Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Blue Engine Records just released The Roar and the Whisper - an album by Alexa Tarantino, celebrated saxophonist, composer, and educator; and one of the newest members of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra (JLCO) with Wynton Marsalis.
The Roar and the Whisper captures Tarantiono’s artistry, from spirited up-tempo improvisations to intimate ballads.
Alexa Tarantino and fellow saxophonist Sherman Irby, also a member of the JLCO with Wynton Marsalis joined WBGO's Doug Doyle to talk about the new release, their friendship and jazz.
The title track "The Roar and the Whisper" is a chilling, mysterrious and sexy tune that could be a spy-thriller soundtrack. What was Tarantino looking to create?
"It actually spurred from several conversations that I've had with my mentors Sherman and Wynton where we speak a lot about the extreme emotions and characters that we want to be able to bring about in our playing, our writing and as a presence in our band on stage when we play for all the amazing audiences we get to reach. While it can reach that large scale presentation in an orchestra, it's really about your personal individual sound and what you can create, the different colors and aspects that you can make other people feel with your playing. That's something I'm really working on and striving for. It felt like what better way to put myself to the test than to create a vehicle with very extreme characters."
Irby calls Tarantino a "machine' because of her works habits and commitment to excellence. He loves the new album and musicianship.
"It's that exuberance of youth, it's like you can basically going for anything you want to go for and be free to play. That's what I like about it. She doesn't have to stick to one convention or another. She has a whole lot that she can pull from. On her record, she playing all kinds of instruments and so she's able to pull from her whole thing. That's what I love about it."
Tarantino and Irby have become great friends. She feels fortunate to be one of the 15 musicians in the JLCO with Wynton Marsalis.
"It's an amazing opportunity to get to work with my mentors and heroes every day and night. I think the aspect of trying to show everybody what your about and not worry what everyone else is thinking and not worrying about how other people want you to play, once you have the tools and the spirit of the music and that hunger and intensity about you and that drive to get you want to be, it's about putting yourself forward and being vulnerable in that way."
The album features Tarantino’s sophisticated compositions as well as her razor-sharp quartet. Tarantino (saxophones, flutes) leads a group comprising some of the finest musicians in modern jazz including Steven Feifke (piano), Philip Norris (bass), and Mark Whitfield Jr. (drums), as well as special guests Cécile McLorin Salvant (vocals), and Keita Ogawa (percussion).
Tarantino's first single to be released was "Provoking Luck".
"I think this one might be the musical description of my attitude on life. It just had this joy and this bounce to it. I really strive to be like that in real life. I strive to be a positive force for people, people around me, for the music and so that felt like the best introduction into the record. It's really about staying positive and the blood, sweat and tears that it takes to get somewhere and achieve something but there's pride in that toughness, there's pride in that adventure to get to the next level."
You can SEE the entire interview with Alexa Tarantino and Sherman Irby below.
