Studio & Color PORTRAITS

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"Brotherhood" Exhibit at Flazh! Alley Studio 2008 In the Spring of 2008, art curator Joe Flazh!, and his partner Sid Lanier, asked me to do a show of my work reflecting the time I had spent chronicling the ongoing event in Los Angeles called "John Pisano's Guitar Night". The show was called "The Brotherhood" and featured many of the great guitarists that had performed at Guitar Night for the previous eleven years. The show was beautifully curated by Joe and Sid, and guitarist Barry Zweig, provided the perfect musical background for this event along with the legendary bassist, Putter Smith. The Brotherhood was the first of several shows I did at the "Studio" and I want to thank Joe & Sid for their support and friendship. Bob Barry

F L O R A P R O J E C T Flora is my newest photo project using a technique I call Photo Sculpting . ​ This atypical project came out of a need to clear my mind after long sessions working on my portraits. While walking my Lab Lily in the Hollywood Dell where we live, I started photographing the local flora and would bring the images home and periodically work on them. I began to photograph flora on trips around LA, Arizona, New Mexico and then on to the UK and Europe. ​ Just like the sculptors of old who went out to the quarries and hauled a slab of granite back to their studio, studied it, and when they were sure of their vision, they would chip away, and remove what they felt was not necessary, until it revealed what they had envisioned. ​ I do the same thing using state of the art computer applications and tools on a photo image! I go out to my quarry, which is the world at large, and bring my captures back to my studio and after some study, I too remove what I feel is not needed to accomplish my vision. ​ Flora prints, typologies and triptychs are available for sale. Be sure to check out the Jazzography Store . ​

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Concert Videos & Events After archiving and triaging images from a concert, there are many images that I may not have chosen to be in my files, and I decided to use these remaining stills to create either a reflection of a concert performance, or create a performance that never happened at all! ​ Using an existing audio track, I would try to blend the visual and emotional moments of the stills to the sound tracks. ​ All Videos All Categories Play Video Play Video Mary Stallings @ The Kirk Douglas Theater 6/22/12 - Jazz Bakery Movable Feast Mary Stallings is one of the finest singers working the clubs and festivals today. Not only does she have a beautiful voice and great stage presence but she is a magnificent interpreter of lyrics. She tells each story with depth and clarity leaving her audience with an understanding of her music they didn't have when they came in. She was more than ably assisted by pianist David Udolf and bassist Ratzo Harris. From her first album with Cal Tjader through her work with Monty Alexander and Gene Harris she has been and continues to be a musical treasure for us all. These photographs are from her concert on 6/22/12 at the Kirk Douglas Theater in Culver City CA for Ruth Price and the Jazz Bakery Movable Feast. Bob Barry Play Video Play Video Earl Klugh @ Catalina 2010.mov The first time I saw Earl Klugh was at Carnegie Hall in Manhattan aroung the mid 80's. The Brecker Brothers opened for him and it was an amazing evening of great players and great music. 25 years later at Catalina Jazz Club in LA I saw him again. Except for the beard which is gone now, virtually nothing had changed and if it did it was for the better. He's not only an extraordinary player, but his musicianship shines in his unique and tasty arrangements. For this slide show I have chosen Earl's arrangement and performance of "Emily" from his CD, "Solo Guitar". Bob Barry Play Video Play Video Amanda McBroom sings her song "Best Friend" Amanda McBroom, songwriter, Actress, and NightClub and Cabaret Artist, has been called "...the greatest cabaret performer of her generation, an urban poet who writes like an angel and has a voice to match." Her name first came to the attention of the music public when Bette Midler's version of Amanda's song "THE ROSE", hit number one all over the world in 1979. But it was Amanda's performance of her own song on the Golden Globes (she won), Grammys (she didn't) and The Tonight Show that launched her career as a singer as well as songwriter. I had the great pleasure of photographing Amanda at her performance at Catalina Jazz Club in Hollywood at the end of 2009. It was a brilliant performance and I had the opportunity to really spend time getting what I wanted. A rare occurence in the life of an archival art photographer. Using the images from that evening, I chose one of my favorites from Amanda's CD "Portraits" and using a new software from Germany called "Foto Magico", electonically and digitally sculpted this performance of her song, "Best Friend". I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed creating it. Bob Barry www.jazzography.com Play Video Play Video Curtis Stigers @ The Kirk Douglas Theater The Jazz Bakery Movable Feast was proud to present Curtis Stigers and his quintet at the Kirk Douglas Theater on the 13th of January 2013. Whether it's a standard, a rarely heard tune from the American Song Book, or one of his own fine compositions, Curtis Stigers puts his own personal stamp on it and makes it his own. As he has done with this wonderful Randy Newman composition dating back to the 80's. This particular song features Curtis as a singer and is backed by piano and trumpet. He is also a fine saxophonist and guitarist. Thank