Melissa Aldana

Born on December 3, 1988, in Santiago, Chile, Melissa Aldana began playing the saxophone at the age of six, influenced by her father, Marcos Aldana, also a professional saxophonist. She initially played alto saxophone, drawing inspiration from artists such as Charlie Parker and Cannonball Adderley. A pivotal moment in her early career came when she discovered Sonny Rollins, leading her to switch to the tenor saxophone, using a Selmer Mark VI that belonged to her grandfather. By her early teens, Aldana was already performing in Santiago jazz clubs. In 2005, Danilo Pérez invited her to the Panama Jazz Festival and encouraged her to audition at U.S. music schools. This led her to attend Berklee College of Music on a full scholarship, where she studied with notable figures like Joe Lovano and George Garzone. She graduated from Berklee in 2009 and subsequently moved to New York City to further her studies under George Coleman.

Aldana’s career progressed with the release of her debut album, “Free Fall,” in 2010 on Greg Osby’s Inner Circle Music. This was followed by “Second Cycle” in 2012. A significant turning point occurred in 2013 when, at 24 years old, she became the first female musician, the first South American, and the youngest person to win the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition. This achievement, which garnered her a $25,000 scholarship and a recording contract with Concord Jazz, was widely acclaimed, with The Washington Post recognizing her as representing “a new sense of possibility and direction in jazz.” She formed Melissa Aldana & Crash Trio in 2012, releasing a self-titled album in 2014 and “Back Home” in 2016. In 2017, she established the Melissa Aldana Quartet. Her discography includes “Visions” (2019) on Motéma Music, followed by her Blue Note Records debut, “12 Stars” (2022), which earned her a Grammy nomination for Best Improvised Jazz Solo, and “Echoes Of The Inner Prophet” (2024).

Throughout her career, Aldana has performed at prestigious venues and festivals globally, including the Blue Note Jazz Club, Monterey Jazz Festival, Copenhagen Jazz Festival, and Umbria Jazz. She has collaborated with established artists such as Peter Bernstein, Kevin Hays, Christian McBride, and Jeff “Tain” Watts, and was invited to Jazz at Lincoln Center by Wynton Marsalis. Her dedication to her craft is evident in her continuous study and practice, often transcribing recordings by jazz legends like Freddie Hubbard and Wayne Shorter, which influences her evolving sound. Beyond her musical accolades, Aldana has also received the Altazor National Arts Award of Chile and the Lincoln Center’s Martin E. Segal Award, underscoring her impact and recognition within the arts.