Melissa Aldana

Melissa Aldana won the prestigious Thelonious Monk Competition in 2013. She was 24 at the time. Since then, the Chilean tenor saxophonist—a leading figure in contemporary jazz—has continued her rise to prominence. In 2026, she unveiled a new project deeply rooted in emotion and tradition. Titled Filin, this new album was released on February 13, 2026, on the legendary Blue Note label, and promises a delicate immersion into the world of Cuban ballads.

With Filin, she returns to the roots of emotion, subdued groove, and elegant melancholy. Filin refers to a Cuban musical genre that emerged in the second half of the 1940s. A direct descendant of the bolero, it distinguishes itself through a more modern harmonic approach, enriched by influences from jazz. A subtle, intimate aesthetic, where every note seems to lay bare an emotion. To bring this vision to life, Melissa Aldana has surrounded herself on her album with an exceptional quartet.

At her side, pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba, a leading figure in Cuban jazz, brings his mastery of rhythm and sophisticated lyricism.

Another highlight of the album is the participation of singer Cécile McLorin Salvant, who appears on two tracks.

“Filin—a word derived from ‘feeling’—has created a dialogue between traditional Cuban trova, bolero, and jazz, thereby redefining Cuban musical identity,” explains Rubalcaba.

With Filin, Melissa Aldana not only pays homage to Cuban heritage: she offers a modern, sensitive, and resolutely jazz-infused reinterpretation of it, once again confirming her place among the great voices of contemporary jazz, at the crossroads of cultures, eras, and emotions.

+ CONCERT FARBEN TRIO FEATURING YETE QUEIROZ starting at 5:45 PM

Venue to be announced