Alexa Tarantino Explained

Alexa Tarantino
Landscape:no
Birth Date:1992 5, mf=yes
Origin:West Hartford, Connecticut, US
Instrument:Saxophone, woodwinds, flute, clarinet
Genre:Jazz
Occupation:Musician
Label:Posi-Tone Records
Associated Acts:DIVA Jazz Orchestra, Wynton Marsalis, Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Cécile McLorin Salvant

Alexa Tarantino (born May 30, 1992, in West Hartford, Connecticut) is an American jazz saxophonist, woodwind doubler, composer and educator.[1]

Early life and education

Tarantino obtained a bachelor's degree in Jazz Saxophone Performance and Music Education along with a Certificate in Arts Leadership from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York. She received her master's degree in Jazz Studies from The Juilliard School.

Musical career

She has played with Sherrie Maricle and the DIVA Jazz Orchestra,[2] the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Darcy James Argue's Secret Society, Wynton Marsalis, Arturo O’Farrill and the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra, and Cécile McLorin Salvant.[3]

Tarantino's most recent album, Firefly, was released on Posi-Tone Records in 2021 and reached No. 7 on the Jazz Week Charts.[4] [5] Her second album as leader, Clarity, was also released by Posi-Tone.[6] On it, she plays alto and soprano saxophones, flute, and alto flute. Tarantino's debut album as leader, Winds of Change, was released by Posi-Tone Records in 2019, and reached No. 15 on the JazzWeek charts and No. 79 on the 2019 JazzWeek Top 100.[7] The personnel on this album included Ulysses Owens Jr. (drums), Christian Sands (piano), Joe Martin (bass), and Nick Finzer (trombone).[8] [9] [10]

Tarantino was nominated as a "Rising Star- Alto Saxophone" by Downbeat Magazine's Critics' Poll in 2021 and 2020[11] and JazzTimes Critics' Poll named her one of the "Top 5 Alto Saxophonists of 2019".[12] She has also worked extensively with pianist Steven Feifke.[13] [14] [15] In 2021, Tarantino was a recipient of the Jazz Coalition Fund.[16]

Discography

As leader/co-leader

Year releasedTitleLabelPersonnel/Notes
2015Crossing PathsInfinite Records Released as a co-leader with pianist Dariusz Terefenko. Composer, "Crossing Paths," "Final Breath," Co-Arranger, Alto Saxophone. Released on Infinite Records, label founded by Tarantino in 2015.[17]
2019Winds of ChangePosi-ToneQuintet featuring Christian Sands (piano), Joe Martin (bass), Rudy Royston (drums), Nick Finzer (trombone). Composer/arranger, Alto and soprano saxophones, Alto flute
2020ClarityPosi-ToneQuartet featuring Steven Feifke (piano), Joe Martin (bass), Rudy Royston (drums). Composer/arranger, alto and soprano saxophones, flute and alto flute
2021FireflyPosi-ToneQuintet featuring Art Hirahara (piano), Boris Kozlov (bass), Rudy Royston (drums) Behn Gillece (vibraphone). Composer/arranger, alto and soprano saxophones, flute and alto flute, clarinet.

As sidewoman

Year releasedLeaderTitle LabelNotes
2013Colossus Large EnsembleColossusIndependentAlto Saxophone, Clarinet
2015Dariuzs TerenfenkoCrossing PathsInfinite RecordsComposer "Crossing Paths," "Final Breaths," Co-Arranger, Alto Saxophone
2017The DIVA Jazz OrchestraDiva: 25th AnniversaryArtist ShareAlto and Soprano Saxophones, Composer/Arranger/Featured Soloist "Square One," Featured soloist "Seesaw"
2017 The DIVA Jazz OrchestraDiva + The BoysMCG JazzAlto saxophone, soprano saxophone, flute, clarinet[18]
2018Arturo O'Farrill & the Afro Latin Jazz OrchestraFandango at the Wall: A Soundtrack for the United States, Mexico, and BeyondResilience Music AllianceAlto and Soprano Saxophones, Flute
2018Lauren SevianBlissPosi-ToneAlto saxophone[19] [20]
2018The Verve Jazz EnsembleConnect the DotsLightgroove MediaAlto saxophone, Flute
2019Something BlueMaximum EnjoymentPosi-ToneAlto saxophone[21]
2019LionessPride & JoyPosi-ToneAlto Saxophone, Composer/arranger "Hurry Up and Wait"[22]
2019Chris TealAnalog DreamsOutside-In MusicAlto Saxophone
2019The Verve Jazz EnsembleNight ModeLightgroove MediaAlto Saxophone, Alto Flute
2020Works for MeReach WithinPosi-ToneAlto saxophone, alto flute[23]
2020Posi-Tone Records CollectiveTales of Wonder: A Celebration of SteviePosi-ToneAlto Saxophone [Track One Only]
2021Ulysses Owens Jr.Soul ConversationsOutside-In MusicAlto Saxophone[24]
2021Steven FeifkeKineticOutside-In MusicAlto Saxophone[25]
2021KIMBROUGH EnsembleKIMBROUGHNewvelle RecordsAlto Saxophone[26]

