Melissa Aldana & Crash Trio at The Falcon

Saxophonist Melissa Aldana was born in 1988 in Santiago, Chile. At age 7 Melissa began music studies under her father Marco Aldana. Marcos is one of the first Chilean musicians to attain international recognition, to participate in the Thelonious Monk Competition and to launch successful tours throughout the Americas and Europe. He is considered one of the most important musicians in Chile today.

Melissa’s musical styling and lyricism come from her inner understanding of the jazz format. Melissa began to attract the attention of Jazz impresarios traveling through Chile. She was invited to perform live with Randy Brecker, and had an opportunity to meet the great Panamanian jazz pianist, Danilo Perez, who invited her and her father to perform at the Panama Jazz Festival. And if that wasn’t enough, Perez arranged an audition at Berklee College of Music and the New England Conservatory. Melissa received the Berklee Presidential Scholarship....

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Saxophonist Melissa Aldana was born in 1988 in Santiago, Chile. At age 7 Melissa began music studies under her father Marco Aldana. Marcos is one of the first Chilean musicians to attain international recognition, to participate in the Thelonious Monk Competition and to launch successful tours throughout the Americas and Europe. He is considered one of the most important musicians in Chile today.

Melissa’s musical styling and lyricism come from her inner understanding of the jazz format. Melissa began to attract the attention of Jazz impresarios traveling through Chile. She was invited to perform live with Randy Brecker, and had an opportunity to meet the great Panamanian jazz pianist, Danilo Perez, who invited her and her father to perform at the Panama Jazz Festival. And if that wasn’t enough, Perez arranged an audition at Berklee College of Music and the New England Conservatory. Melissa received the Berklee Presidential Scholarship.

Melissa arrived in Boston in the dead of winter with a dollar in her pocket, unable to speak English and knowing nothing about the city., but excited about the possibilities. The South American beauty arrived in the dead of winter. Minor inconveniences that held immense promise.She studied with the best - Joe Lovano, George Garzone, Frank Tiberi, Greg Osby,Hal Crook, Dave Santoro, Bill Pierce and Dino Govoni, Ralph Peterson, to name a few. She benefitted greatly from the private master classes under legendary bop saxophonist, George Coleman who guided her progress and sharpened her musicality. The passage through Berklee had pushed the boundaries of her creativity and led her to Jorge Nunez, her international executive producer and manager, and to Greg Osby, founder of Inner Circle Music, a label that brings together the best young jazz talent in the US.

Melissa currently lives in Manhattan andis part the NYC jazz scene, performing at Blue Note, Iridium, Lincoln Center, The Kitano, Puppets, Caffe Vivaldi, Fat Cat and Smalls. She now shares the stage with some of the greatest contemporary jazz artists.

Melissa Aldana will release her first album, Free Fall.
www.melissaaldana.com

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