The Living Legacy of saxophonist Gary Bartz to be honoured

The Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation’s Living Legacy Jazz Award honour for 2015 is to go to saxophonist Gary Bartz. The award recognises distinguished performers who have made a special commitment to jazz education and worked to impart their unique knowledge of the art of jazz to emerging artists.

Bartz joins a list of living American jazz masters who have contributed to the development and perpetuation of the jazz legacy and will be honoured in a ceremony at the John F. Kennedy Centre for the Performing Arts on October 16th in Washington, D.C.

A trail blazing saxophonist, he began playing with drummer and band leader Art Blakey. He has worked consistently for 57 years recording over 40 albums as leader and making hundreds of guest appearances. In 2005 he won a Grammy with pianist McCoy Tyner for his work on Tyner’s ‘Illuminations’ album.

During the 1960s he worked with Max Roach and Abbie Lincoln before forming his own concious jazz ensemble called NTU Troop. Some of Bartz 1970s output is well know to younger jazz fans. His funky spiritual groove ‘Celestial Blues’, recorded with vocalist Andy Bey, and soulful crossover anthem ‘Music Is My Sanctuary’ have remained cherished favourites with taste making samplists, club and radio DJs.

Bartz has always had a deep connection with the music of great jazz saxophonists Charlie Parker and John Coltrane, the latter of whom he has recently honoured with two volumes of music named ‘Coltrane Rules: Tao of a Music Warrior.’

The Living Legacy Jazz Award is sponsored by Worldwide investment and management company BNY Mellon.