you Ruth Price for bringing us such talented and unique artists. Bob Barry (c)2013 by Bob Barry Play Video Play Video The Chico Pinheiro Quintette @ Vibrato - "Mandarim" Vibrato - 4/7/2011 - There is a new and exciting generation of musicians coming out of South America these days, following in the footsteps of "Jobim", "Bonfa", "Cayymi" and Gilberto. One such young guitarist/composer is Chico Pinheiro. The "Chico Pinheiro Quintette" is made up of such great musical artists as Edu Ribeiro on drums, Fabio Torres on Piano, Paulo Paulelli on Bass and a wonderful singer, Luciana Alves, who is as lovely to look at as she is to listen too. I was fortunate enough to capture these images at their recent performance at Herb Alpert's, "Vibrato" in Bel Air CA. The song you are listening to is "Mandarim" By Chico & Paulo Pinheiro. Bob Barry Play Video Play Video Giacomo Gates @ The Kirk Douglas Theater On Saturday the 22nd of June at the Kirk Douglas Theater in Culver City I photographed jazz singer Giacomo Gates and the Joe LaBarbera Trio comprised of Joe on drums, Bruce Forman guitar and Tom Warrington on bass for the Jazz Bakery Movable Feast. Giacomo sang with his delightfully versatile baritone "American Songbook" standards and most interestingly "Jazz Standards" like "Night In Tunisia", "Round Midnight" and this tune called "Centerpiece". Giacomo was alternately hip, charming and funny throughout the evening. He was magnificently backed by Joe, Bruce, and Tom in what Giacomo pointed out was mostly improvised event. The sound track I used for this slide show was from Giacomo's CD "Centerpiece", featuring Vic Juris on guitar and Ray Drummond on bass. Thanks again Ruth Price and The Jazz Bakery Movable Feast for bringing artists like Giacomo Gates to our eyes and ears! BB Play Video Play Video Dori Caymmi @ The Kirk Douglas Theater - 6/23/12 - "Berimbau" On the 23rd of June 2012 Dori Caymmi performed for a packed house at the Kirk Douglas Theater in Culver City CA. One of Dori Caymmi's great gifts is to be able to communicate the intimacy and sensuality of his music so that if you didn't understand a word of Portuguese you would not be missing a thing. Once again a deep thanks to Ruth Price and the Jazz Bakery Movable Feast for bringing great artists like Dori Caymmi to share his musical gifts with us. Dori was ably supported by pianist Bill Cantos, bassist Jerry Watts and drummer-percussionist Michael Shapiro. BB Play Video Play Video The John Patitucci Trio at MI -Jazz Bakery On 5/26/12 At the Musicians Institute in Hollywood CA, Ruth Price and The Jazz Bakery Movable Feast presented the John Patitucci Trio comprised of John Patitucci on bass, Jon Cowherd on piano, and Adam Cruz on drums. Playing to a packed house they managed to leave no one disappointed. Another great concert in the tradition of Ruth Price and the Jazz Bakery. Bob Barry Play Video Play Video The Kurt Rosenwinkel Trio - Jazz Bakery Movable Feast 2/25/12 On the 25th of February 2012, The Jazz Bakery Movable Feast, an on going program of concerts using several different venues in Los Angeles presented the Kurt Rosenwinkel Trio at the Music Institute Theater in Hollywood. Guitarist/Composer Rosenwinkel was accompanied by bassist Ugonna Okegwo and drummer Justin Faulkner. Rosenwinkel, originally from Philidelphia now resides in Berlin Germany and is a prophesier of Jazz at the Hanns Eisler College or Academy of Music. Bob Barry Play Video Play Video Gretchen Parlato -Jazz Bakery Movable Feast 1/21/12 On January 21st of 2012 Ruth Price and The Jazz Bakery "Movable Feast" presented jazz vocalist Gretchen Parlato and her band at the Music Institute's Theater in Hollywood. Miss Parlato had just recently won the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Vocal competition. Using her voice as a rhythmic and lyrical instrument she showed great skill with vocal improvisation and excelled with Brazilian style percussion instruments. She performed original as well as a number of jazz and Brazilian compositions with great command of the language and style. She was accompanied by her keyboard man Sam Harris, Bassist Harish Raghavan, and drummer mark Guiliana. They performed for an engaged and enthusiastic full house. Bob Barry Play Video Play Video Mike Lang @ Keyboard Concepts presented by The Jazz Bakery Movable Feast 4-22-12 Mike Lang is a "First Call" pianist in the world of studio musicians which keeps him busy much of the time. The downside for the rest of us is that we don't get to see him perform as much as we would like. Thanks to Ruth Price and her Jazz Bakery Movable Feast, we have been given a rare opportunity to see and hear this great artist in "The Flesh". On the 22nd of April 2012 Mike and bassist Michael Valerio filled the concert room at The Keyboard Concepts Showroom in Van Nuys CA. It was standing room for some and a standing ovation by all. Bob Barry Play Video Play Video Regina Carter's "Reverse Thread" @ The Nate Holden Performing Arts Center 4/14/12 Ruth Price and The Jazz Bakery Movable Feast took over the Nate Holden Performing Art Center for the night of the 14th of April 2012 bringing Regina Carter and her Quintet, "Reverse Thread" in to perform. Regina is an amazing jazz violinist who has surrounded herself with equally amazing musicians with the likes of Yacouba Sissoko playing an African instrument called a "Kora", Will Holshouser on accordion, Chris Lightcap playing bass and Alvester Garnett on drums.+percussion. It was a truly special musical evening. Bob Barry Load More

