February 11, 2022
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, Sullivan Fortner on piano, Pablo Menares on bass, and Kush Abadey on drums. The album is available for pre-order on vinyl, CD, or download, and today sees the release of the stunning title track “12 Stars,” which presents Aldana at her most lyrical and contemplative, revealing a sound that contains multitudes — regret, determination, joy and acceptance.
Inspired by the symbols and tradition of tarot, Aldana titled the album after the 12 stars that adorn The Empress’ crown. “In numerology and tarot, The Empress is a symbol of creation. She represents my essence as an individual, and this entire journey,” she explains. “‘12 Stars’ is the last on the album but the first one I started writing during the beginning of my process, back in March 2020. I finished its composition a year later in March 2021. To me, finishing this tune also meant the closure of a period in my life because, as the legend goes, a phoenix obtains new life by rising from the ashes of its predecessor.”
Just before the lockdown 2020, Aldana went through some personal struggles with the end of a relationship. She told herself she’d be busy for years, with plenty of distractions from dealing with her complex emotional response. “But then,” she says, “the pandemic hit, and I hit bottom.” She needed to make changes, so she turned inward. “Because of that personal process, I feel even more connected to my music.”
Aldana has also announced extensive upcoming tour dates across the U.S. and Europe including her first-ever headlining week at the famed Village Vanguard in New York City from March 1-6 and newly added shows at Bimhuis in Amsterdam on April 17 and Ronnie Scott’s in London on April 20. See below for a full list of tour dates or visit www.melissaaldana.net.
MELISSA ALDANA – 2022 TOUR DATES:
Feb. 17-18 – University of Northern Iowa – Cedar Falls, IA (special guest with University of Northern Iowa Big Band)
Feb. 24 – USAF Band Airmen of Note Jazz Heritage Series – Washington DC (special guest artist)
Feb. 26 – McKinney Theatre – Mission Viejo, CA (special guest with Saddleback College Big Band)
March 1-6 – Village Vanguard – New York, NY
March 7 – Dizzy’s Club @ Jazz at Lincoln Center – New York, NY (with New York Youth Symphony)
March 24 – Modlin Center for the Arts – Richmond, VA
March 26 – The Nash – Phoenix, AZ
March 28 – Caine Performance Hall – Logan, UT
March 30-April 3 – Jazz St. Louis – St. Louis, MO
April 7- University of Michigan – Ann Arbor, MI (special guest with University of Michigan Jazz Ensemble)
April 8 – Caffe Vivace – Cincinnati, OH
April 9 – The Jazz Kitchen – Indianapolis, IN
April 17 – Bimhuis – Amsterdam, Holland
April 19 – Theater del’Athenee – Paris, France
April 20 – Ronnie Scott’s – London, England
April 21 – Teatro Ristori – Verona, Italy
April 23 – Jazz Dock – Prague, Czech Republic
April 24 – The Tivoli – Helsingborg, Sweden
April 25 – Stenhammarsalen – Goteborg, Sweden
April 27 – Club Atlantis – Basil, Switzerland
April 28 – Theater Russelsheim – Hessen, Germany
April 30 – Jazzahead – Bremen, Germany
May 13 – Exit Zero Jazz Festival – Cape May, NJ
Sept. 17 – Pittsburgh Jazz Festival – Pittsburgh, PA
