Fine & Mellow Jazz Series: Melvis Santa
National Jazz Museum in HarlemNational Arts Club - 15 Gramercy Park South58 West 129th Street, New York 10027
Melvis Santa opens the sixth year of the Fine & Mellow Jazz Series with a program exploring connections between Cuban musical traditions and jazz.
Born in Havana and based in New York since 2014, Santa is a vocalist, pianist, percussionist and composer whose work brings together expressive storytelling, Afro-Cuban rhythm and improvisation. She founded the vocal group Sexto Sentido at 14, which Chucho Valdés called “the best Cuban vocal quartet of the past 30 years,” and she tours with Kenny Garrett. Her projects include Ashedí, the all-female Gata Jazz, and Melvis Santa & Jazz Orishas.
The National Jazz Museum in Harlem offers a unique blend of history and live music in a space that feels like a cultural hub rather than a typical club. The venue hosts performances that range from solo piano showcases to dynamic ensembles, often featuring both emerging talents and established artists deeply connected to Harlem's jazz legacy. The room is designed for attentive listening, with seating arranged to bring the audience close to the musicians, allowing the nuances of each performance to be fully appreciated. While it does not operate as a full restaurant, there is a welcoming environment where visitors can enjoy the music without distraction. Shows are ticketed and often require advance purchase, reflecting the museum’s role as a serious venue for jazz appreciation. Your evening will be a thoughtful immersion in jazz’s evolving story, set in a space that honors its roots and ongoing creativity.