Gary Bartz

Gary Bartz

Gary Bartz is an American alto and soprano saxophonist from Baltimore, United States. Born in 1940, he graduates from The Juilliard School and builds a career that spans jazz, funk, soul, fusion, free funk, hard bop, modern creative and soul jazz.

Career

After leaving Juilliard, Bartz works with Charles Mingus, Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers, Miles Davis, McCoy Tyner, Max Roach and Jackie McLean. He also leads and records with his own groups, including the Gary Bartz NTU Troop, the Gary Bartz Quartet and the Chico Freeman - Gary Bartz Quintet. His NTU Troop combines soul, funk, African folk music, hard bop and avant-garde jazz.

Collaborations and groups

Bartz is associated with Heads of State, Sphere, Grachan Moncur III Octet and The Bob Thiele Collective. He also appears on McCoy Tyner's album Illuminations, for which he wins a Grammy in 2005. He teaches at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music when not touring.