JAZZ AT ONE: Melvis Santa

GRAMMY nominee Melvis Santa is known for her multidisciplinary artistry. Vocalist, composer, actress, and educator born and raised in Havana, Cuba, Melvis made a splash at 14 when she founded the all-female collective Sexto Sentido, a project that jazz great Chucho Valdés deemed as “the best Cuban vocal quartet of the past 30 years.”
Jazz At One @ Trinity : Melvis Santa

ABOUT MELVIS SANTA

In 2010, Melvis spread her wings and became one of the lead vocalists of seminal Cuban Timba-Funk fusion band Interactivo, led by Roberto Carcassés. Later she went solo and formed her own group. Her debut album as a bandleader, Santa Habana (Bis Music) obtained a Cubadisco nomination in 2012. 

Currently based in New York, Melvis continues to make a mark as an educator and performer. Her project Ashedí, it’s a collaboration that features original compositions and traditional folk Afro Cuban styles, including Rumba. Likewise, Melvis has taught clinics and masterclasses at NYU, Yale University, UArts, Chicago Jazz Philharmonic, and she’s a teaching artist of City Lore and the National Jazz Museum in Harlem.  Collaborations along her career includes the who’s who of the Latin and Jazz communities, such as Buena Vista Social Club, Muñequitos de Matanzas, Team Cuba de La Rumba, Pedrito Martínez, Román Díaz, Xiomara Laugart, Arturo O’Farrill, Bobby Sanabria, Osmany Paredes, David Virelles, Ravi Coltrane, Christian McBride, Andy Bey, Dee Dee Bridgewater, and many others.

ABOUT JAZZ AT ONE

As part of Trinity Church Wall Street’s commitment to jazz, a uniquely American art form and uniting voice for our collective story and experience, Trinity presents Jazz at One in collaboration with JAZZ HOUSE KiDS. Jazz at One is a part of Trinity’s renowned Concerts at One series and is curated by our very own Ted Chubb. Through access, learning, career development, and community building, JAZZ HOUSE KiDS cultivates tomorrow’s global citizens so they may build vibrant communities.