An impressive guitarist, Jeff Barone has developed a strong reputation with his recordings (Crazy Talk and Open Up), live performances, and record producing. His playing invigorates the modern mainstream of jazz, swinging hard while looking forward.
He was born in Syracuse, New York and remembers, “Early on I heard a Joe Pass recording, Virtuoso. I had a cousin who owned a music store and, when I was eight, my parents gave me a guitar for Christmas. That is how it all started.” Exposed to jazz by an uncle who was a bassist and a cousin who played jazz piano, he developed quickly. At 16, Jeff was working in local jazz clubs and being hired to play with touring shows that visited Syracuse. He also performed with the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra and worked with singer Al Martino under the direction of Tony Riposo. “By the time I was in high school, my life revolved around guitar and music, so it was a natural transition for me to become a professional musician.” Jeff considers his influences to not only be Joe Pass but jazz guitarists Pat Martino, Jim Hall, Jack Wilkins, George Benson and Johnny Smith, classical guitarists Julian Bream and Segovia, and pianists Bill Evans and Oscar Peterson. He retains aspects of each of their styles along with his own musical personality to form a distinctive sound of his own.
At Ithaca College where he earned a Bachelors in Music Education, Jeff studied classical guitar with a minor in classical percussion. He focused on the guitar at the Manhattan School Of Music where he received a Masters degree in Jazz Performance. During that period he also worked in small clubs in the Village including with singer Evelyn Blakey (Art Blakey’s daughter), Hershel Dwellingham’s group (Weather Report and Stuff) and trumpeter Charles McGee (who had played with Archie Shepp and Rahsaan Roland Kirk). As his school days ended, he became part of the Harlem organ scene. Jeff worked with Jimmy “Preacher” Robins, Mel Davis, and a stint with Reuben Wilson. “It was a great experience playing with Reuben Wilson because he covered the full range of jazz. In Harlem clubs, we played straight-ahead jazz and standards. When we were outside of Harlem, we played more funk and acid jazz which was what he was known for. The guitar and the organ were made for each other. When the organist plays a left-handed bass, it leaves room for the guitar as opposed to the guitar and the piano where both instruments have to work hard not to step on each other’s toes.”
Guitarist Jack Wilkins has been an important force in Jeff Barone’s career. They have performed together in a variety of settings and Jack has recommended the younger guitarist for several important gigs including a concert with the Vanguard Orchestra, and an opportunity to sub with the Mingus Epitaph Orchestra under the direction of Gunther Schuller. “Jack was also instrumental in my record Crazy Talk happening in 2000. He gave me the push to finally make a recording.”
Crazy Talk, which was co-produced by the two guitarists (Wilkins makes two appearances) and released by the String Jazz label(based in England), features Jeff in a quartet with pianist Ron Oswanski, bassist Chris Berger and drummer Joe Strasser. Drummer Mike Clark (famed for being with Herbie Hancock’s Headhunters) guests on the title track. The mixture of standards and three of Jeff’s originals (“Resa’s Blues,” “To Care For” and “Crazy Talk”) is quite infectious with the leader excelling on both medium-tempo tunes and ballads. It is an impressive debut.
Jeff’s second CD as a leader, Open Up, was a major step forward. “I learned a lot from my first record, so the second one is better in its performances, arrangements, originals, and the overall production.” Jeff is joined on most of the selections by Ron Oswanski (who this time is heard on organ) and drummer Rudy Petschauer. There are also some welcome appearances by trumpeter Joe Magnarelli and altoist Mike Dubaniewicz. Two memorable selections (“Jenna’s Song” and “Quiet Now”) are duets with Jack Wilkins while Jeff takes “My Funny Valentine” as an unaccompanied solo. The CD, which is available from Jazzed Media, introduces four of Jeff’s originals and also includes fresh versions of such songs as “Falling In Love With Love,” “I Hear Music” and Denny Zeitlin’s “Quiet Now.” The music is modern jazz but also accessible, original and challenging but with a blues element and quite soulful.
