Gary Bartz Jid006

Description

The shadow that Gary Bartz casts over the last six decades of progressive black music, and his dedication makes him a logical and welcome contributor within the label Jazz Is Dead. Alto saxophonist steeped in the history and tradition of his instrument, who is also experimental, relentless, and not inclined to purism of any kind, he enjoys both the respect and admiration of his peers and the hero worship of several generations after him - including Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammad, which inevitably led to Gary Bartz.
A look at his work reveals alliances with bebop, hard bop, free jazz, spiritual jazz, soul jazz, jazz-funk, fusion, and acid jazz, all while remaining resolutely undeniably Gary Bartz. There was early work with Eric Dolphy and McCoy Tyner in Charles Mingus's Jazz Workshop, with Max Roach and Abbey Lincoln, a stint in Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, and also with Miles. There are his revolutionary and highly influential albums with Ntu Troop from the early 70s and his jazz-funk work, including two classic albums with the Mizell Brothers, one of which provided A Tribe Called Quest with a smooth sample.
The Bartz catalog has provided hip-hop and other genres with a rich source of samples: Black Sheep, Jurassic 5, Casual, RPM, Warren G, Photek, Statik Selektah, Chi-Ali, 3rd Bass, Showbiz, Z-Trip, Young Disciples, and many more.