Melissa Aldana

[4][3] Aldana began with alto, influenced by artists such as Charlie Parker, Cannonball Adderley and Michael Brecker.

[4][3] In 2005, after meeting him while he was on tour in Chile, she was invited by pianist Danilo Pérez to play at the Panama Jazz Festival,[4][1] as well as auditions at music schools in the USA.

[1] As a result of these introductions, she attended the Berklee College of Music in Boston, where her tutors included Joe Lovano, George Garzone, Frank Tiberi, Greg Osby, Hal Crook, Bill Pierce, and Ralph Peterson.

[1][5] In July 2014, this group released their self-titled debut album on Concord Jazz,[4] a recording deal that had formed part of Aldana's prize for winning the Thelonious Monk Award.

[1] The group released their second album in March 2016 entitled Back Home, on Wommusic, with drummer Mela replaced by Jochen Rueckert.

Melissa Aldana at Kuumbwa Jazz Center, Santa Cruz CA 3/10/20