Barry is a musician that defies categorization. Having begun his career
while still enrolled at the Curtis Institute of Music, he also cut his
teeth in the clubs of Philly and Atlantic City. His versatility has
earned him respect as a “crossover” artist, performing in venues ranging
from Lincoln Center to the House of Blues with anyone from the Royal
Ballet, to the Jaco Pastorius Big Band, to R&B legend
Aretha Franklin. A member of the genre-bending Nu Directions Chamber
Brass, he is to some the tuxedo-clad classical bass trombonist for The
Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia--to others he's the jazz musician
they've seen backing the likes of Herbie Hancock--in another realm, he
regularly can be seen on the r&b/funk circuit of Philly and Atlantic
City with luminaries such as Pattie Labelle. This musical dichotomy has
seen Barry share the stage with Opera greats(Luciano Pavarotti),
Broadway/Cabaret stars(Bernadette Peters), Jazz heavies(Randy Brecker),
R&B legends(Peabo Bryson), to Pop/Rock icons(Peter Cetera) and many,
many, more—a “who’s who” performing in Philly, Atlantic City, and New
York. In addition to his work as a performer, he is a Senior Lecturer at
the University of the Arts where he teaches lessons and directs the
UArts Trombone Ensemble, an Associate Conductor of Bravo Brass, and has
taught at the Philadelphia International Music Festival through chamber
music coaching and a solo performance class.
An in-demand
sideman, Barry is also a dynamic soloist. The only trombonist to have
ever appeared as soloist at the Philadelphia International Music
Festival, he was featured with the Philadelphia Sinfonia in their
2010-2011 season finale at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts in a
performance of Eric Ewazen's "Ballade for Bass Trombone and Strings".
He has also performed as soloist with the Ocean City Pops, Drexel
University Concert Band, West Chester University Percussion Ensemble,
and with Bravo Brass. His most recent appearance with Bravo Brass was
the world premiere of "A Very Barry Fantasy" by Jamie Wehr, written for
Barry and Bravo Brass. The 2011-2012 season opened and closed with
performances of "Evolution and the Passage of Time" by Thomas J.
Madeja. The premiere took place in September 2011 in Chicago, and then
in May 2012, two performances in Philadelphia and NYC with Nu Directions
Chamber Brass. In October 2012, he will be joining Tom Madeja and Nu
Directions again in Chicago to premiere two of Madeja's works.
In addition to his many live performances, Barry
is also busy in the recording studio. He has recorded for independent
and major label releases, sessions for NFL Films(Emmy winning
soundtracks), NASCAR(featured in IMAX theaters nationwide), Hasbro,
Inc., commercials/jingles, Warner Bros(publications and major motion
pictures), numerous radio broadcasts, and has appeared in television
broadcasts both here in the United States and abroad. The long list of
musicians with whom he's performed includes Eddie Daniels, Joey
DeFrancesco, Herbie Hancock, Dave Grusin, Claudio Roditi, Gerald
Veasley, Victor Wooten, Take 6, Maureen McGovern, Rosemary Clooney, Judy
Collins, Peabo Bryson, Randy Newman, broadway performers Marvin
Hamlisch, Julie Andrews, Rita Moreno, as well as Sesame Street star Bob
McGrath; he's also acted in a musical skit with author/radio personality
Garrison Keillor.
Rather than accept the parameters that so
many try to place on musicians, Barry plays what he wants to play—his
love of rock, jazz, r&b, pop, and classical show every time he hits
the stage.
