from New Orleans, Louisiana, and Leonardo from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Pixinguinha

The music of Pixinguinha, born Alfredo da Rocha Viana Filho, is foundational to modern Brazilian music. Emerging from the Choro tradition, he was a virtuoso whose talents spanned a range of jazz styles—from Samba and New Orleans Jazz to ragtime. A master of multiple instruments, Pixinguinha stood apart from his contemporaries through his exceptional skills as a composer, songwriter, and orchestral leader. Like Quincy Jones, he was a youthful prodigy whose talent and determination allowed him to overcome racial barriers and societal limitations, leaving an enduring legacy in the world of music.

Sidney Bechet was a man of immense genius and fiery temperament. While Choro music eased listeners into its graceful melodies, Bechet—much like his contemporary Jelly Roll Morton—brought a bold, unapologetic edge to his sound. His playing carried the raw, emotional power of the Southern Black church—the “holler” that echoed from its pews—and balanced it with a profound sense of elegance. Bechet embodied contradiction: both scratchy and smooth, refined and untamed. His music was a dialogue between the sacred and the profane, with an angel on one shoulder and the devil on the other.