Gary Bartz

Gary Bartz has been known to many as a trail blazer in the music business from the moment he started playing with Art Blakey at his father’s jazz club in his hometown of Baltimore, MD to his own music throughout the 57 years as a professional musician. As if his Grammy Award© with McCoy Tyner in 2005 (‘Illuminations’) wasn’t enough to carve out a place for Bartz in the jazz genre, he has broken the mold with more than 40 solo albums and over 200 as a guest artist.

Gary Bartz first came to New York In 1958 to attend the Julliard Conservatory of Music. Just 17 years old, Gary couldn't wait to come to the city to play and learn. "It was a very good time for the music in New York, at the end of what had been the be-bop era," says Bartz. "Charlie Parker had passed away three years previously but Miles' group was in its heyday, Monk was down at the Five Spot, and Ornette Coleman was just coming to town. Things were fresh." Back then, Gary could regularly be found drinking Cokes in the all ages "peanut gallery" of Birdland, enjoying a marathon bill of performers. "If I didn't have money to get in. I'd help somebody carry a drum and sneak in," laughs Bartz. "I learned that early on."

Circa mid-'60s, the alto saxophonist - still in his early 20s - began performing throughout the city with the Max Roach/Abbey Lincoln Group and quickly established himself as the most promising alto voice since Cannonball Adderley. "In those days, we used to go by people's lofts and stay for weeks, just working on music," says Gary. "Folks would all chip in and buy food, and one of us would cook. But there was always music, because people were dropping by at all hours. We didn't even think about it; that's just what we did. We were very unselfish about what we were writing because, after all, music doesn't belong to any one person. It belongs to the people, to everybody."

With the splash of his New York debut solidly behind him, Bartz soon joined Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers. According to the story, Gary's parents owned a club in Baltimore, the North End Lounge. When his father hired Blakey for a gig, Gary grabbed the opportunity to fill a sax player vacancy in the band. After his performance that night, the young Bartz was officially hired to join the Jazz Messengers; in 1965, he would make his recording debut on Blakey's ‘Soulfinger’ album.

From 1962-64, Gary joined Charles Mingus' Workshop and began practicing regularly with fellow members of the horn section, including Eric Dolphy. In 1968, Bartz began an association with McCoy Tyner, which included participating in Tyner's classic ‘Expansions and Extentions’ albums. Work with McCoy proved especially significant for Bartz because of the bandleader's strong connection to John Coltrane — who Gary succinctly cites as a profound influence.

During his first two years with Tyner, Gary was also touring with Max Roach and taking some time out to record on Max's Atlantic Records release, ‘Mermbers Don’t Get Weary’. "With Max, there was that bond with Charlie Parker," declares Bartz. "Charlie Parker is why I play the alto saxophone."

Bartz received a call from Miles Davis in 1970; work with the legendary horn player marked Gary's first experience playing electric music. It also reaffirmed his yen for an even stronger connection to Coltrane.

In addition to working with Miles in the early '70s - including playing the historic Isle of Wight Festival in August, 1970 - Bartz was busy fronting his own NTU Troop ensemble. The group got its name from the Bantu language: NTU means unity in all things, time and space, living and dead, seen and unseen.Outside the Troop, Bartz had been recording as a group leader since 1968, and continued to do so throughout the '70s, during which time he released such acclaimed albums as, ‘Another Earth’, ‘Home’, ‘Music Is My Sanctuary’ and ‘Love Affair’, by the late '70s, he was doing studio work in Los Angeles with Norman Connors and Phyllis Hyman. In 1988, after a nine-year break between solo releases, Bartz began recording what music columnist Gene Kalbacher described as "Vital ear-opening sides," on such albums as ‘Monsoon’, ‘West 42nd Street’, ‘There Goes The Neighborhood’, and ‘Shadows’.

