Kim Stone

Steve Barta: Three Ships

by C. Michael Bailey
April 9, 2003

Better Late than Never.

Pianist and composer Steve Barta has released several fine holiday-related discs. To date these include That Christmas Feeling, Noel, Christmas Around the World, and The Twelve Days of Christmas. His Christmas offerings, especially the latter and this new recording, have absorbed a Bossa base that was very much in presence in his fine jazz release Blue River .

Three Ships concentrates on the more secular holiday songs. "I Love The Winter Weather/I’ve Got Your Love To ...

Steve Barta: The Twelve Days of Christmas

by C. Michael Bailey
December 1, 2000

Off The Beaten Path. Each year, I seek out new holiday music, usually in the jazz and classical realms. There have been several notable releases this year, including offerings by the Nagel-Heyer bunch and Cyrus Chestnut, among others. However, the music that immediately captured my attention this season I found being sold at a local holiday goods offering by the artist himself. I found the artist, Steve Barta, studied and urbane...like I was to find his music.

The Artist Formerly ...