“When I first heard Aldana play, her virtuosity was impressive, but what really blew me away was the maturity of her sound. It manifests through clean, nuanced phrasing reminiscent of her early idol, Sonny Rollins.” – NPR
Saxophonist Melissa Aldana started playing at an early age at home in Santiago, Chile. Soon she had a central place on the Chilean jazz scene. When she played with Randy Brecker in the spring of 2006, she was noticed by the jazz pianist Danilo Perez, who urged her to apply to the Berklee College of Music in Boston, USA. She got a scholarship and began studying composition and improvisation. After graduating in 2009, she moved to New York and it wasn’t long before she took the jazz scene in New York by storm.
Many have enjoyed her playing in clubs and in concert halls, both with her own constellation and together with, among others, George Coleman, Antonio Sanchez, Marc Copland, Kendrick Scott and with the female supergroup Artemis.
In 2019, Melissa was nominated for a Grammy for Best Solo Improvisation and in 2021, a dream came true for her when she was signed by legendary record label Blue Note. Her first release 12 Stars on the label came in 2022.
Melissa Aldana – saxophone
Pablo Menares – bass
Lage Lund – guitar
Kush Abadey – drums