Bartz followed those impressive works in 1995 with the release of his debut Atlantic album ‘The Red and Orange Poems’ a self-described musical mystery novel and just one of Gary's brilliantly conceived concept albums. Back when Bartz masterminded the much-touted ‘I’ve Known Rivers’ album, based on the poetry of Langston Hughes, his concepts would be twenty years ahead of those held by some of today's jazz/hip hop and acid jazz combos.

So it continues with ‘The Blues Chronicles: Tales of Life’ A testimonial to a steadfast belief in the power of music to soothe, challenge, spark a crowd to full freak, or move one person to think. It adds up to a shoe box full of musical snapshots from a life lived and played with passion and stirred - with both joy and sadness - by the blues.

Gary's release ‘Live at the Jazz Standard Volume 1 – Soulstice’ is the first of a series of recordings documenting his legendary, non-stop style, live performances. This initial release on his own OYO label bares testimony to Gary's continuing growth as a composer, group leader, and master of both the alto and soprano saxophones. A quartet session recorded in 1998, was followed by ‘Live at the Jazz Standard, Volume 2’ released in 2000, which features Gary's exciting Sextet. His follow up release ‘Soprano Stories’ Gary exclusively performed on the soprano saxophone in a studio quartet setting.

His follow up album to the highly acclaimed Volume I of the Coltrane Files, Toa Of A Music Warrior, will be released in early 2015 along with his album honoring Woody Shaw entitled ‘Two MF’s’. Gary Bartz continues taken his rightful place in the pantheon of jazz greats and has his sight is set on releasing more music on his label OYO Records.

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Charles Tolliver: Right Now... And Then

Read "Right Now... And Then" reviewed by Andrew Schinder

by Andrew Schinder
May 9, 2026

While jazz fusion dominated the commercial jazz scene during the 1970s, beneath the surface many musicians eschewed current market trends, and continued to develop and push forward the hard bop, modal, and spiritual sounds established during the previous decade. Many of those artists recorded for Strata-East Records, the now-seminal label co-founded by trumpeter Charles Tolliver and pianist Stanley Cowell in 1970. Before co-founding Strata-East, Tolliver had established himself in the New York scene as a strong and intense horn player, ...

Album Review

Gary Bartz: Damage Control

Read "Damage Control" reviewed by Marco Iacoboni

by Marco Iacoboni
May 7, 2026

"Ntu" in lingua bantu significa unità in ogni cosa. Tempo e spazio, vivi e morti, forze visibili e invisibili, fuse in un'unica visione filosofica e spirituale, profondamente legata alla cultura africana e afroamericana. Il progetto Ntu Troop di Gary Bartz si è evoluto naturalmente dallo spiritual jazz al movimento B.A.M. (Black American Music), fondendo elementi soul, funk, folk africano, hard bop e jazz d'avanguardia. Una ricchezza di suoni e di atmosfere che non solo rendono la bellezza di questa musica ...

Album Review

La Tanya Hall: If Not Now, When...

Read "If Not Now, When..." reviewed by Pierre Giroux

by Pierre Giroux
January 3, 2026

With If Not Now, When... , La Tanya Hall emerges not just as a vocalist but as a storyteller, deeply connected to the quiet power of a well-chosen song. This is her most personal statement yet, an album crafted with intention rather than for show, where each track earns its place through lyrical depth and emotional impact. Hall avoids the obvious, assembling a selection of lesser-known material that invites the listener inward, asking for attention rather than applause. Supporting this ...

Album Review

Gary Bartz & NTU: Damage Control

Read "Damage Control" reviewed by Pierre Giroux

by Pierre Giroux
September 28, 2025

After a 12-year break from the recording studio, legendary saxophonist Gary Bartz makes a powerful return with Damage Control. This deeply personal passion project honors and re-imagines the soul genre. The album showcases Bartz's unwavering curiosity and artistic evolution, transforming soulful classics into meditative, jazz-infused compositions that cross genre boundaries. At the heart of the album's unity is Bartz's core trio, featuring pianist Barney McAll and drummer Kassa Overall. This trio is often joined by a lineup of exceptional musicians ...

