Alexa Tarantino
Alexa Tarantino is an award-winning, vibrant, young jazz saxophonist, woodwind doubler, composer, and educator. Alexa’s “lovely, ardent way of improvising,” and “sharply plotted but gracefully unencumbered straight-ahead jazz [compositions]” (Giovanni Russonello, The New York Times) establish her individual voice which shines through as a dynamic performer and educator. Tarantino was recently named one of the “Top 5 Alto Saxophonists of 2019” by the JazzTimes Critics’ Poll. Her debut album, Winds of Change, peaked at #15 on the JazzWeek Charts and landed at #79 for JazzWeek’s Top 100 records of 2019.
Tarantino’s performance highlights include prestigious venues such as Jazz in Marciac Festival (with Wynton Marsalis and the Young Stars of Jazz), Umbria Jazz Festival (with Ryan Truesdell’s Gil Evans Project), the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, the Hollywood Bowl (with Sherrie Maricle & the DIVA Jazz Orchestra), the Rockport Jazz Festival (Alexa Tarantino Quintet), Rose Theater at Jazz at Lincoln Center and the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts (with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra), and the Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival (with LSAT, Earth, Wind & Fire and others). She has performed regularly as a leader and sidewoman in a wide variety of ensembles and genres including the Alexa Tarantino Quartet, Cecile McLorin Salvant Quintet, Cecile McLorin Salvant’s OGRESSE Ensemble, Ulysses Owens Jr.’s Generation Y, LSAT (quintet co-led with baritone saxophonist Lauren Sevian), Arturo O’Farrill & The Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra, and Sherrie Maricle & the DIVA Jazz Orchestra.
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- Clarity by Paul Rauch
- Clarity by Dan Bilawsky
- DIVA + The Boys by Dan Bilawsky
- DIVA + the Boys by Jack Bowers
- Winds of Change by Mike Jurkovic
“Coming at her music with an impressive embrace of style and tradition, and blending a natural youthful inquisitiveness and confidence to make the music her own, saxophonist-flautist and full- of-flair composer Alexa Tarantino (...) makes big strides towards the limelight on her Posi-Tone Records debut as leader with the restorative and percolating Winds of Change.” • All About Jazz • Mike Jurkovic • August 8, 2019
“What she readily admits was her first ever composition, the shuffling, bossa tinged 'Square One' again teams (Christian) Sands and Tarantino so easily, so artfully and tunefully that you wish the song never ended.” • All About Jazz • Mike Jurkovic • August 8, 2019
“Led by Alexa Tarantino, one of jazz's most exciting and versatile rising stars, the series will explore practical ways to become a more comprehensive artist.” • Broadway World • BWW News Desk • May 6, 2020
“Alexa Tarantino excels at marketing in addition to her playing
Primary Instrument
Saxophone, alto
Credentials/Background
all levels
Clinic/Workshop Information
all levels