Melissa Aldana
A tenor saxophonist who channels the lineage of jazz giants into a deeply personal sound, becoming a standard-bearer for a new generation.
Born 1988 (age 38)·Chilean saxophonist·Birthday: December 3·Millennials
Biography
Melissa Aldana didn't just learn to play the saxophone; she absorbed its history, developing a voice that is both reverent and strikingly contemporary. Hailing from Chile, she was a prodigy, moving to New York City to study at the New School and immerse herself in the music's birthplace. Her sound on the tenor—a horn historically dominated by men—is robust, melodic, and intellectually curious, drawing clear inspiration from Sonny Rollins while mapping her own emotional terrain. In 2013, she won the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition, a victory that announced her arrival on the world stage. Leading her Crash Trio and other ensembles, Aldana's compositions are narratives, often exploring identity and heritage with a complexity that has solidified her place as a leading composer and performer in modern jazz.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Melissa was born in 1988, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Melissa Was Born
The biggest hits of 1988
#1 Movie
Rain Man
Best Picture
Rain Man
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
Melissa's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1988Born
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1993Started school
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
2001Became a teenager
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2004Could drive
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2006Could vote
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2009Turned 21
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2018Turned 30
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 38 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the prestigious Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition in 2013.
- Has released several acclaimed albums as a bandleader, including 'Visions' and '12 Stars'.
- Became the first female instrumentalist from South America to be signed to the iconic Blue Note Records label.
Did You Know?
Her father, Marcos Aldana, is also a professional saxophonist who was her first teacher.
She initially played alto saxophone before switching to the tenor as a teenager.
Her album 'Visions' was inspired by the paintings of Frida Kahlo.
“For me, the saxophone is a vehicle to tell my story.”
