Melvis Santa's Gata Jazz Trio - Cuban Jazz Series

Melvis Santa’s Gata Jazz Trio brings a distinctly feminine perspective to modern jazz at Blues Alley as part of the Cuban Jazz Series. Led by two-time Grammy Award nominee Melvis Santa, the New York–based all-female trio combines Afro-Cuban avant-garde, blues, and Latin influences while examining the intersectional experiences of women in the global jazz diaspora and a historically male-dominated musical scene. The engagement is co-presented with the Embassy of Cuba.

Gata Jazz takes its name from the feminine Spanish equivalent of “cat,” a term of high respect in jazz. For Santa, the name represents both musical recognition and female empowerment.

When: Sunday, October 11, 2026

Showtimes: 5:30 PM and 8:00 PM

Tickets: $35, plus a $7 fee

Lineup: Melvis Santa on piano, vocals, percussion, and compositions; Liany Mateo on upright bass; and Ivanna Cuesta on drums

Venue: Blues Alley, 1073 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20007

Presented by: Co-presented with the Embassy of Cuba

Seating: Seating is first come, first served at the door.

Doors: On Sundays, doors open at 4:30 PM for the early show and 7:15 PM for the later show.

Food and beverage minimum: A $15 minimum per person is required for food and beverages and is not included in the ticket price.

Ticket policy: All sales are final. Tickets are nonrefundable and nontransferable.

Recording policy: Photography and recording of any kind are prohibited during the performance.

Audience etiquette: Guests are asked to keep conversation to a minimum during the performance.

Run time: Not provided.

Ages: Not provided.

Accessibility: No accessibility information is provided.