BIMHUIS TV Presents: Melissa Aldana Quartet

American star on tenor saxophone celebrates her debut on the legendary Blue Note label.

Melissa Aldana tenor sax, Lage Lund guitar, Pablo Menares bass, Kush Abadey drums

Melissa Aldana has overcome many challenges. As a young talent she moved from her native Chile to New York. In 2014 she won the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition. In the following years, her powerful, melodic style often incited comparisons to tenor saxophone greats such as Sonny Rollins and James Carter. Challenges and triumphs from recent years inspired her album 12 Stars.

12 Stars was shaped according to the symbols of tarot. During lockdown, Melissa Aldana took the time to study this mystical card game. For the recording of the album, she worked with a stellar cast of musicians from New York. Part of them also perform in het current quartet, for example guitarist Lage Lund, who played here with his own group. 12 Stars appeared on the famous jazz label Blue Note, which was founded in 1939.