Upcoming Concerts

Sunday, May 31st, 2009 - 8:00pm - ?. ToSt Fremont, 513 N. 36th St. #E · Seattle, WA 98103 · (206) 547-0240 www.tostlounge.com
Washington Composers Orchestra (WACO), an avant big band featuring compositions by Tom Varner, Wayne Horvitz, and Robin Holcomb. Monthly last Sunday gig by this great ensemble.

Saturday, July 25th, 2009 - 4:00pm - 5:00pm ALL AGES SHOW. Sounds Outside Festival, Cal Anderson Park, Capitol Hill, SeattleWashington Composers Orchestra (WACO), an avant big band featuring compositions by Tom Varner, Wayne Horvitz, and Robin Holcomb. Free music outside in Capitol Hill!

Friday, July 31st- 11:45am - 1:30pm - Summer Sounds at 2200. The event is taking place on the upper plaza at 2200 above Whole Foods Market on the corner of Denny and Westlake 11:45-1:30. www.myspace.com/byronvannoy

Byron Vannoy's Meridian featuring Byron Vannoy, drums/composer, Eric Barber, saxophones; Kacey Evans, keyboards; Chris Spencer, guitar; Chris Symer, bass.

Eric Biography

Saxophonist ERIC BARBER (b. 1972) has been recognized as part of a generation of artists whose artistic voice and output defy categorization. Barber has developed a unique approach to the saxophone, integrating influences from jazz, Balkan and Indian music with a personal vocabulary of extended saxophone techniques.

His versatility, unique approach to the saxophone and artistic fearlessness have made him a regular collaborator with some of the most innovative and unconventional figures in new music today, including Nels Cline, Mark Dresser, Vinny Golia, Wayne Horvitz, Art Jarvinen, Steuart Liebig, Poovalur Srinivasan, Wadada Leo Smith, Miroslav Tadic, Tom Varner, and Glen Velez. Eric grew up in Eugene and majored in music at the University of Oregon. He moved in 1997 to attend graduate school at California Institute of the Arts, and immediately became immersed in the thriving Los Angeles jazz and world music scenes.

Since moving from Los Angeles to Seattle in 2004, Eric has been sought after in Northwest creative music. Earshot Jazz presented a feature article on Eric in their April 2006 magazine, and he recently gave the world premiere of pianist/composer Wayne Horvitz’s These Hills of Glory, for string quartet and improviser. He leads his own avant-jazz trio and improvising chamber quartet, as well as performing in French hornist Tom Varner’s jazz and chamber projects. Eric has performed throughout the U.S. and Canada, most notably at the Knitting Factory New York, Vancouver International Jazz Festival, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Getty Center, and Skirball Cultural Center. Recording credits include the Capitol, Cryptogramophone, Nine Winds, pfMENTUM, Phlogiston, Recondite, and Virgin labels.

His first commercial release, the solo saxophone CD Maybeck Constructions (pfMENTUM CD 015), received positive reviews from around the globe. Sonic, metric, rhythmic, and melodic concepts are unified into cohesive pieces that have compositional structure yet allow for deep improvisatory exploration from performance to performance. Exploring the full sonic capabilities of his saxophones, Eric fuses complex rhythmic structures and multiphonics with a keen ear and compositional sensibility.

Eric is currently a freelance performer and educator, and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music from the University of Oregon and a Master of Fine Arts in Jazz Studies from California Institute of the Arts. He lives in Shoreline, Washington with his wife Joy and two children, Ezra and Simone.

CRITIC QUOTES

“Putting a remarkable edge on this particular adventure is the phenomenal saxophone work of Eric Barber, whose huge soul, mature tone and pyrotechnical facility bring these compositions to their full, barely restrained potential.” – John Gilbreath, Seattle Sound Magazine

"tastefully wild" -- Los Angeles Times

"Eric Barber's soprano sax work is particularly thrilling" -- Dan Warburton, THE WIRE (UK)

"Saxophonist Eric Barber refuses to be tied down to a single style...The fact that Barber can handle just about any musical style put in front of him is evidenced by the artists he's played with over the years" -- Greg Prato, All Music Guide

