In the world of Jazz, there are some exceptional female saxophonists who have redefined the genre with their innovative sounds and distinctive styles. I would like to introduce you to, or remind you of, three contemporary artists along with some of my favourite albums that they’ve produced.
When I listen to these saxophonists their music feels accessible to me. Despite their obvious amazing technical abilities and formal musical education I do not feel my own saxophone journey is completely futile – I feel encouraged to learn from them!
Melissa Aldana
Chile-born tenor saxophonist and composer Melissa Aldana graduated from Berklee in 2009 and is based in New York. She spent years transcribing different musicians to understand their unique voices, but was particularly influenced by Sonny Rollins. She says her fluidity and consistency of tone comes from hours and hours of practice, 4-6 hours a day, 2 hours of which being long tones! I love her comment that “sound is aesthetic”. Her aim is to have a ‘huge sound’ without being loud and she uses dynamics to articulate her story.
Melissa Aldana & Crash Trio (2014)
Aldana’s virtuosic tenor saxophone playing is supported by a dynamic rhythm section. Her sound here is big and energising with a unique style of phrasing. The album is dominated by post-bop swing with harmonic ideas inspired by her saxophone idols.
Visions (2019)
On this record, Aldana pushes the boundaries of jazz with avant-garde experimentation alongside captivating melodies, which makes for an interesting but pleasant listening experience. This album was nominated for a Grammy award!
12 Stars (2022)
Several years on and Aldana’s sax playing is mesmeric. Her solos are warm and clear whilst being athletic and textural. Norwegian guitarist, Lage Lund, produced the album and arranged the songs – the band supporting her also sounds fantastic!
Cecilie Strange
Danish-born tenor saxophonist and composer Cecilie Strange grew up in a musical home. She studied with jazz saxophonist Hans Ulrik at the Music Academy in Odense, graduating in 2009, and later with saxophonist Chris Cheek in New York. A particular musical inspiration was Stan Getz and his sessions with Astrid and Joao Gilberto. She reports an affinity with the music from the time of John Coltrane and Dexter Gordon. Her influences include free-jazz, blues, and swing, alongside Scandinavian folk music. She has 3 children under 6 and manages to balance her life so that she can tour in Denmark, but currently she says she just ‘dreams’ of presenting her music abroad – I can’t wait to see her play live!
Blue (2020)
This album is very much a musical soundscape linked to landscape. Her saxophone playing is dark but warm, peaceful and hypnotic. The characteristic Scandinavian minimalist sound is apparent in the interactions between the members of this carefully selected quartet. Elements of classic and Nordic jazz and Nordic folk melodies appear side by side.
Blikan (2021)
Strange states that the songs on this album have a light in them, as a symbol of growth and positivity. The gentle fusion of folk melody and jazz improvisation is magical. Once again the band feels such a natural fit, each member is listening so carefully to the other, and there is a lightness and sense of space in the music. This album gained her international recognition.
Beyond (2023)
This album is about the cycle of life following her arrival into motherhood, with some of the songs being dedicated to close family members. Again, the same ‘dream’ quartet work so well together. She says that they had no discussions before recording, they just stood in a circle and played, the improvisation and composition is seamless. There is a sense of calm and intimacy, with space to breathe and contemplate.
Nubya Garcia
London-born tenor saxophonist and composer Nubya Garcia comes from a musical family. Her early influences exposed her to many genres of music such as Jazz, Classical, Caribbean, Electronic, and Latin music. Learning saxophone from age 10, she joined the Royal Academy of Music junior programme and later the renowned Tomorrow’s Warriors, a programme where she met Shabaka Hutchings among others. She studied at Berklee and graduated from the Trinity Laban in Jazz Performance. She says her influences include Dexter Gordon, Sonny Rollins, John Coltrane, Wayne Shorter, and Joe Henderson. Her goal is to develop ‘a recognisable voice’ of her own, which reflects her varied musical interests. She sees herself on a developmental journey whose beauty is in its infinity.
Nubya’s 5ive (2017)
A conventional and classic debut album it is an easy and smooth listen. There are more contemporary ideas too, a spiritual jazz leaning here, and afro beats there. However, her playing is definitely star of the show.
Source (2020)
Identity is important to Nubya Garcia, this album is a sonic self-portrait blending jazz with influences of Afrobeat, Reggae, Cumbia, Hip-Hop, and Soul. It is vibrant and exhilarating but in parts is also meditative and smooth. It reaches into the past, yet draws upon that to feed the present.
Thank you for this – so interesting, I haven’t actually heard of any of them but will definitely have a listen.