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Barry Romberg
Barry Romberg's Random Access Group was nominated at the National Jazz Awards for Best Electric Group in 2005/2006/2007/2008/2009 and Barry was also nominated for drummer of the year at the NJA in 2006/2007/2008/2009.
Barry's Romhog Records has been picking up speed since its inception in 2002 and now has 10 titles in its catalogue,and has been recieving some great exposure in Canada, Europe & the US.
Barry is also on faculty in the music programs at York University & Humber College in Toronto.
Barry's most recent project; RALE, The Random Access Large Ensemble is an extension of the Random Access group expanding the 7 piece band bringing the full compliment to 14, and features some of the finest musicians in the country. The new group has been workshoping some exciting new material at The Rex in Toronto over the last few years; and was featured in a Final Gala performance at the IAJE/Toronto in 2008. The Random Access Large Ensemble (2008/09 National Jazz Awards Nominee for Best Big Band) released the new recording "Existential Detective in April 2008. The CD was nominated for a Juno Award for Best Contemporary Jazz Recording in 2009.
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Lorne Lofsky: This Song Is New
by Friedrich Kunzmann
The liner notes to This Song is New explain how the term old school" suits guitarist Lorne Lofsky just fine. Not in its pejorative sense, but rather in the spirit of a master of an old art, now considered to be quaint. It is indeed a fitting description for the compositions and performances that constitute the guitarist's first recording of original material in over 20 years. More a player than a composer, the former Oscar Peterson collaborator presents a strong ...
read moreLorne Lofsky: This Song Is New
by Jack Bowers
Over the years the guitar has earned a unique position in the annals of jazz. At times strident, ear-splitting and generally distasteful, at others one of the loveliest, most amiable and pleasing instruments in any circumstance, especially when placed in the capable hands of a master such as Canada's Lorne Lofsky. This is the guitar as it should be played, smooth and mellow but never without due diligence or an emphatic purpose in mind. The quartet date This Song Is ...
read moreBarry Romberg's Random Access: The Gods Must Be Smiling
by Jerry D'Souza
Over the last 10 years, Random Access has seen changes in its lineup. The concept of the band came from drummer Barry Romberg, who began with home experiments in 2001. His object was to play music spontaneously and, with that idea in mind, the first incarnation of the band came into being. The seven-piece unit consisted of two guitars, trumpet, saxophone, bass, drums and percussion, though the guitars and percussion were eliminated when the group pared down to a quartet. ...
read moreRandom Access: was, shall, why, because
by Jerry D'Souza
Multi-instrumentalist Barry Romberg brings his band of fellow adventurers, Random Access, on another musical journey that is filled with generous dollops of invention, surprise and just plain old darn good music. Romberg retains his trademark sense of humor, a trait that washes into his fellow cohorts. The underlining feature, however, is the way in which they can spin ideas into compelling tales of adventure on was, shall, why, because.
Romberg uses a sextet for Suite for the Wolfman," ...
read moreRandom Access Large Ensemble: Existential Detective
by Jerry D'Souza
Barry Romberg (drums, percussion, electric percussion, synthesizer) is constantly looking for the new and unusual. The music that he evokes, and finds a voice with through his bands, has firm construction and heady improvisation. These two attributes are integral components, as is his sense of fun which adds immeasurably to the music. The Romberg catalogue includes four CDs with Random Access, the count beginning with Random Access 3 (Romhog Records, 2004). Where his band once consisted of three members, there ...
read moreBarry Romberg's Random Access: Big Giant Head
by Jerry D'Souza
Barry Romberg's Random Access marches on to part six of its musical journey, called Big Giant Head. With all the accolades that have greeted earlier efforts, the size of the head is not surprising.
Romberg says that this recording and the previous one, Accidental Beef, (Romhog Records, 2006), involve the most structure the band has had while keeping to the concept of an open harmonic format. This works well as each player opens up the composition to invention and brings ...
read moreBarry Romberg's Random Access: Accidental Beef
by Jerry D'Souza
Barry Romberg's Random access continues its musical adventures with some Accidental Beef that was put together at the Rex Hotel in Toronto. It was a good night: the band exudes a raw, intense urgency that has been captured in all its glory. The music balances improvisation with a basic structure, providing a perfect base for the musicians to take off on a trajectory or play in consonance. As they have done on past recordings, they do so once again, with ...
read moreRandom Access Large Ensemble Nominated for Juno Award
Source:
All About Jazz
Barry Romberg's Random Access Large Ensemble's latest CD Existential Detective" has been nominated in the category of Best Contemporary Jazz Recording at the 2009 Juno Awards. The awards will be held in Vancouver the weekend of March 29th. The National Jazz Awards were just announced and Barry and cohorts are up for three; Electric Band Of The Year (Random Access) Big Band Of The Year (Random Access Large Ensemble) Drummer ...
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Barry Romberg's Random Access Large Ensemble CD Release Party in Toronto, April 27
Source:
All About Jazz
Barry Romberg's Random Access Large Ensemble Live in 2008
Source:
All About Jazz
Barry Romberg's Random Access Large Ensemble live in January 2008 in Toronto, Canada. Saturday January 12th, 10pm IAJE Final Gala Concert (1 set) Contitution Hall MTCC Thursday January 17th 7:30pm York University Recital Hall (2 sets) RALE is: Barry Romberg-drums Rich Brown-bass Geoff Young-gutars David Occhipinti-guitars Blair Mackay-percussion Kirk Macdonald-tenor sax
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CD Release Party April 29 For Barry Romberg's Random Access in Toronto
Source:
All About Jazz
Romhog Records PRESENTS National Jazz Award Nominee (2005/06/07) FOR BEST ELECTRIC GROUP Barry Romberg's Random Access IN CONCERT At The Rex Hotel In Toronto Sunday April 29TH AT 9'30 PM IN SUPPORT OF THEIR NEW CD Big Giant Head The 10th And Latest Romhog Release The Band Features: Barry Romberg, Drums Rich Brown, Bass Kevin Turcotte, ...
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Barry Romberg's Random Access CD Release Party at the The Rex Hotel
Source:
All About Jazz
Romhog Records & The Rex Hotel presents Barry Romberg's Random Access at The Rex Sunday September 17th at 9:30 pm to celebrate the release of their new live CD Accidental Beef. Two time national jazz award nominee for best electric group, Random Access features some of Canada's finest musicians: Kevin Turcotte (trp), Kelly Jefferson (sax), Geoff Young (gtr), Rich Brown (bass), Blair Mackay (perc), David Occhipinti (gtr), and Barry Romberg (drums).
Not to be missed!
The Rex Hotel Jazz & ...
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New CD Release "No Soap Radio" from Barry Romberg's Random Access
Source:
All About Jazz
Romhog Records is proud to bring you its 8th release, NO SOAP RADIO", Barry Romberg's Random Access, Part 4. This is the latest installment & fourth in the Random Access series from the man who brought you The MRC Trio & Inside Out. The Random Access project 2005 National Jazz Award Nominee for Best Electric Group has evolved from a studio experiment into a killer live band. This latest cd features some of Canada's finest musicians: Hugh Marsh (violin), Kevin ...
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Brian Morton, Wire Magazine
Drummer-composer-bandleader Barry Romberg is playfully subversive. The Latest installment¦ (RA 3) is full of suprises and good humour, along with a multitude of good grooves¦..Romberg displays quick hands, keen instincts and coloristic tendencies behind the kit.
Bill Milkowski, Jazz Times Magazine
Barry Romberg's sound hasn't fully filtered down across that long border separating his native Canada from the US, and it's a shame
Primary Instrument
Drums
Location
Toronto