Gary Bartz, a Baltimore native, moved to New York City in 1958 to study at the Juilliard School. Bartz was able to sneak in to Birdland and other top clubs throughout the night and saw Miles Davis, Ornette Coleman, Thelonius Monk and Ornette Coleman. Bartz was quickly acclaimed as the best alto saxophonist after Cannonball Adderley in the 1960s. He joined the Max Roach/Abbey Lincoln Group, and the Charles Mingus Jazz Workshop. After meeting the group at his parents nightclub, Bartz signed up for Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers in 1965 and recorded Soulfinger. McCoy Tyner was also working with Bartz, who gained a deeper appreciation for John Coltrane’s influence. Miles Davis called Bartz in 1970 to ask him to join his band at the Isle of Wight Festival. Bartz formed Ntu Troop in the same year. Ntu was named after the Bantu word meaning “unity” in the Bantu language. Ntu’s albums include I’ve Known Rivers, Other Bodies and Music is My Sanctuary, Love Affair and Another Earth. Bartz has released more than 40 solo albums, and over 200 guest artists. Recent releases include Coltrane Rules, Tao of a Music Warrior and Live at the Jazz Standard Volume 1 u0026 Volume 2 and several other albums on his own label OYO. He continues to perform in cities like Tokyo and Los Angeles with McCoy Tyner. From www.oberlin.edu
