Alexa Tarantino
Alexa Tarantino | |
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Background information | |
Born | (1992-05-30) May 30, 1992 (age 32) |
Origin | West Hartford, Connecticut, US |
Genres | Jazz |
Occupation(s) | Musician |
Instrument(s) | Saxophone, woodwinds, flute, clarinet |
Labels | Posi-Tone Records |
Website | alexatarantino |
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.[2]
Musical career
She has played 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.[2]
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.[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 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 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
- ^ "12 Pop, Rock and Jazz Concerts to Check Out in N.Y.C. This Weekend". The New York Times. 2019-05-23. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-03-13.
- ^ a b Tauss, Lucy. "Alexa Tarantino Leads Charge for a More Inclusive Jazz Scene". JazzTimes. Retrieved 2020-05-16.
- ^ "Square One Arrangement". The DIVA Jazz Orchestra. Retrieved 2020-05-16.
- ^ "Alexa Tarantino: Firefly (Posi-Tone Records)". JazzWeek CD Releases. 2021-04-13. Retrieved 2021-07-29.
- ^ "Take Five: Jen Shyu, Damon Locks, James Brandon Lewis, Alexa Tarantino, Roxana Amed". WBGO. 2021-04-12. Retrieved 2021-07-29.
- ^ a b Boyd, Herb (August 2020). "Alexa Tarantino: Clarity". DownBeat. Vol. 87, no. 8. p. 47.
- ^ "Year End". JazzWeek. 2013-01-01. Retrieved 2020-03-13.
- ^ "Alexa Tarantino Juggles the Jazz Life". downbeat.com. 2019-06-06. Retrieved 2020-05-16.
- ^ "Jazz Woodwind Player Alexa Tarantino Impresses on 'Winds of Change'". PopMatters. 2019-05-29. Retrieved 2020-05-16.
- ^ Jurkovic, Mike (2019-08-08). "Alexa Tarantino: Winds of Change". All About Jazz. Retrieved 2020-05-16.
- ^ "DownBeat Magazine". downbeat.com. Retrieved 2021-07-29.
- ^ "2019 Expanded Critics' Poll Results". JazzTimes. Retrieved 2020-03-13.
- ^ Boyd, Herb. "Alexa Tarantino: Clarity". Retrieved 2020-10-14.
- ^ "Steven Feifke and Alexa Tarantino". Retrieved 2020-10-14.
- ^ "New York City musicians Alexa Tarantino & Steven Feifke present Sunday Livestreams via Crowdcast". Retrieved 2020-10-14.
- ^ "This Grant Just Helped +100 Jazz Musicians". GRAMMY.com. 2021-08-10. Retrieved 2021-09-03.
- ^ "Alexa Tarantino". Retrieved 2021-09-29.
- ^ Hale, James (March 2020). "The DIVA Jazz Orchestra: DIVA + The Boys". DownBeat. Vol. 87, no. 3. p. 48.
- ^ Jackson, Ashawnta (September 2018). "Lauren Sevian: Bliss". DownBeat. Vol. 86, no. 9. p. 71.
- ^ Chinen, Nate. "Take Five: Sharp New Music by David Sanchez, Ryan Keberle, Matt Mitchell & Alexa Tarantino". www.wbgo.org. Retrieved 2020-05-16.
- ^ Simms-Burton, Michele L. (April 2019). "Something Blue: Maximum Enjoyment". DownBeat. Vol. 86, no. 4. p. 61.
- ^ "12 Women Influencing the Future of Jazz". pastemagazine.com. 2019-04-10. Retrieved 2020-05-16.
- ^ Freeman, Phil (March 2020). "Reach Within: Works for Me (Posi-Tone)". The New York City Jazz Record. No. 215. p. 14.
- ^ "Ulysses Owens Jr. Big Band: Soul Conversations album review @ All About Jazz". All About Jazz. Retrieved 2021-07-29.
- ^ "New Album: April 9, 2021 | Steven Feifke: Kinetic". Outside in Music. Retrieved 2021-07-29.
- ^ Chinen, Nate (2021-07-16). "Jazz Musicians Unite With One Goal: Celebrating Frank Kimbrough". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-09-03.