Alexa Tarantino

Alexa Tarantino
Tarantino at Dizzy's Club in 2020
Background information
Born
West Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.
GenresJazz
OccupationMusician
Instruments
Years active2010s–present
LabelPosi-Tone
Member ofJazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra
Websitealexatarantino.com

Alexa Tarantino is an American jazz saxophonist, woodwind doubler, composer, and educator.[1]

Early life and education

Alexa Tarantino was born in West Hartford, Connecticut, United States.

She 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.[2]

Musical career

She has performed with Sherrie Maricle and the DIVA Jazz Orchestra,[3] 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, among others.[2]

Tarantino's most recent album, Firefly, was released on Posi-Tone Records in 2021 and reached No. 7 on the JazzWeek 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.[6] 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 for "Rising Star – Alto Saxophone" by Downbeat Magazine's Critics' Poll in 2021 and 2020,[11] while 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 released Title Label Personnel/Notes
2015 Crossing Paths Infinite 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]
2019 Winds of Change Posi-Tone Quintet featuring Christian Sands (piano), Joe Martin (bass), Rudy Royston (drums), Nick Finzer (trombone). Composer/arranger, Alto and soprano saxophones, Alto flute
2020 Clarity Posi-Tone Quartet featuring Steven Feifke (piano), Joe Martin (bass), Rudy Royston (drums). Composer/arranger, alto and soprano saxophones, flute and alto flute
2021 Firefly Posi-Tone Quintet 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 released Leader Title Label Notes
2013 Colossus Large Ensemble Colossus Independent Alto saxophone, clarinet
2015 Dariuzs Terenfenko Crossing Paths Infinite Records Composer "Crossing Paths," "Final Breaths," co-arranger, alto saxophone
2017 The DIVA Jazz Orchestra Diva: 25th Anniversary Artist Share Alto and soprano saxophones, composer/arranger/featured soloist "Square One," featured soloist "Seesaw"
2017 The DIVA Jazz Orchestra Diva + The Boys MCG Jazz Alto saxophone, soprano saxophone, flute, clarinet[18]
2018 Arturo O'Farrill & the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra Fandango at the Wall: A Soundtrack for the United States, Mexico, and Beyond Resilience Music Alliance Alto and soprano saxophones, flute
2018 Lauren Sevian Bliss Posi-Tone Alto saxophone[19][20]
2018 The Verve Jazz Ensemble Connect the Dots Lightgroove Media Alto saxophone, flute
2019 Something Blue Maximum Enjoyment Posi-Tone Alto saxophone[21]
2019 Lioness Pride & Joy Posi-Tone Alto saxophone, composer/arranger "Hurry Up and Wait"[22]
2019 Chris Teal Analog Dreams Outside-In Music Alto saxophone
2019 The Verve Jazz Ensemble Night Mode Lightgroove Media Alto saxophone, alto flute
2020 Works for Me Reach Within Posi-Tone Alto saxophone, alto flute[23]
2020 Posi-Tone Records Collective Tales of Wonder: A Celebration of Stevie Posi-Tone Alto saxophone (track one only)
2021 Ulysses Owens Jr. Soul Conversations Outside-In Music Alto saxophone[24]
2021 Steven Feifke Kinetic Outside-In Music Alto saxophone[25]
2021 KIMBROUGH Ensemble KIMBROUGH Newvelle Records Alto saxophone[26]

References

  1. ^ "12 Pop, Rock and Jazz Concerts to Check Out in N.Y.C. This Weekend". The New York Times. May 23, 2019. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 13, 2020.
  2. ^ a b Tauss, Lucy. "Alexa Tarantino Leads Charge for a More Inclusive Jazz Scene". JazzTimes. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
  3. ^ "Square One Arrangement". The DIVA Jazz Orchestra. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
  4. ^ "Alexa Tarantino: Firefly (Posi-Tone Records)". JazzWeek CD Releases. April 13, 2021. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  5. ^ "Take Five: Jen Shyu, Damon Locks, James Brandon Lewis, Alexa Tarantino, Roxana Amed". WBGO. April 12, 2021. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  6. ^ a b Boyd, Herb (August 2020). "Alexa Tarantino: Clarity". DownBeat. Vol. 87, no. 8. p. 47.
  7. ^ "Year End". JazzWeek. January 1, 2013. Retrieved March 13, 2020.
  8. ^ "Alexa Tarantino Juggles the Jazz Life". downbeat.com. June 6, 2019. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
  9. ^ "Jazz Woodwind Player Alexa Tarantino Impresses on 'Winds of Change'". PopMatters. May 29, 2019. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
  10. ^ Jurkovic, Mike (August 8, 2019). "Alexa Tarantino: Winds of Change". All About Jazz. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
  11. ^ "DownBeat Magazine". downbeat.com. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  12. ^ "2019 Expanded Critics' Poll Results". JazzTimes. Retrieved March 13, 2020.
  13. ^ Boyd, Herb. "Alexa Tarantino: Clarity". Retrieved October 14, 2020.
  14. ^ "Steven Feifke and Alexa Tarantino". Retrieved October 14, 2020.
  15. ^ "New York City musicians Alexa Tarantino & Steven Feifke present Sunday Livestreams via Crowdcast". Retrieved October 14, 2020.
  16. ^ "This Grant Just Helped +100 Jazz Musicians". GRAMMY.com. August 10, 2021. Retrieved September 3, 2021.
  17. ^ "Alexa Tarantino". Archived from the original on September 29, 2021. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
  18. ^ Hale, James (March 2020). "The DIVA Jazz Orchestra: DIVA + The Boys". DownBeat. Vol. 87, no. 3. p. 48.
  19. ^ Jackson, Ashawnta (September 2018). "Lauren Sevian: Bliss". DownBeat. Vol. 86, no. 9. p. 71.
  20. ^ Chinen, Nate (May 27, 2019). "Take Five: Sharp New Music by David Sanchez, Ryan Keberle, Matt Mitchell & Alexa Tarantino". www.wbgo.org. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
  21. ^ Simms-Burton, Michele L. (April 2019). "Something Blue: Maximum Enjoyment". DownBeat. Vol. 86, no. 4. p. 61.
  22. ^ "12 Women Influencing the Future of Jazz". pastemagazine.com. April 10, 2019. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
  23. ^ Freeman, Phil (March 2020). "Reach Within: Works for Me (Posi-Tone)". The New York City Jazz Record. No. 215. p. 14.
  24. ^ "Ulysses Owens Jr. Big Band: Soul Conversations album review @ All About Jazz". All About Jazz. May 9, 2021. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  25. ^ "New Album: April 9, 2021 | Steven Feifke: Kinetic". Outside in Music. January 31, 2021. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  26. ^ Chinen, Nate (July 16, 2021). "Jazz Musicians Unite With One Goal: Celebrating Frank Kimbrough". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved September 3, 2021.
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