Home » Jazz Musicians » Carl Bartlett, Jr.

Carl Bartlett, Jr.

Award-winning innovative artist, and native New Yorker, saxophonist Carl Bartlett, Jr. marked his arrival onto the Jazz scene with the 2011 release of his Critically Acclaimed debut CD, Hopeful. He has since emerged as one of the leading lights in the Post-bop/ Modern Jazz world, as both a player and composer. “A tone that only the greats have the ability to attain” raves All About Jazz, describing the profound sonic nature of Bartlett, Jr.’s rich alto sax sound, which uniquely blends alto and tenor sax timbres. Since achieving the high honor of becoming the 1st Place Winner in the USA (2nd in the world) in the prestigious 2015-2016 International Songwriting Competition (ISC) Jazz Category, Carl Jr. has embarked on his much anticipated sophomore album, PROMISE!. The new CD is an immensely creative Jazz offering featuring eight of Carl's latest original, modern compositions, and his ensemble, The Carl Bartlett, Jr. Quintet, ushered in the young saxophonist's new project with a Sold Out CD Release Party in front of a lively audience at the renowned JAZZ at KITANO, in Manhattan, NYC, on December 14, 2017. The Carl Bartlett, Jr. Ensemble is now touring Eastern USA (2018-2019), with major concerts in NY, NJ, FL, PA, and Washington, D.C., promoting the music on PROMISE!.

As a bandleader, Bartlett, Jr. has established himself as a highly unique, and creative talent on the music scene. He currently performs with his own ensemble, The Carl Bartlett, Jr. Quartet/Quintet, headlining at many of the world's preeminent Jazz clubs, cultural venues, festivals, and music series including JAZZ at KITANO, Smalls Jazz Club, Foosaner Art Museum (Florida Institute of Technology), Alice's Jazz and Cultural Society, Sistas' Place (an Honorary NYS Landmark), The New Rochelle Jazz Festival, The Lafayette Bar Jazz Nite, Hartford Public Library Baby Grand Jazz Series, Candlelight Lounge (NJ), Queens Botanical Garden, and more, garnering Sold Out shows and exuberant audiences. Carl’s artistry is recognized by many heavyweights in the music industry, as he has toured with Jazz/Funk/Soul icons & pianists Lonnie Liston Smith, Brian Jackson, and Mark Adams, and has also performed with legendary trombonist Clifford Adams (of Kool & The Gang), the noted doo-wop group The Mighty Dells, Andy Montanez and Johnny Pacheco Salsa Orchestra, Wynton Marsalis, Antonio Hart, and Jimmy Heath and Roy Hargrove.

Carl was born in July 1982, into a musical family, in Queens, New York City. His father, Carl Bartlett, Sr. and uncle, Charles Bartlett, formed a noted R&B/Latin show and dance band, “The Bartlett Contemporaries”, during the 60’s, later giving young Carl an advanced tutorial on an eclectic mix of melodies, harmonies and rhythms. At 14, the multi-talented Bartlett, Jr. took on the alto saxophone, which combined with his burgeoning love for jazz provided him with enough push to heed his calling, upon listening to a Brecker Brothers album his uncle brought over one Christmas Day. Carl sites saxophonists Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, Sonny Stitt, Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Joshua Redman, and James Carter, as a few of his key influences, early on. At the tender age of 19, Bartlett, Jr. formed his own jazz band and proceeded to make a name for himself playing gigs throughout the New York, tri-state area. A few years later, Carl graduated from the prestigious Manhattan School of Music, earning a Bachelor of Music Degree in Jazz Performance in ’04. He would then, shortly after, beginning in 2006 become the head Music Instructor of The Lutheran Band Program, teaching Concert Band in the Elementary, Middle, and High School divisions, under Martin Luther High School (Maspeth, Queens).

Read more

Tags

12
Album Review

Carl Bartlett, Jr.: Promise!

