Jazz Articles about Bruce Barth

Bruce Barth - Steve Wilson: Home

by AAJ Italy Staff
July 7, 2010

Quattro composizioni di Barth e tre standard per un disco che ha tutti gli ingredienti più tipici dell'incisione live: empatia, atmosfera rilassata delle esecuzioni, vis gioiosa della citazione estemporanea. Due musicisti quanto mai ispirati nel dar luogo ad un percorso di distesa comunicativa, ricco di equilibrio e chiarezza espressiva. Vi prevale una grande attenzione per il dettaglio, nell'intento di far assaporare il senso di ogni nota, grazie ad un ragguardevole controllo dell'architettura melodica ed anche del sound. In primo piano ...

Bruce Barth / Steve Wilson: Home

by Larry Taylor
May 28, 2010

The increase in house concerts throughout the country is apparent, taking place in big cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco and Baltimore, as well as in smaller towns such as Columbia, Missouri, where this recorded duo date took place. Appearing at the home of Barbara Tellerman and Allyn Sher in 2009, pianist Bruce Barth and saxophonist Steve Wilson created some excellent music with vibrantly alive sound quality.

Barth and Wilson have been playing together since they met in New York ...

Tim Armacost: Brightly Dark

by Alexander M. Stern
October 7, 2003

The ghost of John Coltrane hovers over Brightly Dark. At times, Tim Armacost sounds startlingly like the late saxophonist, especially when he plays soprano, as he does on 'Afro Pentameter' and on the title track. Armacost is an extremely talented musician and an excellent composer, but he is still somewhat lacking in originality. Not that anyone can blame him for choosing to emulate Coltrane. In a scene from Woody Allen's Manhattan, Allen is told by an angry friend that he ...

Bruce Barth: American Landscape

by Bill Tannebring
May 25, 2003

If you’re already a Bruce Barth fan, you’ll find much to like on American Landscape. If you’re not familiar with Barth, let me introduce you. The California-born pianist grew up in New York and spent his early years in Boston studying with Norman Simmons, Jaki Byard and Fred Hersh. It’s evident in Barth's playing that these legends of the keyboard had a tremendous influence on him.

The former Terrance Blanchard sideman is among the busiest pianists and composers in jazz, ...

Bruce Barth: Live At The Village Vanguard

by Jim Santella
March 4, 2003

On Live At The Village Vanguard, Cole Porter’s “In The Still Of The Night” charges straight ahead with the zip, the zig, and the zag of a hound dog chasing a rabbit through open sagebrush. While Bruce Barth is totally unpredictable in places, he is sure to bring back the familiar melody to us before we get lost. His melodies are pretty, but what captures the listener’s ear is the pianist’s spontaneous approach to improvised adventure.

Four ...

Bruce Barth: Live At The Village Vanguard

by Mark Corroto
March 2, 2003

Serious craftsmen in most occupations tend to shun the spotlight. This is also true of pianist Bruce Barth. Although he leads his own trio on this live recording, he maintains a workmanlike approach, eschewing fireworks for a solid performance.

Maybe it is his role as long time accompanist for singers such as Carla Cook, Laverne Butler, Dominique Eade, and Rene Martin that keeps Barth from flashy displays of technique. Or maybe he’s just a consummate professional playing jazz, ...

Sam Newsome: This Masquerade

by C. Andrew Hovan
January 1, 2002

It's been ten years now since saxophonist Sam Newsome made his debut recording as a leader for Criss Cross Jazz, Sam I Am. Prior to that he had spent five years on the front line of Terrence Blanchard's quintet. Already established within the hard bop community and known as a tenor saxophone stylist of note, Newsome made a bold move in 1995 by focusing exclusively on the soprano horn. Furthermore, he would develop a unique muse in the guise of ...