Rotunda

Noted Jazz saxophonist George Barron returns to his West Philadelphia roots as he, his wife Janet Barron, and son pianist Farid Barron, perform in concert. Their band, The Jazz Barons, is rounded out by Alan Nelson on drums and New Yorker Bim Strasberg on bass.

Shows are at 7pm and 8:30pm. There will be a 30 minute break between shows, so feel free to come to both and hang out at the venue between sets. We”ll have finger foods, body products, and music for sale.

Old and new friends can expect to hear their favorite Jazz standards, works by the Jazz masters and masters of the American popular song form, as well as some of George’s newest compositions. Don’t be surprised by a taste of free jazz as well!

George Barron is acclaimed for the warmth and high energy of his tenor and soprano saxophone playing. His is a driving, passionate sound that runs the gambit from smooth to explosive.

With influences like Dexter Gordon, Sonny Stitt Sonny Rollins and John Coltrane it is no wonder that he impressed New York Times Jazz Critic, John S. Wilson, who called him,… “A very versatile and polished saxophonist.”

His saxophone virtuosity has won Barron positions as a featured soloist with bands lead by Lonnie Liston Smith and Norman Connors. During a three year tenure with Smith, he performed and recorded along side artists such as Cecil McBee, Buster Williams, Stanley Clark, Mtume and Al Foster. His warm lyrical tone can be heard on Smith’s earlier Flying Dutchman recording “Astral Traveling” and his saxophone is also prominent on the subsequent album entitled “Cosmic Funk”.

The captivating voice of his wife, Janet Barron, is a featured attraction in most of his performance and presentations. At time she adds a unique vocal component that functions as another horn part. At other times she is center stage and melting your soul with a passionate ballad or burning it up with the blues. Her style is a blend of influences such as Ella Fitzgerald, Billy Holiday, Sarah Vaughn, Carmen McRae and Nancy Wilson. Her treatment of straight ahead jazz standards is always exciting and swing is the operative word.

George’s son Farid Barron, is an award winning soloist, and is the pianist on the track titled “Games and Toys” on the Emanations CD. He fills the piano chair on George’s previous CD “Crossing the Rubicon” in its entirety. He has performed with trumpeter Donald Byrd and he held the piano chair with Wynton Marsalis and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra for several years.

Admission is FREE