“His adventurousness and ability to shift gears are what really grab my ears…Barber's compositions are intense and thought-provoking. His playing is as varied and skilled as his composing, and he really brings these pieces to life here. Top it off with the perfect setting, and you have a truly exceptional album” -- Jon Worley, Aiding and Abetting

“Eric Barber takes us to a place where creativity, experimentation, and originality rule. Many sounds flow from this talented artist. At times the music and musings are complex yet it follows his original approach to composition. He unearths sonic treasures mixed in with more common sounds for the pleasure of the listener." -- The CRITICAL REVIEW Service

Past Concerts

Thursday May 14th, 2009 - 5:30-7:30 . FREE admission with museum admission. Earshot Art of Jazz Series, Seattle Art Museum. www.earshot.org
Byron Vannoy's Meridian featuring Byron Vannoy, drums/composer, Eric Barber, saxophones; Kacey Evans, keyboards; Chris Spencer, guitar; Chris Symer, bass. The atrium at SAM is a great place to listen to music and check out great artwork as well.
Thursday, April 2nd, 2009 - 12:00pm - 1:30pm. FREE admission. Mayor's Noontime Concerts, Seattle City Hall. www.seattle.gov/artsWashington Composers Orchestra (WACO), an avant big band featuring compositions by Tom Varner, Wayne Horvitz, and Robin Holcomb. Presented in a beautiful concert space in Seattle City Hall.
Sunday March 29th, 2009 - 4:00-6:30pm. $15 admission. Jazz Project Concert Series, Museum of Radio and Electricity, Bellingham, WA, www.jazzproject.orgByron Vannoy's Meridian featuring Byron Vannoy, drums/composer, Eric Barber, saxophones; Kacey Evans, keyboards; Chris Spencer, guitar; Chris Symer, bass. This concert will have food and drink and is in a very unique venue in downtown Bellingham.
October 20, 2008 - 8:00pm. EB with Paul Harding's Juju Detective Agency on the Earshot Jazz Festival. Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center, 104 17th Ave. S, Seattle, WA, 98144. http://www.earshot.org/ Sharing the bill with bassist Evan Flory-Barnes' trio The Teaching. The band plays a unique mix of free motown, post-hardbop, snakeskin miles davis, cubic country, and versified funk while infamous spoken music poet Paul Harding mobilizes his MiddleVoice of songhistory and storytelling. We call it free hop. September 27th, 2008 - 8:00pm. EB with Jovino Santos Neto Quarteto @ Bake's Place, Issaquah. http://www.bakesplace.org/. Grammy-award nominated pianist Jovino Santos Neto's Quarteto with Chuck Deardorf - bass, Jeff Busch - drums and Eric Barber - saxophones. The group will be playing music from Jovino's latest release Alma de Nordeste on Adventure Music. June 12, 2008 Art of Jazz Series 5:30pm - 7:00pm, all ages showSeattle Art Museum Downtown, 1300 First Avenue, Seattle. Concert is free with museum admission. ZIGGURAT QUARTET - Bill Anschell - piano, Eric Barber - sax, Doug Miller - bass, Byron Vannoy - drums. November 15th, 2007 - Byron Vannoy's Meridian Byron Vannoy, drums/composer, Eric Barber, saxophones; Kacey Evans, keyboards; Chris Spencer, guitar; Chris Symer, bass. This new ensemble featuring all originals by Byron! Creative, evocative music. Egan's Ballard Jam House 1707 NW Market Street Seattle, WA 98107 Phone: 206-789-1621 7:00pm - $8 cover http://www.ballardjamhouse.com/ September 20th, 2008 8:00pm, $10 admission. ZIGGURAT QUARTET at the Chapel Performance Space, Good Sheperd Center, 4649 Sunnyside Ave. N. http://gschapel.blogspot.com/Bill Anschell - piano, Eric Barber - sax, Doug Miller - bass, Byron Vannoy - drums. The Ziggurat Quartet features four innovative jazz improvisers performing all original compositions. A passion for rhythmic experimentation drives the ensemble’s complex original compositions; many of the pieces