Jeff Barone has worked with trumpeter Tom Harrell’s Quintet in addition to groups led by Warren Chiasson, Joe Magnarelli, Bobby Caldwell's Big Band and Eddie Montiero. He has worked at Carnegie Hall, Merkin Hall, and at jazz festivals including the JVC Jazz Festival. He has also been active as a record producer, working on such recordings as altoist Mike Dubaniewicz’s Drive Time(Jazzed Media), guitarist Jim Silberstein’s Express Lane(Consolidated Artists), and Jack Wilkins’ recording Until It’s Time released on the Max Jazz label.
For over ten years Jeff has had the guitar chair for the Big Apple Circus in NYC. In addition he has been an active session guitarist as well as working on Broadway shows such as CATS, Wicked, Seussical, James Joyce’s The Dead(featuring Christopher Walken and Blair Brown) and Dear Evan Hansen. Lately he can be heard on stage or recording with actress/vocalists such as Kathleen Turner, Linda Lavin, Joely Fischer and Lucie Arnaz. Jeff is also featured in Scott Yanow’s book entitled “The Great Jazz Guitarists: the Ultimate Guide (Hal Leonard Publishing 2013).”
“I have been fortunate to be able to make my living playing guitar. For the future I want to keep progressing, recording and collaborating with other artists, always moving forward.” Based on his career thus far, there is no doubt that Jeff Barone will achieve his goals and continue a major contribution to jazz of the 21st century.
http://jeffbarone.com/about.html
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Jeff Barone, un guitarrista impresionante, se ha labrado una sólida reputación con sus grabaciones (Crazy Talk y Open Up), actuaciones en directo y producción discográfica. Su forma de tocar vigoriza la corriente principal moderna del jazz, haciendo swing con fuerza y mirando al futuro.
Nació en Syracuse, Nueva York, y recuerda: "Al principio escuché una grabación de Joe Pass, Virtuoso. Tenía un primo que tenía una tienda de música y, cuando tenía ocho años, mis padres me regalaron una guitarra por Navidad. Así empezó todo". Expuesto al jazz por un tío que era bajista y un primo que tocaba el piano de jazz, se desarrolló rápidamente. A los 16 años, Jeff ya trabajaba en clubes de jazz locales y le contrataban para tocar en giras que visitaban Siracusa. También actuó con la Orquesta Sinfónica de Siracusa y trabajó con el cantante Al Martino bajo la dirección de Tony Riposo. "Cuando estaba en el instituto, mi vida giraba en torno a la guitarra y la música, así que para mí fue una transición natural convertirme en músico profesional". Jeff considera que sus influencias no son sólo Joe Pass, sino los guitarristas de jazz Pat Martino, Jim Hall, Jack Wilkins, George Benson y Johnny Smith, los guitarristas clásicos Julian Bream y Segovia, y los pianistas Bill Evans y Oscar Peterson. Conserva aspectos de cada uno de sus estilos junto con su propia personalidad musical para formar un sonido propio y distintivo.
En el Ithaca College, donde se licenció en Educación Musical, Jeff estudió guitarra clásica con especialización en percusión clásica. Se centró en la guitarra en la Manhattan School Of Music, donde obtuvo un máster en Interpretación de Jazz. Durante ese periodo también trabajó en pequeños clubes del Village, por ejemplo con la cantante Evelyn Blakey (hija de Art Blakey), el grupo de Hershel Dwellingham (Weather Report y Stuff) y el trompetista Charles McGee (que había tocado con Archie Shepp y Rahsaan Roland Kirk). Cuando terminó su etapa escolar, pasó a formar parte de la escena organística de Harlem. Jeff trabajó con Jimmy "Preacher" Robins, Mel Davis y una temporada con Reuben Wilson. "Fue una gran experiencia tocar con Reuben Wilson porque cubría toda la gama del jazz. En los clubes de Harlem, tocábamos jazz directo y standards. Cuando estábamos fuera de Harlem, tocábamos más funk y acid jazz, que era por lo que era conocido. La guitarra y el órgano estaban hechos el uno para el otro. Cuando el organista toca el bajo con la mano izquierda, deja espacio para la guitarra, a diferencia de la guitarra y el piano, donde ambos instrumentos tienen que esforzarse para no pisarse".
El guitarrista Jack Wilkins ha sido una fuerza importante en la carrera de Jeff Barone. Han actuado juntos en diversos escenarios y Jack ha recomendado al guitarrista más joven para varios conciertos importantes, incluido un concierto con la Vanguard Orchestra, y una oportunidad para subirse a la Mingus Epitaph Orchestra bajo la dirección de Gunther Schuller. "Jack también fue decisivo para que mi disco Crazy Talk viera la luz en 2000. Me dio el empujón para hacer finalmente una grabación".
