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#11 Alexa Tarantino

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#11 Alexa Tarantino



https://alexatarantino.com/

Alexa Tarantino is an award-winning jazz saxophonist, woodwind doubler, composer, and educator. She performs and tours regularly as a leader and sidewoman in a wide variety of ensembles and genres including Wynton Marsalis & The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Cécile McLorin Salvant's OGRESSE, Arturo O’Farrill & The Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra, Sherrie Maricle & the DIVA Jazz Orchestra, LSAT, and the Alexa Tarantino Quartet 

Alexa is an artist on the Posi-Tone Records label. Which released her debut record Winds of Change, in May 2019 

Tarantino is currently on faculty for Jazz at Lincoln Center's Youth Programs and previously served as 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. Tarantino travels

across the globe as a guest clinician and adjudicator, and is the Founder and Director of the Rockport Jazz Workshop.


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#10 Sandy Eldred

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#10 Sandy Eldred

My guest today is one of the most versatile and commanding bassists in Philadelphia, Sandy Eldred. 

His big sound, and innovative ideas have made him a top call both in the US and abroad. He’s played in many of my favorite large ensembles including the South Philly Big Band, Slow Burn, Norman David’s Eleventet, and Bobby Zankel and the Warriors of the Wonderful Sound. As well as a founding member of wildly energetic U.S.E. Trio, which as grammy nomination season is upon us, gets my vote. In our conversation we touch upon many topics including performing with the Norman David Eleventet, sight reading, overcoming fear, USE trio, Ben Schachter, ‘Trio of Many’, cultivating creative spaces to play, and his travels in Ukraine.


http://sandyeldred.com/


#9 Matt Scarano

#9 Matt Scarano

My guest today is one of the most versatile drummers I've ever met, Matt Scarano. His mastery of odd-time meters, combined with his sense of swing, and ability to deliver far-reaching musical narratives have made him a preeminent performer and educator. 


Lately he’s been on several major tours with SPAGA Band and Matisyahu as well as cultivating his own project U.S.E. Trio in collaboration with Sandy Eldred, and Andrew Urbina, as well as, carrying the torch of Philly homegrown concert series’ at Cherry St. Tavern.


In our interview we tackle a host of topics including: the Philly scene, Ben Schachter’s musical legacy, playing chordless, developing time and feel, dealing with social media and much more.


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#8 Lydia Liebman

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#8 Lydia Liebman

My guest today is Lydia Liebman, founder and CEO of Lydia Liebman Promotions, a boutique public relations agency and consulting firm based in New York City, and London. Their roster of artists is mind-blowing from Orrin Evans, Emma Frank, Ben Wolfe, Brandee Younger, The Curtis Brother, Roxy Coss, Ralph Peterson, the list seems endless, so I’ll leave it there. In our interview, we talk about how she got involved in the business side of Jazz, how she grew her company from helping out some friends to representing some of the biggest names in Jazz, what young musicians who are just starting out can do proactively before they are ready for representation, and much more. Lydia is both a guardian of the tradition and a trailblazer of new directions, with a perspective that is definitely worth checking out.

www.lydialiebman.com