Leigh Barker Biography

Bassist, composer and bandleader Leigh Barker was born and raised in Canberra, where he spent his formative years studying with American bassist Eric Ajaye at the Canberra School of Music. His move to Melbourne in 2003 provided much professional experience, with Leigh proving to be a popular accompanist for the cream of the traditional and contemporary Jazz scenes, frequently appearing with Jamie Oehlers, Scott Tinkler, Julien Wilson, Julie O’Hara, Peter Baylor, the Bennetts Lane Big Band, The Band Who Knew Too Much, Heather Stewart and many others.

In January 2004 Leigh travelled to the US for five weeks, where he pursued formal studies with bassists Ben Wolfe, Eric Revis and Reginald Veal, as well as spending valuable time with mentors Branford Marsalis and guitarist Doug Wamble.

In 2006 Leigh collaborated with celebrated pianist Tom Vincent on the soundtrack for the hit ABC television program ‘The Collectors’, which airs on Friday nights. Vincent and Barker discovered an immediate rapport which culminated in a six-week tour early in 2006 with the Tom Vincent Trio, with pianist Vincent and Netherlands based drummer, Marc Meader.

Last year Leigh took his Quintet on the road around Australia performing more than 25 concerts of his original music, to promote the release of his second CD, “Off to Moruya” which was recorded for the ABC ‘Jazztrack’ program. This album is available around the world through CDbaby.com and the Apple iTunes store. His band also released a self titled CD in 2004 and is preparing to release a third album, a concert recorded at Bennett’s Lane Jazz Club in June 2007.

In March 2008 Leigh performed in two concerts with American Tenor Saxophonist Ned Goold, who is the musical director of the Harry Connick Jr. Big Band.

Despite being in constant demand as a sideman, Leigh Barker has always had as his first priority his own working band playing new original Australian music. After five years of gigs and very few lineup changes, the band has developed into a unique unit with a mature sound which belies the age of all the members.

Currently a quartet, the band explores a great range of music drawing on all the greatest elements of Jazz music, from Jelly Roll Morton, Louis Armstrong and Ellington, to the classic small group music of Davis, Coltrane and Monk through to the contemporary developments of the Australian and international improvised music scenes. The wide ranging tastes of all the members and their respective contributions to the repertoire mean that the ensemble covers a wide textural and emotional range, an exciting brand of Jazz that draws on many sources. “I always have trouble explaining the sound of the group, but it’s all in there, whether you like hard swing, blues, beautiful ballads, great melodies, hot Jazz or world music. The Guys all write good tunes and it has always been a combined effort…”

In addition to many performances in Canberra and Melbourne, Leigh’s band has completed extensive tours through regional New South Wales and Tasmania. Between performing at Australia’s premier Jazz venues, the group have given masterclasses at many high schools, as well as the Hobart, Wollongong and Goulburn music Conservatoriums.

The Quintet placed in the top ten Jazz groups of the 2002 national MusicOz competition and in 2004 the group completed its debut self-titled release. In October 2005 the band recorded over an hour of music for ABC Radio’s Jazztrack program, which was released as the album “Off to Moruya”. The band has also filmed two full length concerts for audio expert Kostas Metaxas and his television company Exero.

iTunes
www.cdbaby.com/cd/leighbarker
www.metaxas.com
www.exero.com