Crazy Talk, coproducido por los dos guitarristas (Wilkins hace dos apariciones) y publicado por el sello String Jazz (con sede en Inglaterra), presenta a Jeff en un cuarteto con el pianista Ron Oswanski, el bajista Chris Berger y el batería Joe Strasser. El batería Mike Clark (famoso por formar parte de los Headhunters de Herbie Hancock) participa en el tema principal. La mezcla de estándares y tres originales de Jeff ("Resa's Blues", "To Care For" y "Crazy Talk") es bastante contagiosa y el líder destaca tanto en las melodías de medio tempo como en las baladas. Es un debut impresionante.
El segundo CD de Jeff como líder, Open Up, supuso un gran paso adelante. "Aprendí mucho de mi primer disco, así que el segundo es mejor en sus interpretaciones, arreglos, originales y la producción en general". A Jeff le acompañan en la mayoría de las selecciones Ron Oswanski (que esta vez toca el órgano) y el batería Rudy Petschauer. También son bienvenidas las apariciones del trompetista Joe Magnarelli y el contralto Mike Dubaniewicz. Dos temas memorables ("Jenna's Song" y "Quiet Now") son duetos con Jack Wilkins, mientras que Jeff interpreta "My Funny Valentine" en solitario. El CD, que está disponible en Jazzed Media, presenta cuatro de los originales de Jeff y también incluye nuevas versiones de canciones como "Falling In Love With Love", "I Hear Music" y "Quiet Now" de Denny Zeitlin. La música es jazz moderno pero también accesible, original y desafiante pero con un elemento de blues y bastante conmovedor.
Jeff Barone ha trabajado con el Quinteto del trompetista Tom Harrell, además de con grupos dirigidos por Warren Chiasson, Joe Magnarelli, la Big Band de Bobby Caldwell y Eddie Montiero. Ha trabajado en el Carnegie Hall, el Merkin Hall y en festivales de jazz como el JVC Jazz Festival. También ha trabajado como productor discográfico en grabaciones como Drive Time (Jazzed Media), del contralto Mike Dubaniewicz, Express Lane (Consolidated Artists), del guitarrista Jim Silberstein, y Until It's Time, de Jack Wilkins, publicado por el sello Max Jazz.
Durante más de diez años Jeff ha tenido la silla de guitarra para el Big Apple Circus en NYC. Además, ha trabajado como guitarrista de sesión en espectáculos de Broadway como CATS, Wicked, Seussical, James Joyce's The Dead (con Christopher Walken y Blair Brown) y Dear Evan Hansen. Últimamente se le puede escuchar en el escenario o grabando con actrices/vocalistas como Kathleen Turner, Linda Lavin, Joely Fischer y Lucie Arnaz. Jeff también aparece en el libro de Scott Yanow titulado "The Great Jazz Guitarists: the Ultimate Guide (Hal Leonard Publishing 2013)."
"He tenido la suerte de poder ganarme la vida tocando la guitarra. Para el futuro quiero seguir progresando, grabando y colaborando con otros artistas, siempre avanzando." Basándonos en su carrera hasta ahora, no hay duda de que Jeff Barone logrará sus objetivos y continuará con una importante contribución al jazz del siglo XXI.
http://jeffbarone.com/about.html
jeffbarone.com ...
01 - Resa's Blues
02 - In A Sentimental Mood
03 - To Care For
04 - Don't Worry 'Bout A Thing
05 - You Must Believe In Spring
06 - Crazy Talk
07 - She's The One
08 - Close Your Eyes
09 - Renewal
10 - Who Can I Turn To
Credits:
Bass – Chris Berger
Drums – Joe Strasser, Mike Clark (# 6)
Electric & Acoustic Guitar – Jeff Barone
Piano – Ron Oswanski
Rhythm Guitar – Jack Wilkins (# 1, 10)
Label: String Jazz – SJRCD 1032
Released: 2003
Genre: Jazz
https://www.discogs.com/release/7649215-Jeff-Barone-Crazy-Talk
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