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Bruce Barth

Jazz pianist and composer Bruce Barth has been sharing his music with listeners the world over for more than twenty-five years. In addition to traveling widely performing his own music, he has also performed with revered jazz masters, as well as collaborated with leading musicians of his own generation. And in a recent review in the Newark Star-Ledger, Zan Stewart writes "No one sounds quite like Barth. His solos are characterized by robust swing, his ability to tell a story, and by his rich, beguiling sound."

Bruce has performed on over 125 recordings and movie soundtracks, including fifteen as a leader. He is equally at home playing solo piano (American Landscape on Satchmo Jazz Records), leading an all-star septet (East and West on MaxJazz), and composing for a variety of ensembles. His trio has recorded live at the legendary Village Vanguard in New York City, and his duo recording with saxophonist Steve Wilson, Home, was chosen by Down Beat magazine as one of the best recordings of 2010. Last summer, his trio appeared at several major European festivals, including San Sebastian, La Spezia, and San Javier, where Bruce shared the bill with Chick Corea’s trio. His current release is “Sunday,” recorded live in Spain and featuring tenor saxophonist giant Jerry Bergonzi.

Originally from Pasadena, California, Bruce arrived on the New York jazz scene in 1988, and soon started working in the bands of Stanley Turrentine and Terence Blanchard. While in Terence’s band, Bruce recorded his first two CD’s as a leader, In Focus and Morning Call for the Enja label; both were chosen for the New York Times’ top ten lists. These recordings displayed not only Bruce’s powerfully fluent piano playing, but also the scope of his own compositions and his imaginative arrangements of jazz standards.

As a leader of his trio and larger ensembles, Bruce has performed at major venuesin the United States, Europe, and Japan; he has led bands at many majorvenues in New York, The Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, and major festivals in UK, Spain, Sweden, and Portugal.

Throughout his professional life, Bruce has had extended collaborations with Terell Stafford, Steve Wilson, Luciana Souza, Steve Nelson, and Tony Bennett. He has performed with James Moody, Phil Woods, Freddie Hubbard, Tom Harrell, Branford Marsalis, Art Farmer, and the Mingus Big Band. Finally, Bruce is a dedicated teacher, currently on the faculties of Temple Universityand Columbia University. He has also given master classes around the globe.

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Album Review

Terell Stafford: Between Two Worlds

Read "Between Two Worlds" reviewed by Neil Duggan


Family is a major theme on Terell Stafford's Between Two Worlds, with compositions dedicated to his daughter, mother and wife. His band has been playing with him so long they must feel like family too. They include tenor and soprano saxophonist Tim Warfield, pianist Bruce Barth, drummer Johnathan Blake and bassist David Wong. In fact, Wong plays with Stafford every week as part of the renowned Vanguard Jazz Orchestra. Percussionist Alex Acuña is the new member of the family.

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Radio & Podcasts

Harry Belafonte, Elvin Jones, GoGo Penguin & Bruce Barth

Read "Harry Belafonte, Elvin Jones, GoGo Penguin & Bruce Barth" reviewed by Joe Dimino


From the gifted world of veteran pianist Bruce Barth, we make our way into the 803rd Episode of Neon Jazz. We also hear from a crop of established cats with new music in Isaiah J. Thompson, GoGo Penguin, Gabriel Latchin and Marty Isenberg. We slip in classics from Stanley Turrentine, Dave Brubeck and the mighty Elvin Jones. Along the way, we say good-bye to the Father of Calypso in Harry Belafonte. Finally, we finish the hour up with the genre-mixing ...

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Liner Notes

Steve Slagle: Into The Heart Of It

Read "Steve Slagle: Into The Heart Of It" reviewed by Dan Bilawsky


In a storied career that's produced more than 20 leader dates, there's little that Steve Slagle hasn't explored and accomplished. Yet here we are with a true first from the veteran alto saxophonist: A stunning bouquet of ballads. Inspired by lodestar outings from legends like John Coltrane, and driven by a desire to find a personalized path through the format, Slagle essentially came to balance history with his own story. “I really ruminated over this," he explains, “and I find ...

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Album Review

Rodney Whitaker: Oasis: The Music of Gregg Hill

Read "Oasis: The Music of Gregg Hill" reviewed by Jack Bowers


Oasis is the third time around for bassist Rodney Whitaker and music written by fellow Michigander Gregg Hill, following Common Ground (Origin 82780) and Outrospection (Origin 82819). Personnel is the same as on Common Ground (Terell Stafford, trumpet; Tim Warfield, saxophone; Bruce Barth, piano; Dana Hall, drums; Rockelle Fortin, vocals) with Hall and Fortin returning from Outrospection (on which Fortin is listed as Rockelle Whitaker). Hill's compositions are for the most part firmly grounded in customary post-bop ...

