Melissa will play with a quartet, TBA.
Grammy-nominated tenor saxophonist and composer Melissa Aldana is internationally recognized for her profound musicality, fearless improvisation, and deeply personal storytelling. The first female instrumentalist and first South American to win the 2013 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition – a historic milestone that launched her onto the global stage – Aldana grew up in a family of Chilean musicians and began performing professionally as a teenager under the guidance of her father, renowned saxophonist Marcos Aldana. Influenced by Sonny Rollins, Wayne Shorter, and Mark Turner, she has developed a distinct voice that balances jazz tradition with bold innovation.
As a leader, Aldana has released eight critically acclaimed albums, that solidify her reputation as one of the defining voices of her generation: Free Fall (2010), Second Cycle (2012), Melissa Aldana & Crash Trio (2014), Back Home (2016), Visions (2019), 12 Stars (2022), Echoes of the Inner Prophet (2024), and her 2026 release “Filin” - featuring one of her jazz heroes, Cuban pianist Gonzalo Rubicalbo.
