I recently caught tenor saxist Melissa Aldana as she toured with the Monterey Jazz Fest All Stars and was impressed with her warm tone and modern harmonics. This most recent album shows off her composing skills as well. She’s teamed with Sam Harris/p, Pable Menares/b, Tommy Crane/dr and Joel Ross/vib for lyrical Latin motifs in a post bop vein.
Her horn is rich for the fluid “Visions” and woks well with the South American folk themed pieces such as “La Madrina” and “El Castillo de Velenje.” She gets into some warm subtones with Harris as she sighs on “a cover of “Never Let Me Go” and is breathy over the pitter patter of Ross, Crane and Menares on “Acceptance.” Ross does some rich chiming and Crane’s brushes softly gallup on the sensuous “Dos Casas, Un Puente” and is chiming on the kinetic “The Search.” With Harris on Rhodes, a rich noir mood is palpable on “Abre Tus Ojos” with the entire outing a sepia toned delight.