Melvis Santa

Two times Grammy Nominee vocalist, composer, bandleader, actress, and educator Melvis Santa was born and raised in an eclectic neighborhood of Centro Habana, Cuba, being exposed  at an early early age to diverse cultural and ritual traditions within her family and the community. 

Classically trained since 7 years old, at 14, Melvis made a splash in the national music scene by founding the all-female vocal group Sexto Sentido, mentored by Chucho Valdés who deemed it as “the best Cuban vocal quartet of the past 30 years.” Later mentored by Bobby Carcassés and his son Roberto, Melvis joined the seminal fusion band Interactivo, touring worldwide and collaborating with the who’s who of the music scene. In 2012 Melvis spread wings and recorded her Cubadisco nominated album ‘Santa Habana’ as a bandleader and composer. 

Her musical influences celebrate a lineage of greats Afro-Cuban female vocalists such as Merceditas Valdés, Rita Montaner, Celia Cruz and Mayra Caridad Valdés. Also, jazz legends such as Abbey Lincoln, and Shirley Horn. The New York Times defines her style as possessing 70`s soul underpinnings, yet belonging to the Afro Cuban musical traditions.

Based in New York since 2014, Melvis continues to make a mark as a performer and educator. She has conducted master classes and music/dance workshops at NYU, Yale, Fordham University, Chicago Jazz Philharmonic and many other institutions across the US and abroad. 

Her work as a bandleader portray her deep sense of cultural representation: Ashedi - Afro Cuban ritual music; Ellas Son - all-female Latin music quintet; La Rumba de Santa - traditional Cuban rumba, and her most recently formed Afro Cuban jazz quintet, Jazz Orishas.

Since 2021 Melvis is the vocalist of Kenny Garrett’s band: Sounds From The Ancestors, becoming the first vocalist to ever join and tour with Mr. Garrett’s band. Other important collaborations include Chucho Valdés and Mayra Caridad Valdés, Terri Lynn Carrington, Xiomara Laugart, Cassandra Wilson, Sonia Sánchez, Women Raga Massive, Roman Diaz, Pedrito Martinez, Arturo O’Farrill, Kenny Garrett, Ravi Coltrane, Buena Vista Social Club, and Muñequitos de Matanzas.

Artist photo by Fernando Rodriguez