#GilMelle was born in New York City on this day December 31, 1931. A little-known saxophonist, composer & visual artist, Melle made a series of unique records for Blue Note in the mid-1950s culminating with "Patterns In Jazz." But Melle's greatest contribution to Blue Note history was introducing Alfred Lion to Rudy Van Gelder, whose first Blue Note recording session was Melle's debut album in 1953.