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Melissa Aldana | Essential albums and listening guide
Explore Melissa Aldana through Melissa Aldana & Crash Trio. Discover what to listen for and follow related styles to your next record.
Melissa Aldana
Meet the artist
A Chilean tenor saxophonist who won the 2013 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition and has developed her own voice through bandleading and composition. Clearly shaped tenor notes build thoughtful, extended melodies.
Saxophone, bass and drums expose a direct conversation without a chordal instrument, while groups with guitar and piano add harmonic layers without losing the inward lyricism. Strong projection contrasts with gently placed notes. Linking the tenor tradition to personal composition, she reveals a broad expressive range within contemporary small-group jazz.
Where to start listening
Follow a single saxophone line and notice where phrases extend or break. The contrasting ensembles offer another way to appreciate the melodies.
2014Melissa Aldana & Crash Trio
Melissa Aldana
This work was created after Thelonious Monk won the International Jazz Competition. The rich and warm tone of the tenor voice is fully brought into play.
Open this album in the Atlas →
202212 Stars
Melissa Aldana
An album that won the Grammy Award for Best Jazz Instrumental Album. It features artwork inspired by Tarot cards, while also delving deeply into the artist’s own inner thoughts.
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Years follow the Atlas catalogue. Recording dates, original release dates and digital reissue dates may differ.