George Barrow

[Late]

What's the story of George Barrow? A tenor (and baritone) saxophonist of no small capability, his star seems to have gotten lost somewhere in the jazz universe. AMG doesn't yield anything, and most searches I did (Google) don't add much.

Here are the records that I know of Barrow being on:

• Mingus at the Bohemia: Charles Mingus (Debut)

• The Charles Mingus Quintet + Max Roach: Charles Mingus (Debut)

• Jazz Studio 6: David Amram-George Barrow (Decca)

• Blues and the Abstract Truth: Oliver Nelson (Impulse!)

• 7-tette: Bill Dixon (Savoy)

I really like this guy's playing, but wish more of it was accessible. Anything missing from the list above? Any other fans?

[MartyJazz]

He's also on the Teddy Charles session, TENTETTE (Atlantic). Offhand, I don't know whether or not he solos however.

[Michael Fitzgerald]

Many more, often as just a session section player from 1953 to 1982. He was in on a lot of historically significant dates - such as Teddy Charles Tentet dates for Atlantic and several JCOA/related records (Thornton, Mantler, Bley). Seems to have been a favorite of Ernie Wilkins and Oliver Nelson.

Mike

[AllenLowe]

he figures quick prominently in David Amram's autobiography -

[Late]

Many more, often as just a session section player from 1953 to 1982.

... any albums, other than those I've listed, where he has a solo feature? I have Charles' Tentet album, but don't recall that he solos. (I don't think he does.) I'll have to give it a spin.

[Michael Fitzgerald]

Can't recall offhand, but even among those you list, he does not solo on B&TAT. And no, he does not solo in the Tentet.

Mike

[Late]

... he does not solo on B&TAT. And no, he does not solo in the Tentet.

Right (but I like listening for him, and the lines he's given, on Nelson's album).

[Michael Fitzgerald]

Well, if you like just listening for him, there's plenty of nice work on the Tentet (Sol Schlinger replaces him sometimes though). A couple other adventurous 1950s items:

Sandole Brothers on Fantasy (now OJC)

Teo Macero on Columbia (available at cdbaby as "the best of TM")

Mike

[kh1958]

Many more, often as just a session section player from 1953 to 1982.

... any albums, other than those I've listed, where he has a solo feature? I have Charles' Tentet album, but don't recall that he solos. (I don't think he does.) I'll have to give it a spin.

I think he also solos on the Mingus Savoy recordings, from 1954.

[Late]

I think he also solos on the Mingus Savoy recordings, from 1954.

Yes! Thanks kh — forgot about that one (too).

Listening to it right now. With some short solo features, Barrow plays tenor on "Purple Heart" and baritone on "Gregorian Chant," "Eulogy for Rudy Williams," and "Tea for Two." He and Teo interweave nicely.

[AllenLowe]

Isn't he also on one of the Max Roach/Candids?

[JSngry]

He also solos on the Mingus Bohemia thing on Debut/Prestige/OJC.

[JSngry]

Lo and BE-hold, he's on this Don McLean album

as is WILLIS JACKSON!!!

[Michael Fitzgerald]

Barrow is not on any Candid issue. Perhaps you are confusing him with Walter Benton, who is on Freedom Now Suite.

Mike

[brownie]

Barrow is also on the John LaPorta 'Themes and Variations' reissue on Fantasy. Quite good avant-garde stuff from the fifties!

And he was also - but is not heard soloing - among the musicians that Mike Mantler gathered to accompany the soloists on The Jazz Composers Orchestra album.