UNT One O'Clock Lab Band: Melissa Aldana - Free Fall (2010)

[@jacobbritton7359]

First time hearing Melissa Aldana. She has an excellent sound!

[@michaelhuddleston7200]

Melissa Aldana is truly amazing. I was at this concert. Thanks so much for posting. What a rich sound and full range. Musical. The mouthpice was made by Matt Marantz. It smokes.

[@tonyaguirre8316]

Did she have that Marantz in 2010?

[@oostapchuk]

@@tonyaguirre8316 nope, the tune was written back then.

[@hoangphan4091]

Beautiful sound Melissa Aldana, and nice Arranger for big band!

[@tonyaguirre8316]

Shes just incredible

[@celsodelamolina7339]

Magnifica.....cuantos sentimientos......cuanto Talento. Nunca imagine que cuando le vendí a su padre el Gran Marcos Aldana mi viejo saxophone de banda colegial para su joven hija.....pasaria esto.

[@gabrielmatte1182]

Melissa Aldana killed the saxophone improvisation game

[@juanantoniomonsivaisgarcia7679]

¡Excelente!

[@saxophone.4513]

Great-sounding player, wonderful technique and timing.

[@elizafarmgirlpray]

awesome really a great saxophonist

[@ljerryd]

15 miles from UNT and I MISSED this! I gotta start watching that schedule. Incredible Performance by Melissa, Ethan and the band!

[@timmo491]

Nice smooth delivery. All the best to her from a tenor player in England.

[@fernandoabdo1255]

escuchar el saxo de Melissa es un deleite siempre...

[@bddorsey]

She's a freakin beast!

[@connorfirth857]

Gotta love the look on the saxophone players in the section when Melissa played that kick 🔥 2:36

[@billcherry5852]

Good job, Melissa Aldana!

[@jslevenson101]

Consistently consistent lovely.

[@grantkoeller8911]

hard chart, nice job M.A.!!!!

[@jazz4asahel]

Tight.

[@dogfoot46]

Somebody correct the notes...Ethan Ditthardt, guitar.

[@Agaveo_Productions]

Melissa wow! Brava!

[@mountainlinx]

Damn! ❤️

[@Hi-xs7wm]

♥♥

[@SeanOmlet]

2:28 that high note sheeeeeeesh

[@SeanOmlet]

the trombone in the middle looks like gabe from the office

[@DaMonster]

Yeah u right

[@hansongoldwin]

1:54

[@legoblox01]

2:07-2:14 gonna steal that

[@gabrielmatte1182]

@Luke Brown if you transcribe it send it to me ok ?

[@SeanOmlet]

u ever transcribed it? plz send lol

[@1PlacidPig]

4:11 😎

[@aidanengel875]

sheesh

[@jchef89]

Serious Brecker vibes. Similar tone and style. Absolutely unbelievable!

[@paxwallacejazz]

No not really. Like fact not really. They couldn't be more different both in line construction and sax seniority. But I really really like how she plays.

[@kennethreed8746]

Maybe some phrashing similiarties but aside from that, the lines and tone are different

[@DaMonster]

I can hear a strong similarity in their lines and agree with you, it's just that the existence of Mark Turner blinds us to the strong connection between her and Brecker (there's a shit ton of brecker in turner's playing too). Worth noting that her style is really unique, even with the strong influences too

[@legoblox01]

How is her mouthpiece staying on the horn? It's so far out. Killer sound though.

[@ziruini5071]

Anakin Dey small chamber

[@wammytammy]

@@ziruini5071 Nope! It's actually a D'Addario Select Jazz. I own one and it has a slightly smaller bore than any other mouthpiece I've played. But as for the chamber, it's got a medium chamber!

[@MGSax]

Stank face the whole time

[@gregoryxyz4812]

I just listened to the clip again sometime since my last comment to see if my view had changed but it reinforced it. Yes patterns - necessary - like punching the punch bag, good practice but in improv? Just stringing together patterns because they are palatable to the listener? It makes a 'safe' sound? Choked by the patterns such that they make a glass roof on one's performance therefore disabling the requirement to step into the unknown and create true in the moment expressive freeform that transmits an inner thought process/feelings? I would suggest there is place for a pattern if the player wants to 'ground' the listener i.e. bring them back to a stable place, and/or buy time and use as a launch pad into another area of expression. Yes performance is technically flawless - a gorgeous sound - excellent good - I would love to be able to play so well - but the improv is 'worked'/pre-designed and beige and ultimately, frightened by social morays - in my opinion. But then, hey, some Avant Garde stuff is just plain silly and an awful indulgent noise...again - it's subjective. Just putting it out there.

