A multi-faceted musician proficient on numerous instruments — as well as performing, composing, and educating — Alexa Tarantino has been described as a “one-woman wrecking crew” by Week Nine collaborator Wynton Marsalis.
The Alexa Tarantino Quartet — led by Tarantino herself, with Philip Norris on bass, Steven Feifke on piano, and Domo Branch on drums — will perform some of her original compositions and some favorites in the jazz repertoire at 8:15 p.m. tonight in the Amphitheater.
“All are very close in the Jazz at Lincoln Center community,” Tarantino said about the ensemble. “They lead their own bands, they play with many other amazing band leaders all over the country and the world so I’m very happy to be able to play with them.”
They employ creative improvisation and musical interaction as cornerstones of their performances and have most recently taken the stage in prestigious New York City spots like Dizzy’s Club, The Jazz Standard, and Birdland Theater.
Tarantino’s newest album, 2021’s Firefly hit No. 6 on JazzWeek charts and brings a message of wonder, poise, joy and hope, according to Tarantino. Her work can also be heard on Clarity, Winds of Change, Something Blue, Lioness, and Works for Me — with new music coming out next June.
Tarantino started playing saxophone in the fourth grade after seeing a local high school jazz concert, and only got more involved from there; she realized around her freshman year in high school that she would pursue music as a career. Slowly dropping any non-music courses, Tarantino joined a second jazz band group as a player and arranger; the freshman band as a clarinetist, concert band as a saxophonist; and an independent study with a teacher.
Earning her bachelor’s degrees in jazz saxophone performance and music education from the Eastman School of Music and master’s degree in jazz studies from The Juilliard School, Tarantino serves as an educator in Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Youth Education Programs and directs one of their High School Jazz Academy big bands.
In teaching students, Tarantino finds that an awareness of one’s strengths and weaknesses is integral to growth. She founded and directs Rockport Jazz Workshop that brings together young jazz musicians every summer for workshops and education.
During the global pandemic, Tarantino co-founded A Step Ahead Jazz workshop with pianist Steven Feifke and launched her virtual jazz education platform, The Alexa Approach. Not one to be boxed in, Tarantino co-leads a quintet group, LSAT, with baritone saxophonist Lauren Sevian.
Visiting Chautauqua for the first time, Tarantino is looking forward to seeing “All Rise” and witnessing her mentor Ted Nash, longtime member of Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, play on the Amp stage.
“It’s very rare I get to be with him at the same time,” Tarantino said. “Usually we’re like ships passing in the night and it’s always a treat to get to hear him play in section with the orchestra — as well as the entire group together.”
Tarantino said she often gets to sub for two-time Grammy winner Nash in the orchestra in New York, so she’s excited about “being in the same place at the same time,” on top of “really looking forward to coming to Chautauqua for the first time ever as a band leader,” Tarantino said.
