The quintet mentors Jazz students.
By Rachel Fan ’27
The Choate community welcomed the Alexa Tarantino Quintet to campus on March 27-29 to perform and hold various workshops for our aspiring jazz musicians.
The visiting band was composed of five members: saxophonist and face of the band Ms. Alexa Tarantino herself, pianist Mr. Steven Feifke, trumpet player Ms. Nadje Noordhuis, drummer Mr. Luther S. Allison, and double bass player Ms. Liany Mateo. Ms. Tarantino has taught in 50 countries and states over the past few years, leading more than 500 workshops and inspiring over 1,000 students.
The quintet’s trip to Choate consisted of running workshops across all instruments. They first visited the Jazz Ensemble during their Thursday rehearsal, where they worked with students on the jazz piece Cedar’s Blues, giving musicians tips on possible improvements and playing their own rendition of the song for students to hear. Saxophone player Dameer Gay ’24 explained, “It was special because it showed the difference between what a pro team sounded like and what we sounded like, and it highlighted things we could work for in the future.”
The quintet, along with some Choate faculty, split off into sections to work with students across all fields and topics of jazz. “Some workshops we held included talking about big band versus small ensemble playing because they are two very different styles,” Ms. Mateo said. The band also hosted masterclasses regarding combinations of different brass and percussion instruments. Gay recounted, “I picked up some useful techniques off of those classes, which I will put into my daily routine.”
These multifaceted workshops covered not only musical techniques but also included Q&A sessions through which students learned about the quintet’s background and each member’s personal experience working as musicians and teachers. Reflecting on his time working with the musicians, Bowen Jin ’26 said, “They went in so much depth about the tiny nuances that we student musicians have never noticed before, and it’s such an eye-opening experience.”
When asked about how she developed her skills as a teacher and musician, Ms. Mateo said, “I would try to take as many notes as I can, learning about different instruments and different styles of music.” She also spoke about how her experience as a student allowed her to become the teacher she is today.“It’s [being a student] really informed my values and what I think is important to pass on.”
On their last day on campus, the quintet held a concert where they performed various jazz pieces for Choate students and Wallingford residents. The band played their unique interpretations of several songs and improvised solos throughout the showcase. The quintet doesn’t play any pieces as is; they remember the general direction and sound of it. The bassist and the drummer do not read off of a music sheet, but rather make their own rhythms and walking bass lines based on the chords of the piece.
“As the musicians played, I was instantly transported to a world where the music speaks to my soul,” Aureliano Applebee ’26 commented. Director of the Jazz and Wind Ensemble Mr. Matt McLean joined the band in playing their final piece. “It was very interesting to watch professional musicians in action,” Eric Dubbelae ’26 said.
The quintet has a packed schedule of performances and workshops for the next few months. “I’m going to many different states this month – from Denver to Kansas City and then from North Carolina to Seattle,” Ms. Mateo said.
As the band departs to New York City for their next showcase, aspiring jazz musicians at Choate continue to develop their musicianship with the techniques they have learned. “Although working with world-class musicians was definitely humbling, it was also extremely encouraging as I received a new sense of direction and a goal to work for,” Jin noted.
When asked how schools can improve jazz education, Ms. Mateo said, “I would like to see more of an integration between the traditional, more authentic relationship to jazz education before it was formalized. This includes playing in the community and having people come to shows.” She also values mentorship. “Not just having a teacher-student relationship, but having a mentor relationship because a mentor cares about you outside of the classroom,” she added.
Undoubtedly, the Tarantino Quintet’s work has touched the hearts of Choate’s musicians. “We learned about different ways to make your instrument sing, how to make the most out of your music, and how collaboration amongst the band can really take the piece to another level,” Jin said. Choate’s aspiring jazz musicians will hold onto the group’s teachings as they forge their own musical paths.
“Alexa and her Quintet was a genuinely eye-opening experience. I’ve learned so much from these professional musicians,” Jin said. “Working with your peers, actively listening during performances, making the most out of the music.”
