Home » Jazz Articles » Take Five With... » Take Five With Frank Barton

282

Take Five With Frank Barton

By

Sign in to view read count
Meet Frank Barton:

Active in music since the 1980s, Frank is currently recording and playing music in Hawaii. In 2009, he recorded "Kodiak Shoreline" in Alaska- a collection of original instrumental compositions. He is the electric guitarist for the New York based band Funky Blue Muskrats—playing a mix of original material and songs by artists including the Grateful Dead and Jimi Hendrix—and in 2008 he performed live with the Kodiak Rock All Stars in Alaska.

Instrument(s):

Electric and acoustic guitars, bass, drums, keys, woodwinds.

Teachers and/or influences?

Teachers: Mike Solazzo (bassist- Syracuse NY jazz scene), Bill Tiberio (sax, currently teaching @ Univ of Rochester in NY).

Influences: Jerry Garcia, Carlos Santana, Jimi Hendrix, John McLaughlin, Miles Davis, Wayne Shorter.

I knew I wanted to be a musician when...

I would explore the jazz records at the Seymour Library in Auburn NY as a child in the 1980s. My father turned me onto Miles Davis, Bo Diddley, Junior Walker, and Chuck Berry. Attending concerts by the Grateful Dead in the 90's had a huge impact on me. Everything about their live show was impressive- the audio, the lighting, the fans...

Your sound and approach to music:

I started on clarinet and sax and was the lone improviser during my 6th grade concert. I played in scholastic jazz bands thru high school and picked up guitar at 16. My transition to strings was largely motivated by my desire to play both horn style lead lines as well as chords. Over the years, I've gotten a lot of feedback on how you can hear the approach of a saxophonist in my lead work. Developing my skills on sax first definitely influenced my approach to guitar.

Your teaching approach:

Jam.

Your dream band:

the Santana rhythm section, Bill Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart, Sonny Rollins, Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, Phish.

Desert Island picks:

Grateful Dead—Without A Net (Arista)

Miles Davis—In A Silent Way (Columbia)

Weather Report- Sweetnighter (Columbia).

How would you describe the state of jazz today?

Alive and well.

What are some of the essential requirements to keep jazz alive and growing?

Avoiding the close-minded mentality that Miles Davis faced during his electric period.

What is in the near future?

Currently recording in Hilo, Hawaii

By Day:

Crow.

If I weren't a jazz musician, I would be a:

Tree.

Comments

Tags


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.

More

Jazz article: Take Five with Saxophonist Nick Stefanacci
Jazz article: Meet Tubist Jim Shearer
Take Five With...
Meet Tubist Jim Shearer
Jazz article: Take Five With Pianist Olivia Perez-Collellmir
Jazz article: Take Five With Bassist / Composer Jakob Dreyer

Popular

Get more of a good thing!

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