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.
Alexa performs and tours regularly as a leader and sidewoman in a wide variety of ensembles and genres. Ensembles she has worked with include Wynton Marsalis & The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Darcy James Argue's Secret Society, Cécile McLorin Salvant's Ogresse Ensemble, Arturo O'Farrill & The Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra, Sherrie Maricle & the DIVA Jazz Orchestra, LSAT (quintet co-led with baritone saxophonist Lauren Sevian) and the Alexa Tarantino Quartet, who regularly perform at the Dizzy's Club, Jazz Standard and Birdland Theater. Alexa is an artist on the Posi-Tone Records label. Her debut quartet record on Posi-Tone, Winds of Change, released late-May 2019 featuring Christian Sands (piano), Joe Martin (bass) and Rudy Royston (drums), with Nick Finzer (trombone).
Alexa is on faculty for Jazz at Lincoln Center's Youth Programs and previously served as a Jazz Saxophone Instructor at Hobart and William Smith Colleges. 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. Alexa visits several colleges, high schools and summer jazz programs across the globe as a guest clinician and adjudicator, including the Rockport Jazz Workshop (MA), of which she is Founder and Director.
Alexa is a Vandoren Artist and a Yamaha Performing Artist.