My Relationship with Diane Arbus ​ My relationship with Diane Arbus began in 1968 after seeing her exhibition at the MOMA in NY. It was one of her bigger shows at the time, and as my then wife and I were MOMA members, we went to a pre-show opening. ​ We were both profoundly affected by the powerful display of Diane's work. We wrote her a letter telling of our admiration, and shortly after received a phone call thanking us, and inviting us over to her home and studio in Greenwich Village. We, of course accepted her offer. I remember meeting her two daughters who were quite young at the time after which, Diane took us on a tour of her studio, which I remember being the floor below her residence. We became friends after that night, Diane and I would talk now and then, (wonderful conversations about a range of subjects), and she would come by our place on the Upper West Side from time to time. On several occasions, Diane photographed my former wife Linda, myself, as well as members of our extended families. ​ Interestingly enough, we rarely spoke of photography, and the people, and politics of that world. We talked a great deal about relationships, hers, mine, and how we did, or did not survive within them. We talked about family matters. She seemed really interested in my family relationships. A subject matter that was worthy of several books and chronicles, mostly in the mental health genre. Our conversations seemed to center on, our feelings of being an “outsider” and how we coped with the feelings, and sometimes the reality of being one. ​ I was an actor in those days, and photography was my hobby, which I enjoyed greatly. Diane was very supportive, (after all, having been married to an actor for many years), and when the opportunity arrived for her to do this job for Zeis/Icon, (which I recalled she said she dreaded at the time), she called me and said, that the only way she would feel comfortable doing this particular job, was if I would do it with her, and we could spend the day together. She offered me what was at that time several months rent as a modeling fee. I had absolutely no money, and part of me felt that she was embellishing a bit about "Me" being the only one who could make it bearable, as to help me out financially, and not make me feel uncomfortable. ​ The day of the shoot, Diane showed up at my apartment on west 91st in Manhattan. We chatted a bit while I finished my coffee, and then proceeded to shoot the ad. First in the hallway of my bldg, then the elevator, the lobby, and then on to 91st St. where we shot at least half of the images. We then took a subway to 66th St., and walked a few blocks to Lincoln Center, where she shot the two images in front of the fountain. Finally moving on to Central Park in the lower sixties where Diane shot the two final photos. ​ The shot that was used in the ad, was the last shot we did. Diane wanted to shoot me with a bunch of pigeons, and bought me a box of Cracker Jacks to entice the pigeons to stay in the shot. They would have none of it, and finally she took the photo of me throwing the Cracker Jacks at the pigeons that were off frame. I then finished the box of Cracker Jacks. The Ad was In Popular Photography and perhaps other magazines as well. The ad went something along the line of " 5 of the world's Greatest Photographers" on the new Zeiss Icon Cameras." Each of the five world-class photographers was given a challenge to photograph situations involving the new camera line they were promoting. I was told, (I never got to see it myself), that there was a huge blowup of Diane's photo of me at the old coliseum on 59th St during the photography convention in late 69 or early 70. Several months after the shoot, I received a letter from Diane, and a pack of 15, 2.25 inch transparencies. In the letter, Diane talked about how much she enjoyed our day together, and that she was giving me the 15 "rejects" from the shoot. She talked a bit about her schedule for the year, and then offered to give me a print of my own choosing of her work. I never took advantage of her wonderful offer. Her friendship was the only gift I ever wanted. ​ We stayed friends until her untimely death in 1971. ​ I recall getting the phone call from an unknown woman on a summer’s day in 1971, telling me that Diane had passed, and that a memorial was being held at Campbell’s Funeral Parlor on Madison Ave somewhere in the eighties. ​ I remember walking in, and people I had never met came up to me asking if I new what had happened to Diane. It seems that the circumstances of her passing were not readily shared. At some point in the hubbub that ensued before the service began, a woman of some years, and with great command, said in a voice that can only be described as controlled and authoritative, and just loud enough for all to hear said, " The lady took her own life". ​ From that moment on, there wasn't a sound to be heard. Every one took their seats in the Chapel, Diane’s brother Howard walked up to the podium, gave a short Eulogy, and it was all over. ​ That is how it all came about. ​ I have retired as an actor, (until someone offers me a job), and have been photographing as a professional now for about 25 years. My "niche" is Jazz Photography, but in reality, I have been working with musicians of all styles. I am on the Board of Directors of the California Jazz Foundation, a charitable non-profit that helps Jazz & Blues musicians in need, throughout California. ​ I have published an art calendar called, The Guitar Night Calendar, and recently published a pictorial history called "Guitar Night", based on John Pisano’s, Guitar Night an event I have been chronicling for 22 years. For 50 years Diane’s images have been sitting in a metal container holding my important papers etc. I hope now that I have scanned and printed them others might enjoy the lovely day that Diane and I spent together. ​ Bob Barry,