Roland Barber Quintet at Crosstown Arts

1350 Concourse Avenue,Memphis TN 38104

11 April, 2022

Description

Crosstown Arts presents the Roland Barber Quintet in the Green Room. The Green Room at Crosstown Arts Monday, April 11, 2022 Doors open at 7pm | Show starts at 7:30pm Tickets: $18 in advance | $23 at the door Roland Barber, trombone Jason Marshall, baritone saxophone Jamal Nichols, bass Brian Harrison, piano John Alvey, drums This tour is made possible with the support of Jazz Road, a national initiative of South Arts, which is funded by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation with additional support from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Roland Barber, based in Nashville, Tennessee, has achieved a powerful, soulful and spirited artistry as a jazz performer, so much so the legendary Curtis Fuller (John Coltrane’s only trombonist) exclaimed upon hearing him, “Now THAT’s what jazz trombone is all about!” Roland’s style is a synthesis of exciting elements – a fusion held together by a compelling sense of “voice” that reaches audiences on many levels. Roland employs a warm, personal tone that is lyrical and full, reminiscent of trombone masters J.J. Johnson and Al Grey - and displays with a melodicism well informed by many traditions from the blues and gospel wail of the South to the bebop founded in New York City, from the swagger of New Orleans to the flavor and verve of Afro-Cuban traditions. Filling out the band will be a special guest roster of world class musicians! You think Lisa Simpson sounds good on the baritone saxophone? She ain't got nothing on Jason Marshall - a dominant, expressive force on the NYC Jazz scene. Full of versatility and depth, Jason played alongside Roy Hargrove and RH Factor, and also plays with the Mingus Big Band in NYC. Jahmal Nichols will be on bass - come hear why he currenlty plays with Grammy Award Winning Vocalist Gregory Porter!. Then there's Bryan Harrison, on keys - a pianist who recalls the stylings of Mulgrew Miller, Oscar Peterson and Gene Harris. On the drums, you'll hear John Alvey, a hard-bop titled up and comer on the Nashville jazz scene. Expect live jazz at it's highest levels, and come out for a night of fun, creative, expressive music that will be a DON'T MISS! Roland is also known for his masterful plunger-mute playing – a gem in the music of jazz that goes back to Tricky Sam Nanton of Duke Ellington’s orchestra and a study that has been passed down the generations, most directly to Roland through mentors Steve Turre and Al Grey. Roland has performed with titans of jazz music as well as young lions, including Stefon Harris, Sean Jones, Clark Terry, Branford Marsalis, Houston Person, Jeff “Tain” Watts, Wynton Marsalis and Jazz at Lincoln Center, the Duke Ellington Orchestra, the Chico O’Farill Afro Cuban Jazz Orchestra, Lainie Cooke and the Grammy-winning New Orleans Jazz Ensemble. Roland Barber has performed in venues the world over, from Manhattan to Estonia, including Carnegie Hall, Birdland, the Blue Note, the Smithsonian, Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center, and Madison Square Garden. Beyond the jazz realm, Roland has performed with a “who’s who” of the music scene, including the Wooten Brothers, Slavic Soul Party, Lauryn Hill, the Nashville Symphony, Lady A, Chaka Khan, Aretha Franklin, Lauren Daigle, Taj Mahal, Keb’ Mo, the Wood Brothers, Ron Isley, La India, Roberto Blades, Take 6, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Kirk Whalum, the NBC Saturday Night Live Band and the Spanish Harlem Orchestra.