Interview

Gary Bartz Is Nobody's Jazz Musician

by Bridget A. Arnwine
September 22, 2025

Gary Bartz is nobody's jazz musician. What he has built and created as an artist with a career that spans six decades defies labels, especially ones that have storied racist connotations and otherwise derogatory origins like the word jazz. He is a composer of the finest order and as gifted as the most revered names in classical music. Defining his work as improvised music is too simple a term to fully capture the essence of what Bartz and “jazz" musicians ...

Radio & Podcasts

Gary Bartz, Zoh Amba, Greg Tardy and Oscar Rossignoli

by Hobart Taylor
August 6, 2025

New music from Gary Bartz, Zoh Amba, Oscar Rossignoli and Allison Miller. Playlist Gary Bartz “In Search of my Heart-Love Surrounds Us" from Damage Control (OYO) 00:00 Zoh Amba “ Seaside" from Sun (Smalltownsounds) 10:08 Host Speaks 17:02 Allison Miller “Fierce" from Big and Lovely (Royal Potato Family) 18:35 George Burton Alexa Barchini “Your Skin/White Noise" from White Noise (Porge) 26:07 Oscar Rossignoli “Levitations, Pt. I" from Levitations (Self-Produced) 32:38 Host Speaks 44:30 Adrian Younge Samantha Schmütz “Quando ...

Live Review

Gary Bartz Quintet at Jazz Alley

by Paul Rauch
May 5, 2025

Gary Bartz Quintet Jazz Alley Seattle, WA April 29, 2025 As an alto saxophonist, NEA Jazz Master Gary Bartz has merged freedom and form in historic fashion, in the process acquiring an understanding of the art of improvisation, or what Bartz refers to as “informal composition," in a unique and enlightened way. His vital expressionism has traveled from hard bop to Latin, to fusion in a seamless progression that has enabled a boundless ...

Music Industry

Renowned Saxophonist Gary Bartz Receives Honorary Doctorate From New England Conservatory

Source: Ann Braithwaite
May 29, 2026

Grammy Award winning jazz saxophonist and educator Gary Bartz received an honorary Doctor of Music degree from New England Conservatory at its 155th Commencement on May 17, 2026. Innovative Vivo Performing Arts (formerly Celebrity Series of Boston) President and Executive Director Gary Dunning also received an honorary doctorate. NEC alumna Denyce Graves ’88 UD, ’14 hon. DM, served as the distinguished Commencement speaker. “We are thrilled to welcome back NEC alumna Denyce Graves, and to honor the extraordinary careers of ...
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Education

New England Conservatory Announces 155th Commencement With Distinguished Speaker Denyce Graves And Honorary Degree Recipients Gary Bartz And Gary Dunning

Source: Braithwaite & Katz Communications
April 16, 2026

Acclaimed mezzo-soprano and NEC alumna Denyce Graves ’88 UD, ’14 hon. DM, whose accomplishments NEC recognized with an honorary Doctor of Music degree in 2014, will serve as the distinguished Commencement speaker. Legendary jazz saxophonist and educator Gary Bartz and innovative Vivo Performing Arts (formerly Celebrity Series of Boston) President and Executive Director Gary Dunning will be awarded honorary Doctor of Music degrees. Matthew Shifrin ’21, ’23 MM will be the alumni speaker. “We are thrilled to welcome back NEC ...
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Event

2024 NEA Jazz Masters Honored At Free Events

Source: Silky Sullivan
April 13, 2024

Washington, DC—The National Endowment for the Arts, in collaboration with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, will celebrate the 2024 NEA Jazz Masters at a series of public events April 11-13, 2024, in Washington, DC, culminating in a free tribute concert on Saturday, April 13. The 2024 NEA Jazz Masters tribute concert will include virtuoso vocalist and pianist Amina Claudine Myers, prolific saxophonist Gary Bartz, Grammy-winning trumpet player and composer Terence Blanchard, and writer and Artistic Director ...
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Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Gary Bartz

Source: Michael Ricci
September 26, 2022

All About Jazz is celebrating Gary Bartz's birthday today!

