Rahsaan Barber

Rahsaan Barber has achieved a singular path of excellence in performance, composition, education and entrepreneurship. Barber enjoys a career that encompasses a range of styles including his first love – jazz — as well as blues, funk, classical, soul, Latin and World music. Barber’s approach to music-making has garnered professional appearances both “in studio” and onstage with a staggering list of performers including Kelly Clarkson, Lauren Daigle, The Temptations, Idina Menzel, Delfeayeo Marsalis, Brian Blade, Meghan Trainor, The Spanish Harlem Orchestra, Kirk Franklin, and the Wooten Brothers. Barber has performed on many of the world’s most prestigious stages for music including The Ryman, The Village Vanguard, Birdland, Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center, and the National Museum of African American History. Barber has joined the ranks of the nation’s rising jazz stars as leader of his own instrumental band, Everyday Magic, co-leader of both Latin Jazz Septet El Movimiento and The Barber Brothers, a jazz quintet he captains alongside his twin brother, trombonist Roland Barber. Barber is also the creator, bandleader, songwriter and producer of hip-hop soul band, The Megaphones. In addition, he has built a reputation as a standout jazz producer with the work of his record label, Jazz Music City, which he founded in August of 2011. The label launched with the release of the Barber’s album Everyday Magic, featuring nine of the saxophonist’s original compositions. The album was awarded selection as an Editor’s Pick by Downbeat Magazine along with receiving high praise from both critics and audiences alike.

Barber is also an accomplished music educator. In 2020, Rahsaan joined the faculty of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as an Assistant Professor of Music, succeeding the legendary Jim Ketch. Barber also taught music theory for the University of Memphis the previous year, while completing doctoral study in the school’s classical saxophone program. In August of 2005, Barber was chosen by Belmont University to teach the school’s saxophone studio, which more than doubled in number of majors under his instruction. Promoted to full-time instructor for the latter half of his six years at Belmont, Barber taught a wide array of courses including improvisation, classical and commercial chamber ensembles, performance seminars and large jazz ensemble. In addition, Barber has taught saxophone lessons at Tennessee State University. Barber currently holds the position of graduate assistant at The University of Memphis, where he serves as instructor of music theory while completing doctoral study.

Barber remains an in-demand clinician, having presented master classes at numerous institutions including Lipscomb University, the Nashville Jazz Workshop, the University of Louisville, Lee University, and the University of North Carolina. Barber is also quite active in Nashville’s jazz community, currently volunteering as the Vice-President of the Tennessee Jazz and Blues Society and serving on the Advisory Board of the Nashville Jazz Workshop.

Awards

"Best Local Jazz Musician" - 10/15/2009, The Nashville Scene