Here's Marc Sabatella's take on Melodic Minor theory. He poses an interesting rational for the harmonic tweaks made to the Pure Minor (Aeolian) in the creation of the the Harmonic and Melodic minor chord/scales.
Marc Sabatella's Jazz Improvisation Primer: Melodic Minor Harmony
Melodic Minor Harmony
In classical theory, there are three types of minor scale. The minor scale we have already discussed, the aeolian mode, is also called the natural minor or pure minor. The two other minor scales were derived from it to provide more interesting harmonic and melodic possibilities.
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