Chilean tenor saxophonist and composer
Melissa Aldana was the first female to win the Thelonious Music International Institute's competition for saxophone. Though her two previous recordings were noteworthy as showcases for her soloing and compositions, it is with Crash Trio -- Chilean bassist Pablo Menares and Cuban drummer
Francisco Mela (both are also composers) -- that she shines brightest. Save for readings of
Harry Warren's "You're My Everything" and a tenor solo on
Monk's "Ask Me Now," the entire program was written by the trio's various members.
Aldana possesses a big, earthy, edgy tone deeply influenced by
Sonny Rollins, but her phrasing is her own. While swinging post-bop is predominant, forward-thinking harmonic ideas informed by composers/musicians
Kurt Rosenwinkel and
Mark Turner add balance to the attack.
Aldana's "M&M" features a stellar walking bassline from Menares and a tight, hard-grooving head from the saxophonist. She explores its various individual elements, recombining them and moving them afield in her solo. The long, folk-like bass solo intro to Menares' "Tirapie" is gorgeous and gives way to a minor-key, midtempo, Latin-tinged ballad that showcases the canny interplay of the rhythm section.
Aldana's solo is nearly song-like.
Mela's "Dear Joe" kicks off with a bright, Caribbean rhythmic signature, and Menares and
Aldana paint a knotty, joyous carnivalesque melody. The taut arpeggios in the saxophonist's solo take place in all three registers with soulful verve as
Mela's accents, fills, and rimshot rolls -- alongside his cruising ride cymbal -- create an infectious, nearly danceable groove.
Aldana's "New Points" is breezily and gently informed by Brazilian samba. On the
Monk tune, she displays tremendous control and an avid imagination that keeps the composer's melody firmly at the root of her investigation.
Melissa Aldana & Crash Trio is fresh, sophisticated, invigorating modern jazz that deserves notice for its fine tunes and seamless execution. ~ Thom Jurek