NEWS RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – - DATE: May 8, 2012 CONTACT: Nairika K. Cornett VOICE: 770.534.2787 EMAIL: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> THE ARTS COUNCIL proudly presents The LARRY BARKER QUARTET 2011-2012 season of EVENINGS OF INTIMATE JAZZ Sponsored by Dominguez & Jones Wealth Management Group of Wells Fargo Advisors THE LARRY BARKER QUARTET is the last of five featured performers in EVENINGS OF INTIMATE JAZZ at THE ARTS COUNCIL SMITHGALL ARTS CENTER. The Quartet will perform SATURDAY, MAY 19, 2012 at 8:00pm. Tickets are $30.00 each. For tickets call 770-534-2787 or visit www.TheArtsCouncil.net <http://www.theartscouncil.net/> Gainesville, Georgia’s own Larry Barker is a jazz pianist with an eclectic musical background. Originally from St. Louis, Missouri, Mr. Barker has earned a Bachelors degree in Music Education and a Masters degree in Jazz Performance. He is a veteran educator, currently teaching elementary music in the Gwinnett County Public Schools. He has performed and/or recorded with Charles Glenn, the U. S. Army Band, the Glenn Miller Band, Tom Kennedy, Theo Peoples, Peter Mayer, The Drifters, and numerous others. For years, Mr. Barker has collaborated most often with vocalist Charles Glenn, resulting in one CD release (Offerings) and countless memorable jazz club performances. Since moving to Georgia in 2006, Larry Barker has performed with Atlanta Acoustic Jazz, Atlanta Beat, Sam Skelton, Ken Watters, the Sweet Lu Quartet, FootLights, and regularly plays solo piano at Grapes & Hops Bistro in Flowery Branch. Mr. Barker’s influences on jazz piano include Oscar Peterson, Gene Harris, Michel Petrucciani, Bill Evans, Fred Hersch, George Shearing, Dave McKenna, Nat King Cole, Ray Kennedy, and Kenny Barron. His piano style is also shaped to a great degree by listening to the great vocalists such as Mel Torme ,́ Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, John Pizzarelli, Kurt Elling, and instrumentalists such as Stan Getz Ray Brown, Tom Kennedy, Clark Terry, Paul Desmond, and Jeff Hamilton. He prefers not to play “outside” in the manner of many jazz musicians; rather Mr. Barker finds ways to explore his way “inside” the music. His approach keeps audiences completely engaged with each song. Larry’s performances are all about energy and emotion, speaking his own words through Jazz. This quartet will find a synergy with our wonderful audience that will propel its combined creativity to make this a most memorable evening of Jazz. Accompanying Mr. Barker are Dave Frackenpohl on guitar, Neal Starkey on bass and Clay Hulet on drums. Dave Frackenpohl is an active jazz guitarist and composer/arranger in the Atlanta area. Collaborating with such jazz artists as Hank Crawford, Bobby Watson, Buddy DeFranco and Carl Allen, he has performed at Spivey Hall, Woodruff Arts Center, the Fox Theatre and Rialto Center for the Arts. A versatile player, he has appeared with big bands such as Moments Notice and Les Elgars, touring Broadway shows such as High School Musical, Chicago and 42nd Street, as well as the Atlanta Symphony, Florida Orchestra and Atlanta Chamber Players. Composer/arranger credits include several Mel Bay Jazz guitar books/recordings including Jazz Standards for Guitar I & II, as well as recorded tracks by local Atlanta artists Sam Skelton, Ike Stubblefield and E.J. Hughes. Neal Starkey is an American <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States> jazz <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jazz> bassist <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double_bass> residing in Atlanta, Georgia <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlanta,_Georgia> . He has had a long and varied career, performing with many of the most notable names in jazz, including Kenny Barron <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenny_Barron> , Eddie Harris <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_Harris> , Sonny Stitt <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonny_Stitt> , Duke Pearson <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duke_Pearson> , Al Cohn <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Cohn> , Charlie Rouse <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_Rouse> , Barney Kessel <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barney_Kessel> and many others. He is a regular featured performer at the W. C. Handy Music Festival <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W._C._Handy_Music_Festival> , and a member of the W. C. Handy Jazz All-Stars <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W._C._Handy_Jazz_All- Stars> . Originally from New York <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_City> , he has made Atlanta his home for the past 25 years. Starkey has recorded with Herbie Hancock <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbie_Hancock> , Tony Williams <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Williams_(drummer)> and Freddie Hubbard <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freddie_Hubbard> with the CBS Jazz All-Stars <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=CBS_Jazz_All- Stars&action=edit&redlink=1> , and has served as bass instructor in the jazz program at Georgia State University <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgia_State_University> . He has also had extensive studio recording experience and is one of the most in- demand bassists in the Southeastern <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southeastern_United_States> region. Originally from Chicago, Clay Hulet performed regularly in that city’s vital jazz scene with such local luminaries as John Campbell, Joe Daley, Bunky Green, and Tom Hope. He appeared frequently on radio, television, and recordings, most notably on Richard Drexler’s album Flaming Spirit with Dave Liebman, Tom Harrell, and Steve La Spina. Now living in Atlanta, Clay plays regularly at clubs, festivals, and hotel venues in and around the city. In addition to accompanying nationally known musicians, he performs with many local artists. They include Kenny Banks, Dave Frackenpohl, Joe Gransden, Gary Motley, and Syl Spann. Clay regularly appears at The Whisper Room at Churchill Grounds, performing with Danny Harper and two-time Grammy nominee Russell Gunn. THE ARTS COUNCIL is delighted to present the LARRY BARKET QUARTET as part of its EVENINGS OF INTIMATE JAZZ SERIES on May 19, 2012. The performance will start at 8:00pm at The Arts Council Smithgall Arts Center. Performance tickets are $30.00 per person. 7% sales tax will be added to all ticket sales. For tickets call 770-534-2787 or visit www.TheArtsCouncil.net <http://www.theartscouncil.net/> For artist contact information call Gladys Wyant at 770-534-2787 DIRECTIONS TO ARTS COUNCIL SMITHGALL ARTS CENTER From Atlanta: Take I-85 north to Exit 113 bearing left onto I-985 north to Exit 20 GA Highway 60 (Queen City Pkwy/Candler RD). Turn left onto GA 60 and proceed approximately 2 miles to intersection with GA Hwy 369 (Jesse Jewell Pkwy). Turn right onto GA 369 and proceed approximately 1 / 2 mile to intersection with W. Academy St (Poultry monument/railroad museum on left & BB&T on right). Turn left onto W. Academy and proceed two blocks and the Arts Council Smithgall Arts Center will be on the right at the intersection of W. Academy and Spring St. # # # - Nairika K. Cornett The Arts Council, Inc. P.O. Box 1632 Gainesville, GA 30503 Tel: 770-534-2787 [email protected] .