12
Album Review

Eric Jacobson: Discover

Read "Discover" reviewed by Nicholas F. Mondello


With Discover, jny: Milwaukee-based trumpeter and jazz educator Eric Jacobson and team take us on an aural time trip back to the days when album covers were iconically black and white or monochrome and the contents within were drenched in blue-hued Hard Bop. This is a fine effort with that precise presentation. “New Combinations," which launches the date, is anything but new and sets the trajectory. One of four Jacobson originals, it is a straight-head burner directly ...

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Album Review

Eric Jacobson: Discover

Read "Discover" reviewed by Jack Bowers


If trumpeter Eric Jacobson's name doesn't ring a bell, it could be because he is based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, not in New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles or any other jazz mecca. What's more, Jacobson has not recorded often; Discover is only his second date as leader or co-leader. Hindrances aside, Jacobson's is a name with which one should become familiar, as he is an excellent trumpeter and composer, and Discover is splendid from start to finish. ...

6
Album Review

Steve Slagle: Ballads: Into the Heart of it

Read "Ballads: Into the Heart of it" reviewed by Edward Blanco


New York-based saxophonist, composer and educator Steve Slagle refused to let the pandemic interfere with his recording activities, and in August of 2021 completed a project covering an assortment of wonderful ballads on Ballads: Into the Heart of it. Having carved out a distinguished musical career spanning over four decades and documented on over 20 albums as leader, presenting the ballads in a slightly different way was a new challenge Slagle mastered elegantly. The album features a mix ...

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4

Recording

A Family Feeling: Temple University Jazz Faculty Record New Music By Bruce Barth

A Family Feeling: Temple University Jazz Faculty Record New Music  By Bruce Barth

Source: All About Jazz

In June, six members of Temple University’s noted jazz faculty gathered in Bunker Hill Studio in Brooklyn to record eight tracks of new music composed by Bruce Barth. Terell Stafford, director of Jazz Studies at Temple, lead the charge and the result, Family Feeling, is a reflection on the warm camaraderie between Terell Stafford (trumpet); Dick Oatts (also/soprano saxophone); Bruce Barth (piano); Tim Warfield, Jr., (tenor/soprano saxophone); David Wong (bass); and, Byron Landham (drums) that has been forged over many ...

1

Performance / Tour

Jazz this week: Bruce Barth, Erin Bode, Victor Goines, Lynne Fiddmont, and more

Jazz this week: Bruce Barth, Erin Bode, Victor Goines, Lynne Fiddmont, and more

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

With some relatively mild weather in the forecast and a nice variety of performances happening over the next several days, the weekend leading up to Valentine's Day should be a good time for jazz lovers in St. Louis. Let's go to the highlights... Wednesday, February 8 Pianist Bruce Barth returns for the first of two nights at Jazz at the Bistro, leading a trio with bassist Dave Baron and St. Louis' own Montez Coleman on drums. Barth is a jazz ...

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Performance / Tour

Audrey Silver Sings At Club Bonafide On September 17 - Featuring Bruce Barth, Steve LaSpina & Tony Romano!

Audrey Silver Sings At Club Bonafide On September 17 - Featuring Bruce Barth, Steve LaSpina & Tony Romano!

Source: Scott Thompson Public Relations

Singer/Songwriter Audrey Silver CLUB BONAFIDE on SEPTEMBER 17 ONE NIGHT ONLY. SATURDAY, 9:30PM With Bruce Barth, Steve LaSpina and Tony Romano New Release “VERY EARLY"- Next Month Audrey Silver brings her beautiful voice and the highly respected Bruce Barth (piano), Steve LaSpina (bass) and Tony Romano (guitar) to Club Bonafide on September 17. Silver is one of the most elegantly creative singers in jazz today. Known for her smooth, effortless sound, sensitive ...

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Performance / Tour

Adam Kolker Quartet Featuring Billy Hart, Bruce Barth & John Hébert, January 3 at Iridium in New York City

Adam Kolker Quartet Featuring Billy Hart, Bruce Barth & John Hébert, January 3 at Iridium in New York City

Source: Scott Foster

The Adam Kolker Quartet Featuring Billy Hart, Bruce Barth & John Hébert will perform January 3 at Iridium Jazz Club in New York City. Adam Kolker, a critically acclaimed jazz composer, tenor saxophonist, flutist, clarinetist, bass clarinetist and Sunnyside Records artist, also leads the Adam Kolker Quartet Featuring John Abercombie. Drummer Billy Hart has appeared on more than 150 records, including Miles Davis' “On the Corner" and Herbie Hancock's “Sextant," as well as eleven records as a leader. Pianist Bruce ...