are deeply influenced by the rhythms of East Indian music, as well as jazz and contemporary chamber music. Coupled with strong improvising, the result is a mix of music that is engaging, spontaneous, and compelling. Members of the quartet bring personal voices and broad aesthetic horizons to the ensemble, together charting new directions for jazz quartet. September 14th, 2008 - 2:00pm. $10 admission. MERIDIAN CD release party. Seattle Drum School, http://www.seattledrumschool.com/Byron Vannoy's Meridian featuring Byron Vannoy, drums/composer, Eric Barber, saxophones; Kacey Evans, keyboards; Chris Spencer, guitar; Chris Symer, bass. This concert will have food and feature the release of the CD Meridian. Visit http://www.seattlesoundmag.com/september-2008/ for a great review of this CD. April 25th, 2008 8:30pm-1am Ballard Jazz Festival JAZZ WALK - One price, great jazz at several venues in downtown Ballard. 10:30pm ZIGGURAT QUARTET (10:30pm) http://ballardjazzfestival.com/jazzwalk.phpBill Anschell - piano, Eric Barber - sax, Doug Miller - bass, Byron Vannoy - drums. The Ziggurat Quartet features four innovative jazz improvisers performing all original compositions. A passion for rhythmic experimentation drives the ensemble’s complex original compositions; many of the pieces are deeply influenced by the rhythms of East Indian music, as well as jazz and contemporary chamber music. Coupled with strong improvising, the result is a mix of music that is engaging, spontaneous, and compelling. Members of the quartet bring personal voices and broad aesthetic horizons to the ensemble, together charting new directions for jazz quartet. April 23rd, 2008 - 8:00pmBallard Jazz Festival's THE BROTHERHOOD OF THE DRUM Music groups led by some of Seattle's greatest drummers THE SUNSET TAVERN (21+), 8:00pm, $13 Advance / $15 DOS 5433 Ballard Avenue NW Byron Vannoy's Meridian featuring Byron Vannoy, drums/composer, Eric Barber, saxophones; Kacey Evans, keyboards; Chris Spencer, guitar; Chris Symer, bass. This new ensemble featuring all originals by Byron featured on his upcoming CD. November 19th, 2007 - Snapbite and and Michael Shrieve's Spellbinder Eric Barber, saxophones; PK, bass; Matt Crane, drums. Electrifying free improvisation from this bold free improv trio. Opening for Santana drummer Michael Shrieve. ToST 513 N. 36th St.Seattle, WA 98103 (206) 547-0240 8:00pm - no cover for Snapbite August 8th, 2007 - Snapbite and Moraine Eric Barber, saxophones; PK, bass; Matt Crane, drums. Electrifying free improvisation from two stellar ensembles. Jazz: The Second Century A New Earshot Concert Series Chapel Performance Space Good Shepherd Center 4649 Sunnyside Ave N 7:30pm http://www.earshot.org/ August 29th, 2007 - Ziggurat Quartet and Reptet Bill Anschell, piano; Eric Barber, saxophones; Doug Miller, bass; Byron Vannoy, drums. A great quartet performing all original music in the beautiful Good Sheperd Chapel. Also featured: Reptet. Jazz: The Second Century A New Earshot Concert Series Chapel Performance Space Good Shepherd Center 4649 Sunnyside Ave N 7:30pm http://www.earshot.org/ September 5, 2007 - Byron Vannoy Band Byron Vannoy, drums/composer, Eric Barber, saxophones; Kacey Evans, keyboards; Chris Spencer, guitar; Chris Symer, bass. The premiere of this new ensemble featuring all originals by Byron! Creative, evocative music. THE HENDRIX LOUNGE AT THE COLUMBIA CITY THEATER 4916 Rainier Avenue South, Seattle, WA {map it} (206) 723-0088 Music starts at 8:00pm Admission: $5.00 October 4, 2007 - Ziggurat Quartet Bill Anschell, piano; Eric Barber, saxophones; Doug Miller, bass; Byron Vannoy, drums. A great quartet performing all original music at Tula's in Belltown. Tula's Restaurant and Nightclub 2214 Second Avenue, mid-block between Blanchard and Bell 206-443-4221 8:00pm