Notes and References

  1. News: 12 Pop, Rock and Jazz Concerts to Check Out in N.Y.C. This Weekend. 2019-05-23. The New York Times. 2020-03-13. en-US. 0362-4331.
  2. Web site: Square One Arrangement. The DIVA Jazz Orchestra. en-US. 2020-05-16.
  3. Web site: Alexa Tarantino Leads Charge for a More Inclusive Jazz Scene . Tauss . Lucy . JazzTimes . 2020-05-16.
  4. Web site: 2021-04-13. Alexa Tarantino: Firefly (Posi-Tone Records). 2021-07-29. JazzWeek CD Releases. en.
  5. Web site: 2021-04-12. Take Five: Jen Shyu, Damon Locks, James Brandon Lewis, Alexa Tarantino, Roxana Amed. 2021-07-29. WBGO. en.
  6. Boyd. Herb. August 2020. Alexa Tarantino: Clarity. DownBeat. 87. 8. 47.
  7. Web site: 2013-01-01. Year End. 2020-03-13. JazzWeek.
  8. Web site: 2019-06-06. Alexa Tarantino Juggles the Jazz Life. 2020-05-16. downbeat.com.
  9. Web site: 2019-05-29. Jazz Woodwind Player Alexa Tarantino Impresses on 'Winds of Change'. 2020-05-16. PopMatters.
  10. Web site: Jurkovic. Mike. 2019-08-08. Alexa Tarantino: Winds of Change. 2020-05-16. All About Jazz.
  11. Web site: DownBeat Magazine. 2021-07-29. downbeat.com.
  12. Web site: 2019 Expanded Critics' Poll Results. JazzTimes. en-US. 2020-03-13.
  13. Web site: Alexa Tarantino: Clarity. Boyd. Herb. en-US. 2020-10-14.
  14. Web site: Steven Feifke and Alexa Tarantino. en-US. 2020-10-14.
  15. Web site: New York City musicians Alexa Tarantino & Steven Feifke present Sunday Livestreams via Crowdcast.. en-US. 2020-10-14.
  16. Web site: 2021-08-10. This Grant Just Helped +100 Jazz Musicians. 2021-09-03. GRAMMY.com. en.
  17. Web site: Alexa Tarantino. 2021-09-29. en.
  18. Hale . James . March 2020 . The DIVA Jazz Orchestra: DIVA + The Boys . DownBeat . 87 . 3 . 48 .
  19. Jackson . Ashawnta . September 2018 . Lauren Sevian: Bliss . DownBeat . 86 . 9 . 71 .
  20. Web site: Take Five: Sharp New Music by David Sanchez, Ryan Keberle, Matt Mitchell & Alexa Tarantino . Chinen . Nate . www.wbgo.org . 2020-05-16.
  21. Simms-Burton . Michele L. . April 2019 . Something Blue: Maximum Enjoyment . DownBeat . 86 . 4 . 61 .
  22. Web site: 12 Women Influencing the Future of Jazz. 2019-04-10. pastemagazine.com. en. 2020-05-16.
  23. Freeman . Phil . March 2020 . Reach Within: Works for Me (Posi-Tone) . . 215 . 14 .
  24. Web site: Ulysses Owens Jr. Big Band: Soul Conversations album review @ All About Jazz. 2021-07-29. All About Jazz. en.
  25. Web site: New Album: April 9, 2021 Steven Feifke: Kinetic. 2021-07-29. Outside in Music. en-US.
  26. News: Chinen. Nate. 2021-07-16. Jazz Musicians Unite With One Goal: Celebrating Frank Kimbrough. en-US. The New York Times. 2021-09-03. 0362-4331.

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