[@joblack1838]

"...I would love to be able to play so well..." But you'll still criticize her playing like a b!t¢#

[@philipschrantz8402]

Setting aside the entire discussion of whether you are capable/credible to sit in judgement of her at all, I think it’s profoundly unfair to judge her musicality and imagination from one performance in one musical setting. I also reject the over-intellectualization of what, at its purest essence, is an expression of personal creativity in a flow of musical moments. You don’t like her playing? Fine. Don’t listen to her. The nature of her art isn’t dependent upon your aesthetics. Or your approval.

[@alansenzaki4148]

Traditionally north texas state jazz band has been mostly white since the sixties. Dont get me wrong the music is great but they need to include some people of color in the band!

[@djfractle8419]

Alan Senzaki its not a matter of race there are plenty of recordings and posts with members of color playing in the group. Its not a matter of adding people of color just for the sake of diversity. Its not the fault of the band that there aren’t many colored people in the program at unt and its just really the matter of talent to get in as well.

[@ziruini5071]

@@djfractle8419 there needs to be societal change then. Jazz has always been a huge part of african american culture yet there are so few black students in high school and college jazz bands around the country. What happened, then? Parents, teachers, and mentors need to be encouraging young black kids and other young people of color to try music and jazz. Girls especially too, because they're also such a small minority in the jazz scene. Only then will we start seeing more diversity in jazz. Issues like these are never as simple as "oh none of them tried out so they can't be in the band".

[@djfractle8419]

The reason we dont see many african americans in the spotlight is because of modern music many people today turn a blind eye band and jazz music. Its just that most young people aren’t playing jazz more people are just addicted to rap and they dont care to listen to other music. Saying that a type of music is just for another race to play more is racist on its own and really there’re all just people playing music lets enjoy it instead of bitching about the performers color.

[@alansenzaki4148]

@@ziruini5071 Your right in so many ways. Racism in this country is very ingrained in the system itself. I've experienced myself (especially in the fifties when i was young and as my parents did being in internment camp) For african americans it never went away. Like you said the system needs to change in these colleges to encourage and promote to ensure all people of color are given support and opportunity to partake in the music program.

[@ziruini5071]

@@djfractle8419 I don't think I ever said jazz should be only for black people? And the fact that jazz is becoming less popular with younger people doesn't explain or excuse the lack of people of color (or women) in jazz programs.

[@alansenzaki4148]

.....and introducing the traditionally all white north texas state jazz band. Sorry. Melissa is great and the band is very accomplished.

[@sandraavila6201]

No falta el comentario racista!!

[@gregoryxyz4812]

Benn playing the sax for 30 years and mostly improv'ing - she's a way better player than me...buuuutttt...does she transmit emotion or prove that yes she's technically a great player that can put together well rehearsed patterns?

[@Edspillanemusic]

I think she does both :)

[@gregoryxyz4812]

@@Edspillanemusic I improvise a lot, a lot & in my opinion there is safety in 'leaning on patterns' which then disable the flaws which happen whilst you search around for the next 'wave'.....maybe I'm envious because I can't play set patterns...in fact - just listened again it is pattern heavy....a bit fearful of actually jumping and flying..

[@Edspillanemusic]

@@gregoryxyz4812 yes that’s true and patterns in themselves aren’t music, it’s all about the application and how the player edits or weaves them into their own lines. I hear motivic development in her playing, she’ll play an idea and build on it and use it as a chapter in her story. In my opinion, she’s a very musical player in addition to having killer virtuosic technique.

[@gregoryxyz4812]

@@Edspillanemusic Hey Ed, all v.subjective ultimately. No argument she is a great player. I'd need another couple of lifetimes to get as smooth as her. But I'll stick with the view that; musically impeccable yes, sax sound great, emotive projection from her soul to listener....? Questionable. And my view is that resorting to patterns in anyway actually disassociates the player from the listener...like canned laughter. Pure improv must be as though the next note is unknown. Checked out your stuff on your site - fantastic! I do so envy your youth and your obvious talent. Bringing people together like that takes a lot of energy (covid ensemble) - admirable. In The Book of Tao....'he who is outrageous achieves mastery'...do not be constrained by musical mores..I do busking in London a lot with an African chap who plays the drum. Timing, keys etc are secondary. I find the more I stop adhering to rules the better...buuutttt...so avant garde then? Yes-ish but the stuff I've heard I feel is often pretentious 'trying' to be creative and does not again, transmit emotion...usually entirely cerebral...and can give me a headache...so bottom line...I don't even know what I like!! Respect, Greg.

[@Edspillanemusic]

@@gregoryxyz4812 thank you!