Gala Opening Melbourne International Jazz Festival: Gary Bartz Quartet (USA)
At the forefront of jazz for nearly six decades, Gary Bartz has helped create jazz as we know it today.
PERSONNEL
Gary Bartz
saxophones / vocals
Barney McAll
piano
James King
bass
Special Guest
drums
With a career ranging across post-bop, jazz-funk and free jazz, Bartz is counted amongst the pantheon of jazz greats, having shared the stage with Art Blakey, Miles Davis, McCoy Tyner, Pharaoh Sanders, Charles Mingus, Max Roach and many more.
Renowned for his legendary, non-stop live performances, Bartz’s compelling blend of earthiness and elegance infuses decades of experience into every note, creating a “furnace of power and passion”.
Melbourne’s very own Barney McAll will be amongst the stellar quartet joining Bartz on stage to open the 2016 Festival, performing his latest project – Coltrane Rules, Tao of a Music Warrior – honouring the icon with classic renditions that would make him proud.
Further
Information
This performance will be broadcast live on ABC Jazz, presented by Mal Stanley. Hear ABC Jazz in Australia on Digital TV (channel 201), Digital Radio, the ABC Radio Mobile App and online, at abc.net.au/jazz.
Feedback/Comments
Gary Bartz and the band were excellent. A great evening
What a treat, Gary Bartz at the Melbourne Recital Centre. The accoustics were fantastic and rightly so to honour such great musicians. So great to see and hear Melbourne's Barney McCall so melodious on the piano.
Loved the whole evening.
Brilliant.
Totally enjoyed the evening. What an amazing venue The Melbourne Recital Center is.
Gary Bartz and the band were first class. Playing 90 mins without a break was something else!
Thanks OTH!
Four brilliant musicians in their own right combine to forge a sublime sound, unbroken for 90 minutes
Excellent venue, wonderful music and an extraordinary musical journey that moves from the dark into the light.
A wonderful opening to the Melbourne International Jazz Festival. So many more wonderful acts to come. get along and treat yourself. SullyG
A masterful, polished performance from all in the main act. Well-presented and rehearsed light effects on stage.
Wonderful to see and hear live jazz again. Amanda Keller with Transient 1 atmospherically opened the program. After the break, Gary Bartz and Barney McColl led the rest of the band for 90 minutes continuously. The lack of a break and chance to communicate took a little getting used to, but the music was great. It ended on a blessing.
Absolutely brilliant