Alexa Tarantino

The Roar and the Whisper

Album Overview

On The Roar and the Whisper, Alexa Tarantino presents a quartet-centered recording shaped by dynamic contrast, tonal shading, and measured ensemble interplay. Alternating between alto saxophone, soprano saxophone, and flute, Tarantino frames a program of original compositions alongside works by Wayne Shorter and Billy Strayhorn, balancing lineage with a contemporary quartet voice. With Steven Feifke on piano, Philip Norris on bass, and Mark Whitfield Jr. on drums, the ensemble moves fluidly between swing propulsion, modal lyricism, and subtle rhythmic inflection, allowing contrast itself to function as compositional architecture.

From the album…

Listening through the album, “Inside Looking Out” provides a clear entry point into its design. The piece moves with rhythmic elasticity, shifting between swing feel and straighter subdivision while maintaining steady forward motion. Tarantino’s soprano lines are agile and direct, shaped through motivic development rather than density, as piano and rhythm section respond with space and clarity. In this opening statement, the album’s broader concerns, interior reflection set beside outward momentum, are already present, establishing the balance that defines the recording as a whole.

Album Details

Artist: Alexa Tarantino
Title: The Roar and the Whisper
Label: Blue Engine Records
Format: Studio Recording

Personnel:
Alexa Tarantino — alto saxophone, soprano saxophone, flute
Steven Feifke — piano
Philip Norris — bass
Mark Whitfield Jr. — drums

Guests:
Cécile McLorin Salvant — vocals (“Moon Song,” “Tigress”)
Keita Ogawa — percussion (“Tigress”)

Track Listing:

1. Inside Looking Out (Alexa Tarantino)

2. The Roar and the Whisper (Alexa Tarantino)

3. This Is For Albert (Wayne Shorter)

4. Portrait of a Shadow (Alexa Tarantino)

5. Luminance (Alexa Tarantino)

6. Moon Song (Cécile McLorin Salvant)

7. Back in Action (Alexa Tarantino)

8. Provoking Luck (Alexa Tarantino)

9. All Along (Alexa Tarantino)

10. Tigress (Billy Strayhorn)

From the album The Roar and the Whisper, “Inside Looking Out” — Alexa Tarantino’s quartet in motion, establishing the recording’s rhythmic elasticity and ensemble clarity.