Sunset Wednesdays: Melissa Aldana

About

Grammy-nominated, Chilean-born, third-generation saxophonist and composer Melissa Aldana takes inspiration from jazz legends, such as John Coltrane, Charlie Parker, and Sonny Rollins while channeling emotion through sound alone. Focused on sonic presence, the tones of Aldana's saxophone fill a room from top to bottom with vibrant feeling. Over the span of her 15-year-long career, Aldana has developed her unique approach to jazz, rooting her musical projects in storytelling and the personal to create a sense of intimacy and meditation throughout her work. Aldana was one of the founding members of the all-star collective ARTEMIS. In 2013, Aldana became the first female instrumentalist and the first South American musician to win the Thelonius Monk International Jazz Saxophone competition. Listed by WBGO Live Jazz.