Alexa Tarantino

Alexa 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]

Tarantino is married to pianist, arranger, and composer Steven Feifke.^[3] She is currently pregnant, expecting her first child with Feifke.^[4]

She has performed with Sherrie Maricle and the DIVA Jazz Orchestra,^[5] 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.^[6][7] Her second album as leader, Clarity, was also released by Posi-Tone.^[8] On it, she plays alto and soprano saxophones, flute, and alto flute.^[8] 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.^[9] The personnel on this album included Ulysses Owens Jr. (drums), Christian Sands (piano), Joe Martin (bass), and Nick Finzer (trombone).^[10][11][12]

Tarantino was nominated for "Rising Star – Alto Saxophone" by Downbeat Magazine's Critics' Poll in 2021 and 2020,^[13] while JazzTimes Critics' Poll named her one of the "Top 5 Alto Saxophonists of 2019".^[14] She has also worked extensively with pianist Steven Feifke.^[15][16][17] In 2021, Tarantino was a recipient of the Jazz Coalition Fund.^[18]