Alexa Tarantino’s fifth studio album The Roar and the Whisper is a spellbinding new chapter in the jazz musician’s evolution. The saxophonist, flutist, composer, and educator has long been lauded for her poise and precision—“a one-woman wrecking crew,” as Wynton Marsalis calls her. Now, Blue Engine Records captures the full breadth of her artistry: from spirited, up-tempo improvisations to intimate, ethereal ballads.

The Roar and The Whisper features Tarantino’s sophisticated compositions as well as her razor-sharp quartet, with Steven Feifke on piano, Philip Norris on bass, and Mark Whitfield Jr. on drums. Percussionist Keita Ogawa contributes his talents on “Tigress,” and multi-Grammy-Award-winning vocalist Cécile McLorin Salvant contributes her stellar vocals to two songs, including her own composition, “Moon Song.” Whether roaring or whispering, Tarantino plays with the exuberance and expressive brilliance that have become her hallmarks, delivering a sound that is fearless, immersive, and unmistakably her own.