Gary Bartz has been known to many as a trail blazer in the music business from the moment he started playing with Art Blakey at his father’s jazz club in his hometown of Baltimore, MD to his own music throughout the 57 years as a professional musician. As if his Grammy Award with McCoy Tyner in 2005 (‘Illuminations’) wasn’t enough to carve out a place for Bartz in the jazz genre, ...
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Event

Gary Bartz Headlines 13th Annual Berklee Global Jazz Summit

Source: Daniel Pesquera
March 23, 2022

The Berklee Global Jazz Institute (BGJI) presents its 13th annual Berklee Global Jazz Summit on March 24, 8:00 p.m. at the Berklee Performance Center, featuring special guest saxophonist Gary Bartz, as well as original compositions from BGJI faculty, alumni, visiting artists, and students. Hosted by BGJI founder and Grammy Award-winning composer and pianist Danilo Pérez, this year’s concert honors the accomplishments of several acclaimed members of the BGJI community, with performances specially dedicated to influential women in celebration of Women’s ...
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Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Gary Bartz

Source: Michael Ricci
September 26, 2021

All About Jazz is celebrating Gary Bartz's birthday today!

Gary Bartz has been known to many as a trail blazer in the music business from the moment he started playing with Art Blakey at his father’s jazz club in his hometown of Baltimore, MD to his own music throughout the 57 years as a professional musician. As if his Grammy Award with McCoy Tyner in 2005 (‘Illuminations’) wasn’t enough to carve out a place for Bartz in the jazz genre, ...
read more

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Gary Bartz

Source: Michael Ricci
September 26, 2020

All About Jazz is celebrating Gary Bartz's birthday today!

Gary Bartz has been known to many as a trail blazer in the music business from the moment he started playing with Art Blakey at his father’s jazz club in his hometown of Baltimore, MD to his own music throughout the 57 years as a professional musician. As if his Grammy Award with McCoy Tyner in 2005 (‘Illuminations’) wasn’t enough to carve out a place for Bartz in the jazz genre, ...
read more

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Gary Bartz

Source: Michael Ricci
September 26, 2019

All About Jazz is celebrating Gary Bartz's birthday today!

Gary Bartz has been known to many as a trail blazer in the music business from the moment he started playing with Art Blakey at his father’s jazz club in his hometown of Baltimore, MD to his own music throughout the 57 years as a professional musician. As if his Grammy Award with McCoy Tyner in 2005 (‘Illuminations’) wasn’t enough to carve out a place for Bartz in the jazz genre... ...
read more

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Gary Bartz

Source: Michael Ricci
September 26, 2018

All About Jazz is celebrating Gary Bartz's birthday today!

Gary Bartz has been known to many as a trail blazer in the music business from the moment he started playing with Art Blakey at his father’s jazz club in his hometown of Baltimore, MD to his own music throughout the 57 years as a professional musician. As if his Grammy Award with McCoy Tyner in 2005 (‘Illuminations’) wasn’t enough to carve out a place for Bartz in the jazz genre... ...
read more

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Gary Bartz

Source: Michael Ricci
September 26, 2017

All About Jazz is celebrating Gary Bartz's birthday today!

Gary Bartz has been known to many as a trail blazer in the music business from the moment he started playing with Art Blakey at his father’s jazz club in his hometown of Baltimore, MD to his own music throughout the 57 years as a professional musician. As if his Grammy Award with McCoy Tyner in 2005 (‘Illuminations’) wasn’t enough to carve out a place for Bartz in the jazz genre... ...
read more