The Washington Post has described Aldana as representing "a new sense of possibility and direction in jazz". Melissa found her love for the saxophone at the age of 6, eventually switching to the tenor after been influenced by the music of Sonny Rollins. Melissa has performed at numerous festivals, such as Blue Note Jazz, Monterey Jazz Festival and Copenhagen Jazz Festival to name a few. She also has a long list of achievements including being the first South American woman to win the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition.