Home » Jazz Musicians » Chris Barber

Chris Barber

Accolades for an English musician don't come more exotic than a description of Chris Barber as the "Bix Beiderbecke of British- style jazz"— this, from the pen of musicologist David Boulton back in 1958. Not that this kind of plaudit about Barber is confined to the past, nor to the jazz world. Blues-Rock Explosion published in 2001 states that, "Chris Barber, Alexis Korner, Lonnie Donegan and Cyril Davies were the real founding fathers of what became the British 1960s blues-rock explosion." Both of these quotes expose an obscured truth about Barber and his Jazz and Blues Band: namely, that without the man who celebrates nearly seven decades as a pro band leader, not only would British trad jazz have taken many more years to evolve – but also the British blues and rock scene would not have exploded in the way that it did. London’s Marquee Club is linked to the rise of bands such as the Who, Rolling Stones and others.

In actuality, it started out in 1958 as a jazz club in which Barber, as a founding director, pooled his music business experience alongside the Marquee's owner (and seasoned jazz promoter) Harold Pendleton. As well as establishing the Marquee, the pair initiated the National Jazz & Blues Festival in 1961, which eventually grew into the Reading Rock Festival. Jazz caught on very fast in Britain during the late 1940s and early 1950s; its live presentation was energetic and entertaining compared to 1940s dance bands, whose players were catatonic by comparison, mostly seated and hidden behind music stands. One of many trad bands that emerged alongside Barber's then amateur outfits (called the New Orleans Jazz Band or Chris Barber's 'Washboard Wonders' when he was playing string bass) was the Crane River Jazz Band, featuring clarinetist Monty Sunshine and trumpeter Ken Colyer. Along with banjo player Lonnie Donegan (plus Jim Bray on bass and tuba, and Ron Bowden on drums), these were the musicians who eventually teamed up with Chris Barber in 1953. Chris now remembers taking the big step to go pro, "At the time Monty was leading the last remnants of the Crane River Jazz Band. His band, like my band, was playing once a week and the trouble with that is you never learn from the mistakes you make onstage because a week later you've forgotten you made them. So, we thought, this is stupid – the only way to progress was to pool our resources and play the music professionally."

Read more

Tags

1
Album Review

Chris Barber: Memories of My Trip

Read "Memories of My Trip" reviewed by Chris M. Slawecki


You will find very few jazz retrospectives more thoroughly, warmly inviting than Memories of My Trip, which celebrates six decades of recording and performing by one of Britain's most enduring traditional jazz musicians--trombonist, bassist and bandleader Chris Barber. Presented across two CDs (one subtitled Blues, Jazz & Gospel and the other subtitled Blues & Jazz), Barber's precious Memories are highlighted by admirers such as Muddy Waters, Keith Emerson, Eric Clapton, Van Morrison and others from outside the traditional jazz realm.

Read more articles
1

Recording

Chris Barber: A Trailblazer’s Legacy Due Out July 23rd On Last Music Co.

Chris Barber: A Trailblazer’s Legacy Due Out July 23rd On Last Music Co.

Source: The Last Music Company

On March 2nd, the world mourned the passing of Chris Barber OBE. A British Jazz pioneer who performed for over seven decades until his retirement in 2019, Barber was a transformational figure in the UK music scene. He unlocked the door for a new generation of renowned musicians who in turn, continue to inspire on a global scale. Many paid tribute, among them, Bill Wyman, who said, “Without Chris Barber, the Stones and The Beatles would not be where they ...

3

Obituary

Chris Barber, Giant of British Jazz, Dies at Age 90

Chris Barber, Giant of British Jazz, Dies at Age 90

Source: The Last Music Company

Born in 1930, Chris Barber was one of the leading figures in European jazz. Together with Kenny Ball and Acker Bilk, he was one of the “Three B’s” who defined traditional jazz in Britain and spearheaded the “Trad” revival of the late 1950s and early 1960s. His interest in jazz began while he was evacuated from jny: London during World War II, and he began collecting 78 records of his American heroes, becoming an expert on the early days of ...

5

Music Industry

Chris Barber Retires After 65 Years As A Top Bandleader And Pioneer Of Blues In Britain

Chris Barber Retires After  65 Years As A  Top Bandleader And Pioneer Of Blues In Britain

Source: The Last Music Company

Trombonist/bandleader Chris Barber has announced his permanent retirement from full-time music after leading his internationally popular band since 1954. His original small group initially played in jazz clubs but by the late 50s became an attraction in large concert halls throughout the UK and Europe. Chris Barber’s Jazz Band first toured the USA in 1959 after having a million-selling hit with “Petite Fleur" that year, featuring clarinetist Monty Sunshine. Barber’s passion for Afro-American music brought many American blues and gospel ...

81

Recording

U.K. Bandleader Chris Barber Receives Overdue U.S. Recognition with 2-CD Anthology on Proper Records May 8

U.K. Bandleader Chris Barber Receives Overdue U.S. Recognition with 2-CD Anthology on Proper Records May 8

Source: conqueroo

Features music from Barber's incredible 60-year career including previously unreleased collaborations with Muddy Waters, Eric Clapton, Van Morrison, Mark Knopfler, Jools Holland, Dr. John and Rory Gallagher LONDON, U.K.—To followers of 20th century British music, Chris Barber needs no introduction: The trombonist and bassist is the pre-eminent name in British trad jazz. A fixture on the British music scene since the early 1950s, he has led a number of excellent bands and can be heard alongside countless world-class players, a ...

251

Performance / Tour

The Big Chris Barber Band - Shaw Theatre London on May 19-20, 2008

The Big Chris Barber Band - Shaw Theatre London on May 19-20, 2008

Source: All About Jazz

The Shaw Theatre, London - Monday 19th & Tuesday 20th May 2008 'Musical legend' is an accolade too easily given to artists these days - but trombonist Chris Barber is one of the few to whom it truly applies. Currently enjoying his 59th year as a band leader, he formed his first Barber New Orleans Band in 1949 at the age of 19 and since then, has performed more than 10,000 shows and made thousands of recordings. He has influenced ...

105

Music Industry

Jazz & Blues Legend Chris Barber Unearths Lost Recordings

Jazz & Blues Legend Chris Barber Unearths Lost Recordings

Source: All About Jazz

JAZZ & BLUES LEGEND CHRIS BARBER UNEARTHS A COLLECTION OF LOST RECORDINGS FROM AMERICAN BLUES STARS FROM 10th MARCH 2008.

CHRIS BARBER PRESENTS...THE BLUES LEGACY: 'LOST & FOUND' CD & DOWNLOAD SERIES ARE SET FOR A SIMULTANEOUS RELEASE ALONGSIDE THE 'AS WE LIKE IT' DVD - THE BIG CHRIS BARBER BAND & SPECIAL GUEST ANDY FAIRWEATHER-LOW ARE CAPTURED LIVE IN A BRAND NEW 'ONE NIGHT ONLY' PERFORMANCE ON DVD.

Featuring Muddy Waters, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee, ...

171

Recording

Chris Barber New Release Out October 8, 2007

Chris Barber New Release Out October 8, 2007

Source: All About Jazz

Jazz & Blues Legend Chris Barber Releases New Album 'Can't Stop Now

UK Album Release: 8th October 2007 Worldwide Album Digital Download Release: 8th October 2007

Chris Barber is an absolute iconic giant in the world of Jazz and Blues and the new album Can't Stop Now is ground-breaking in the evolution of a career that continues to expand over the past 5 decades working as a professional musician and band-leader.

The album features the Big Chris Barber ...

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

A Trailblazer's Legacy

The Last Music Company
2021

buy

Memories of My Trip

Proper American
2012

buy

Chris Barber Jazz &...

Unknown label
2004

buy

Misty Morning

Unknown label
2001

buy

The Essential Chris...

Unknown label
2000

buy

Jazz Jamboree

Unknown label
1997

buy

Videos

Similar

Get more of a good thing!

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