Read "Promise!" reviewed by Don Phipps


Winner of the USA 2015-16 International Songwriting Competition Jazz Category, Carl Bartlett Jr. showcases his skills on PROMISE!. The album's warm, vivacious compositions offer plenty of cheer and good feelings. The result is guaranteed to bring a Billy Higgins smile to your face. Bartlett's alto sax playing is equally sunny. Like Bobby Watson or Donald Harrison, he offers strong and graceful phrases that slip and slide through the songs in clever and fascinating ways. Not to be outdone, ...

4
Live Review

Carl Bartlett, Jr. at Jazz At Kitano

Read "Carl Bartlett, Jr. at Jazz At Kitano" reviewed by Keith Henry Brown


Carl Bartlett, Jr. Jazz At Kitano New York, NY December 14, 2017 Sad to say, in jazz and certainly all music, often hidden from public view are good musicians, who, for any reason have not yet been given their due. Some exist slightly outside the frame but produce substantial art. The saxophonist Carl Bartlett Jr. comes from this distinguished group. Blessed with a warm, engaging tone and a writer of melodious, inviting ...

17
Live Review

Carl Bartlett, Jr. First Set at the Kitano: Jazz At Kitano

Read "Carl Bartlett, Jr. First Set at the Kitano: Jazz At Kitano" reviewed by Mike Perciaccante


Carl Bartlett, Jr. Jazz At Kitano New York, NY September 25, 2014 Alto saxophonist Carl Bartlett, Jr.'s musical bloodlines run deep. The son of Carl Bartlett, Sr. and nephew of Charles Bartlett (who formed an R&B show and dance band “The Bartlett Contemporaries"), Carl, Jr. has the pedigree. He also has the chops. Bartlett attended the Manhattan School of Music. In his short career he has graced the stage with ...

3
Album Review

Carl Bartlett, Jr.: Hopeful

Read "Hopeful" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan


Alto saxophonist Carl Bartlett, Jr. was pushing his late twenties when he figured it was high time that he put out a CD. Hopeful resulted, and the Queens, New York native proved he was more than ready for the task. Opening boldly, with a five minute sax solo--the disc's title tune--the young artist announces his arrival. It is a pensive and reverent jazz exploration, and perhaps something of a prayer, and it sounds as if he may have been able ...

2
Album Review

Carl Bartlett, Jr.: Hopeful

Read "Hopeful" reviewed by Dan Bilawsky


Hope springs eternal from the horn of Carl Bartlett, Jr. The young alto saxophonist's debut album puts his positive spirit out front on a set of music that explores the quiet, the lively and everything in between. Bartlett, a Queens, New York native still living in the jazz capital of the universe, didn't instantly take to the saxophone, having first spent time exploring clarinet, trumpet and piano at an early age, but he found his true voice when he met ...

Read more articles
"For those who have ever missed a Carl Bartlett Jr performance in the recent past now is the time to catch up for we are all in luck." -Raul da Gama, JazzdaGama

"Blessed with a warm, engaging tone and a writer of melodious, inviting tunes, Mr. Bartlett is an artist to watch in the burgeoning jazz community." -Keith Henry Brown, All About Jazz

"Multiple tonal centers is one of the most characteristic elements of contemporary jazz music and we see with Carl a master in composing, arranging and playing this kind of music." -Michael Ferber, Michael's Jazz Blog

"...a tone that only the greats have the ability to attain." -Mike Perciaccante, All About Jazz

Read more

Primary Instrument

Saxophone

Location

New York City

Willing to teach

Beginner to advanced

Eric Alexander
saxophone, tenor
Sonny Stitt
saxophone
Michael Brecker
saxophone, tenor
James Carter
saxophone, tenor
John Coltrane
saxophone
Charlie Parker
saxophone, alto
Joshua Redman
saxophone
Walt Weiskopf
saxophone

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Promise!

Self Produced
2017

buy

Hopeful

Self Produced
2013

buy

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.