Details

A key figure on the British jazz scene since the late 1970s, Alan Barnes' strong tone, assured improvisations and imaginative arranging technique have marked him out as one of the country's top players, respected by both his audience and fellow players alike. Master saxophonist Alan Barnes ranks as one of Britain’s most celebrated jazz performers. He has enjoyed a prolific career playing and recording for the BBC Big Band and the Pasadena Roof Orchestra, and touring with Brian Ferry, Warren Vache, Jamie Cullum, Clare Teal, Van Morrison, Selina Jones and Bjork, to name a few. Alan is often tagged with the term ’mainstream’. True, you’re unlikely to find him hanging out with Norwegian experimentalists, string quartets or DJs, issuing an album of Radiohead covers or rediscovering punk rock, but there’s plenty of other people doing that kind of thing these days. Barnes is steeped in the language of bop, but is such a consummate stylist that his playing tends to buck any argument that his musical approach is conservative or out of step with the times. Whether on alto, baritone or tenor, Barnes’ melodic sense bypasses the usual scale-running cliches that pepper the playing of lesser bop disciples.

Cast/Performers

Alan Barnes