Jazz Articles about Jeff Barone

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Trombocalist Big Band: The Vigil and the Sleeping Giant

by Jack Bowers
May 18, 2026

Even those whose batting averages are high are not immune from life's unforeseen and often disastrous curve balls. Low-brass multi-instrumentalist Ron Wilkins, riding the wave as a successful musician and bandleader, learned that the hard way when he was struck by Covid in 2020 and spent more than a month in a medically induced coma with the outcome clearly in doubt. As it turns out, fortune smiled on Wilkins, and after relearning such basics as breathing normally, walking, ...

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Linda Lavin: Love Notes

by Richard J Salvucci
August 28, 2021

Linda Lavin has spent a life on stage. If the term “Broadway Legend" means anything, surely it applies to Lavin, whose collection of Tony nominations and awards, critics' prizes, and Golden Globes for her role as “Alice" on television is nothing, if not impressive. Although you may not have followed her career closely, you knew she was a singer from “Alice," for which she recorded the theme, more than once. Hearing a good collection of songs from Lavin at this ...

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Ray Blue: Work

by Edward Blanco
April 8, 2020

New York-based and bred, tenor saxophonist Ray Blue is no novice but a veteran player who has not received the accolades he so deserves. Perhaps after laying down and documenting an incredible volume of music on Work, the spotlight will shine a little brighter on this unheralded player. A composer and educator, as well as one of the most in-demand musicians in New York, Blue is a soulful performer, a full-throated sax man with a fluid and lyrical style which ...

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Jeff Barone: Open Up

by John Barron
December 2, 2008

With ample chops and a firm grasp on tradition, New York-based jazz guitarist Jeff Barone proves a capable leader, bringing fresh ideas to the straight-ahead realm. Open Up showcases the Syracuse native's relaxed approach on a hard-swinging set of standards and originals.

Barone displays strong compositional skills on the up-tempo modal opener “Duban's Groove," the Brazilian flavored “New Samba," the funky title track and the lovely ballad “Jenna's Song," one of two duets with guest guitarist Jack Wilkins. The guitarist ...

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Jeff Barone: Open Up

by Nicholas F. Mondello
August 22, 2008

New York first-call guitarist Jeff Barone's Open Up creates a platform that covers a range of song types for the leader/composer and his colleagues--all aces--to work both as a terrific team and highly inventive soloists. There's everything here from Barone's beautiful solo strums to hard-swinging, straight-ahead jazz.

Barone's “Duban's Groove," written for alto saxophonist Mike Dubaniewicz, kicks off with a nice call-and-response with trumpet master Joe Magnarelli filling in and soloing beautifully. Dubaniewicz, a standout with Maynard Ferguson's Band is ...

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Jeff Barone: Crazy Talk

by Jim Santella
April 6, 2004

A New Orleans shuffle and plenty of traditional swing bring Jeff Barone’s debut CD into focus as a jazz guitar celebration. Echoes of Wes Montgomery and Grant Green reverberate in quartet format, as Barone works with piano, bass and drums to interpret classic tunes and several original compositions.

The session starts off with a blues. Solos around the room and fours with the drummer set the pace for mainstream action. Barone’s light attack and clear articulation usher ...