Firefly Alexa Tarantino

• 1Spider's Dance05:38
• 2Mindful Moments04:44
• 3Move Of The Spirit04:07
• 4Iris04:43
• 5Daybreak04:19
• 6Surge Fughetta01:37
• 7Surge Capacity04:11
• 8La Donna Nel Giardino04:34
• 9Rootless Ruthlessness06:43
• 10Lady Day06:33
• 11Violet Sky04:24
• 12The Firefly Code05:56
• Total Runtime57:29

Info zu Firefly

Alexa Tarantino burns bright with a scintillating maturity of insight and takes flight on Firefly, her third release for Posi- Tone Records. Driven on by the Winds Of Change to refine the Clarity of her artistic vision, Tarantino reaches inward to transform herself into the luminous “Firefly” and searches to discover the unifying spark of eternity hidden behind each individual moment in time. Supported on the album by familiar collaborators, including vibraphonist Behn Gillece, pianist Art Hirahara, bassist Boris Kozlov, and drummer Rudy Royston, Alexa leads her group by example and sparkles with melodic inspiration throughout. The centerpiece of the album is Alexa’s evocative Moment in Time suite which clearly demonstrates her advancement as a composer and showcases the wide range of her effortless multi-instrument virtuosity. With an engaging program of original compositions and a few tasty covers, Firefly presents the world with a musical message that shines brightly into the darkness to provide a much-needed message of wonder, poise, joy, and hope.

"Firefly is a new high for Tarantino as she exhibits more gloriously controlled power and tonal beauty. The original compositions on the album are intelligent, which allows the ensemble to perform with naturalness and flow. Overall, it is impossible not to love her; even though she still has room to move to an additional space of strength, it is always a delight to hear her performances. When it comes to Tarantino, I can’t wait to listen to what else she can do." (Stamish Malcuss, jazzsensibilities.com)

Alexa Tarantino, alto saxophone, soprano saxophone, alto flute, flute and clarinet
Behn Gillece, vibraphone
Art Hirahara, piano
Boris Kozlov, bass
Rudy Royston, drums

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 and nominated as a “Rising Star - Alto Saxophone” by Downbeat Magazine’s 2020 Critics’ Poll.

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.

Tarantino leads her own quartet, which was featured at Dizzy’s Club at Jazz at Lincoln Center, Birdland Jazz Theater, Jazz Standard, and Times Square. Firefly, Alexa’s third record for Posi-Tone Records released April 16, 2021. Her previous album, Clarity, peaked at #9 on the JazzWeek Charts and landed at #54 for JazzWeek’s Top 100 records of 2020. Tarantino’s other recent projects include her quintet that she co-leads with baritone saxophonist Lauren Sevian called “LSAT.” LSAT was selected as the winners of the Made in New York Jazz Competition, where they performed with Randy Brecker, John Patitucci, and more. The two award-winning saxophonists have fused with a dynamic rhythm section that propels their music to new heights. LSAT presents original compositions highlighting the unique combination of baritone and alto saxophone, as well as their own interpretations of favorites from the jazz repertoire. LSAT recently headlined at the Jazz Educators Network Annual Conference in New Orleans, LA.

As a composer/arranger, Tarantino has written and/or recorded works for Lauren Sevian’s Bliss for Posi-Tone Records, Sherrie Maricle & The DIVA Jazz Orchestra’s 25th Anniversary, and Cécile McLorin Salvant’s Quintet. With Posi-Tone Records, her work can be heard on Firefly, Clarity, Winds of Change, Something Blue, Lioness, and Works for Me.

In addition, Tarantino has enjoyed opportunities as an instrumentalist in musical theater, such as performing in The New Group’s Off-Broadway Production of Sweet Charity starring Sutton Foster and directed by Leigh Silverman. Prior to Sweet Charity, she spent a year with Maurice Hines and the DIVA Jazz Orchestra as part of Hines’ production Tappin’ Thru Life for the show’s runs in Delaware, Off-Broadway in New York City, and Philadelphia.

Tarantino is currently on faculty for Jazz at Lincoln Center's Youth Education Programs and directs one of their High School Jazz Academy big bands. She has also taken on a larger role in JALC’s Jazz for Young People Program, bringing music to New York City schools. Previously, she served as Jazz Saxophone Instructor at Hobart and William Smith Colleges. Tarantino continues to visit several colleges, high schools, and summer jazz programs across the globe as a guest clinician, including the Rockport Jazz Workshop (MA), of which she is Founder and Director. Rockport Jazz Workshop, currently in its seventh year, expanded in just four years from a five-day program with 7 students to a two-week program with 120 students. During the global pandemic, Tarantino co-founded A Step Ahead Jazz workshop with pianist Steven Feifke. Their Summer Jazz Online featured guest artists including Wynton Marsalis, Jeff Coffin, Sherrie Maricle, and more. In February 2021, Alexa launched her new virtual community-style jazz education platform, The Alexa Approach.

She holds a Master’s degree in Jazz Studies from The Juilliard School and Bachelor’s degrees in Jazz Saxophone Performance and Music Education from the Eastman School of Music. Tarantino is a graduate of Hall High School’s award-winning music program in West Hartford, Connecticut and currently resides in New York City.

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