Biography
Saxophonist and composer Melissa Aldana was born in Santiago, Chile and grew up in a musical family. Both her father and grandfather were saxophonists and she took up the instrument at age six under her father Marcos’ tutelage. Aldana began on alto, influenced by artists such as Charlie Parker and Cannonball Adderley, but switched to tenor upon first hearing the music of Sonny Rollins. She performed in Santiago jazz clubs in her early teens and was invited by pianist Danilo Pérez to play at the Panama Jazz Festival in 2005.
Aldana moved to the U.S. to attend the Berklee College of Music, and the year after graduating she released her first album Free Fall on Greg Osby’s Inner Circle label in 2010, followed by Second Cycle in 2012. In 2013, at 24, she became the first female instrumentalist and the first South American musician to win the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition, in which her father had been a semi-finalist in 1991. After her win, she released her third album Melissa Aldana & Crash Trio (Concord).
Aldana’s celebrated 2019 album Visions (Motéma) earned the saxophonist her first-ever GRAMMY nomination for Best Improvised Jazz Solo. In naming Visions among the best albums of 2019 for NPR Music, critic Nate Chinen wrote that Aldana “has the elusive ability to balance technical achievement against a rich emotional palette.”
Aldana was one of the founding members of ARTEMIS, the all-star collective that released their debut album ARTEMIS on Blue Note in the Fall of 202. The album featured Aldana’s simmering composition “Frida,” which was dedicated to Mexican painter Frida Kahlo, who inspired the musician through “her own process of finding self-identity through art.”
Releases
Videos
Melissa Aldana “Unconscious Whispers” (Live)
Melissa Aldana “First Look” With Don Was
MELISSA ALDANA “A STORY” (LIVE)
Melissa Aldana “The Solitary Seeker” (Live)
Melissa Aldana “Los Ojos de Chile” (Live)
Melissa Aldana “The Bluest Eye” (Visualizer)
Melissa Aldana “First Look” With Don Was
SPOTLIGHT
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MELISSA ALDANA “ECHOES OF THE INNER PROPHET”
By Evan Haga A fascinating paradox defines Echoes Of The Inner Prophet, Melissa Aldana’s follow-up to her acclaimed Blue Note Records debut as a leader, 2022’s 12 Stars. As the GRAMMY-nominated saxophonist and composer explains, her new album reflects her “personal journey, with an especially introspective point of view. The inner prophet is my own self, now older, who has the knowledge... read more
MELISSA ALDANA REVEALS HER ESSENCE ON “12 STARS”
GRAMMY-nominated saxophonist and composer Melissa Aldana joins the Blue Note Records family with the release of 12 Stars, her debut album as a leader for the legendary Jazz label. At 33, the Brooklyn-based tenor player from Santiago, Chile has garnered international recognition for her visionary work as a band leader, as well as her deeply meditative interpretation of language and... read more
News
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MELISSA ALDANA TELLS “A STORY” ON HER NEW SINGLE
Melissa Aldana tells “A Story” on the alluring new single from the acclaimed saxophonist’s forthcoming album Echoes Of The Inner Prophet out April 5, the follow-up to her GRAMMY-nominated Blue Note debut 12... read more
MELISSA ALDANA RETURNS WITH “ECHOES OF THE INNER PROPHET” OUT APRIL 5
Melissa Aldana returns with the April 5 release of Echoes Of The Inner Prophet, the follow-up to the acclaimed saxophonist’s GRAMMY-nominated Blue Note debut 12 Stars. The new album—which is available for pre-order on Blue Note Store exclusive color vinyl, black vinyl, CD, and download—is an 8-song set of... read more
DOMi & JD BECK, NORAH JONES & MELISSA ALDANA RECEIVE GRAMMY NOMINATIONS
Congratulations to our Blue Note nominees for the 65th Annual GRAMMY Awards! DOMi & JD BECK – NOT TiGHT Best New Artist Best Contemporary Instrumental Album NORAH JONES – I DREAM OF CHRISTMAS Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album MELISSA ALDANA – 12 STARS Best Improvised Jazz Solo for... read more
MELISSA ALDANA RELEASES NEW SINGLE “12 STARS,” TITLE TRACK OF HER BLUE NOTE DEBUT OUT MARCH 4
GRAMMY-nominated saxophonist and composer Melissa Aldana will make her Blue Note debut with the March 4 release of 12 Stars, her remarkable first album as a leader for the legendary Jazz label, which was produced by Lage Lund and features the Santiago-born, Brooklyn-based artist’s quintet with Lund on guitar,... read more
SAXOPHONIST MELISSA ALDANA SET TO MAKE HER BLUE NOTE DEBUT WITH “12 STARS” OUT MARCH 4
GRAMMY-nominated saxophonist and composer Melissa Aldana will make her Blue Note Records debut with the March 4 release of 12 Stars, her remarkable first album as a leader for the legendary Jazz label. The Brooklyn-based tenor player from Santiago, Chile has garnered international recognition for her visionary work as... read more
BLUE NOTE SIGNS SAXOPHONIST & COMPOSER MELISSA ALDANA
Blue Note Records proudly announces the signing of acclaimed GRAMMY-nominated saxophonist and composer Melissa Aldana, who has joined the prestigious roster of the legendary jazz label. Aldana will be heading into the studio later this month to record her Blue Note debut, which will be released in early 2022. “It... read more
