Melvis Santa presents Gata Jazz
Grammy Nominee singer, creative pianist, composer, percussionist and activist Melvis Santa is a young guru, a multidisciplinary artist who makes a point of integrating the Black diaspora with her Cuban heritage, Afro Cuban traditions and American jazz influence she continues to digest since her arrival to New York
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City.Born and raised in La Habana, Cuba, Melvis came to performance at an early age. Classically trained on piano and voice, she made a splash at 14 by founding the all-female collective and JoJazz winner ensemble Sexto Sentido, deemed by Chucho Valdés “the best Cuban vocal quartet of the past 30 years.” Currently based in New York, Melvis continues to make a mark as a performer and educator, adding to the Afro-Cuban jazz movement set forth by her ancestors. She received the BKCM’s Jazz Leaders Fellowship Award. The New York Times defined her style as possessing 70`s soul underpinnings, yet belonging to the Afro Cuban musical traditions.Melvis guest-lectured at NYU, Fordham Univ. and conducted artist-in-residence programs at UArts, Tulane, Boulder Univ. and Chicago Jazz Philharmonic as well as in Europe, Australia and Latinoamerica. Her work as a bandleader features Ashedi (Afro-Cuban traditions) Ellas-Son (all-female Latin jazz group), La Rumba de Santa (Cuban rumba), and most recently, Jazz Orishas, a multi-dimensional ensemble featuring her original compositions. These bands have showcased in NYC’s iconic venues like Birdland, Minton’s, Lincoln Center, Zinc Bar, The Jazz Gallery, National Jazz Museum in Harlem, and BRIC Jazz Festival.Collaborations includes Kenny Garrett Sextet, Charles Tolliver, Andy Bey, Ravi Coltrane, Steve Coleman, Arturo O’Farrill & ALJA, Chucho Valdes, Mayra Caridad Valdés, Xiomara Laugart, David Virelles, Roman Diaz, Pedrito Martinez, Brooklyn Raga Massive, Gilles Peterson, Buena Vista Social Club, Rumberos de Cuba, and Muñequitos de Matanzas.