By Greg Turner, The Absolute Sound Drummer Jonathan Barber is a young player who has toured and/or recorded with established players such as Pat Metheny, Nicholas Payton, Jeremy Pelt, and Steve Davis. On Barber’s second solo album, his quintet includes guitarist Andrew Renfroe, alto saxophonist Godwin Lewis, keyboardist Taber Gable, and bassist Matt Dwonszyk. Where … Read More
Por José Ramón, La Habitación Del Jazz Jonathan Barber (Hartford, CT), toca la batería desde los cinco años. Su padre, también baterista, tocaba en la iglesia, lo que le inculcó un profundo aprecio por la música góspel. Lea esta reseña aquí.
By Bill Milkowski, Downbeat Jonathan Barber’s star has been on the rise since his auspicious 2018 debut, Vision Ahead, and a 2019 tour in Pat Metheny’s trio. Read this full review here.
By George W. Harris, Jazz Weekly Drummer Jonathan Barber uses both his drumsticks and writing pen on this collection of (mostly) originals with his band of Taber Gable/p-key, Andrew Renfroe/g, Godwin Louis/as and Matt Dwonsyk/b on this collection of fluid post-bop themes. Read the full review here.
by Dan Bilawsky, All About Jazz “Wise beyond his years, Jonathan Barber carries and commits to the very notion of a legacy holder in his every gesture.” Full review here.
By Ron Schepper, Textura Jonathan Barber issued one of the more auspicious debut albums in recent memory when Vision Ahead arrived two years ago. Met with considerable acclaim, the recording not only documented his superb musicianship as a drummer but also his smarts as a composer, arranger, and bandleader. That accomplished debut release set the … Read More
By Steven Graham, MarlBank Last month I was wondering if the upcoming Jonathan Barber album Legacy Holder will be a game changer for him. Since then I’ve been listening to more Legacy Holder tracks and the signs definitely point in that direction. Read the full review here.
By Stephen Graham, MarlBank Listening to Marie Kruttli‘s fine trio record The Kind of Happy One yesterday I was interested to hear more of the drummer, Jonathan Barber. As luck would have have it he has a new record out with his Vision Ahead band. Listening to the glinting almost folkloric sheen to the title … Read More
By Matt Micucci, JAZZIZ Drummer/composer/bandleader Jonathan Barber is one of jazz’s top young visionaries today. Legacy Holder calls for change and unity, a message communicated via the power of ambitious composition and the focus on ensemble-playing of his Vision Ahead quintet. Read the full feature here.
By Brenda Nelson-Strauss, Black Grooves Drummer, composer and bandleader Jonathan Barber has accomplished much in his young life. The 30-year-old Hartford, Connecticut native began performing gospel music at an early age at his family church, learning alongside his father who was also a drummer. He later studied at the University of Hartford’s Jackie McLean Institute of Jazz and went on to tour and record with artists … Read More