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Radio

The Jazz Session #254: Bruce Barth

The Jazz Session #254: Bruce Barth

Source: AAJ Staff


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Recording

smallsLIVE To Release New Recording From Pianist/Composer/Bandleader Bruce Barth Live at Smalls

smallsLIVE To Release New Recording From Pianist/Composer/Bandleader Bruce Barth Live at Smalls

Source: Jason Byrne, Red Cat Publicity

smallsLIVE To Release New Recording From Pianist/Composer/Bandleader BRUCE BARTH LIVE AT SMALLS Available on iTunes now and officially released on April 26, 2011 FEATURING BRUCE BARTH (piano, compositions), VICENTE ARCHER (bass) & RUDY ROYSTON (drums)   CD Release Concerts, March 2 & 3, 9:30 PM 12:00 AM at Smalls Located at 183 West 10th Street, NYC, Tel 212 252 5091   SPECIAL EVENT—VIP Reception   March 3, 8:00 PM at Smalls Press/Media Meet & ...

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Recording

Available Tomorrow - "Home," Duo Recording by Pianist Bruce Barth and Steve Wilson, Released as Collaboration/Partnership with "We Always Swing" Jazz

Available Tomorrow - "Home," Duo Recording by Pianist Bruce Barth and Steve Wilson, Released as Collaboration/Partnership with "We Always Swing" Jazz

Source: DL Media

Pianist Bruce Barth and Saxophonist Steve Wilson in collaboration with “We Always Swing" Jazz Series set to release Home on April 27 “House Concert," recorded live in Columbia, Missouri, a first from well-respected duo. The “We Always Swing" Jazz Series, the Columbia, Missouri-based, concert presenting and educational organization, and two well-respected present-day artists - Bruce Barth and Steve Wilson - are set to releaseHome, recorded live in Columbia, Missouri. The self-produced project captures the pianist and saxophonist/multi-instrumentalist on June 27, ...

107

Recording

Pianist Bruce Barth and Saxophonist Steve Wilson Set to Release Home on April 27 in Collaboration with "We Always Swing" Jazz Series

Pianist Bruce Barth and Saxophonist Steve Wilson Set to Release Home on April 27 in Collaboration with "We Always Swing" Jazz Series

Source: DL Media

Pianist Bruce Barth and Saxophonist Steve Wilson in collaboration with “We Always Swing" Jazz Series set to release Home on April 27 “House Concert," recorded live in Columbia, Missouri, a first from well-respected duo Jazz Series/Co-Leaders set to “host" CD-Release Party at Murry's, a favorite local venue, on April 25 The “We Always Swing" Jazz Series, the Columbia, Missouri-based, concert presenting and educational organization, and two well-respected present-day artists--Bruce Barth and Steve Wilson--are set to release Home, recorded live in ...

126

Recording

Bruce Barth's Suite Live

Bruce Barth's Suite Live

Source: See! Hear! by Richard Kamins

Pianist Bruce Barth has long been one of my favorite musicians.  He's worked with a slew of great musicians, from James Moody to Branford Marsalis, Phil Woods to Andy Statman (his work on Statman's The Hidden Light is simply gorgeous.) In the early 1990's, Barth toured and recorded with trumpeter Terence Blanchard and his time with that ensemble became the impetus for his own solo career. He's a pianist who certainly has loads of technique yet rarely “shows off"--instead, his ...

144

Performance / Tour

Jazz This Week: Bruce Barth Quintet, Sometime then and Again, and More

Jazz This Week: Bruce Barth Quintet, Sometime then and Again, and More

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

After a couple of very busy weeks, it looks like there's a bit of a post-Mardi Gras lull with regard to jazz and creative music in St. Louis, at least in terms of the number of shows this weekend.Still, in addition to the various ongoing weekly gigs by local musicians (which you can find listed on the St. Louis Jazz Notes Calendar), there are a few other noteworthy events happening over the next few days, starting with three ...

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Fly With the Wind

BCM&D Records
2023

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Between Two Worlds

Le Coq Records
2023

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Oklahoma

Messy House Records
2023

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Into the Heart of it

Panorama Records
2022

buy

Dedication

Origin Records
2022

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Discover

Origin Records
2022

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All Members

From: Fly With the Wind
By Bruce Barth

Betty's Tune

From: Oasis: The Music of Gregg Hill
By Bruce Barth

New Combinations

From: Discover
By Bruce Barth

George's Dance - for George Perry

From: Dedication
By Bruce Barth

Videos

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