Sweet Cakes – 2016
Gary Bartz
A happy version of a Jackie McLean song
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Always a top-notch altoist, Gary Bartz worked in the 1960s with Max Roach, Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, and McCoy Tyner, preceding the 1970-71 period when he was part of Miles Davis’ group.
Bartz has led many bands since that time including Ntu Troop in the 1970s, and he has retained his trademark tone and creative style into his seventies and eighties.
Gary Bartz was 76 when he appeared at Blue Note Milano in Italy in 2016, leading a quartet also featuring pianist Barney Mc All, bassist James King, and drummer Francisco Mela.
On Jackie McLean’s “Sweet Cakes,” Bartz takes a fine solo that is almost overshadowed by Mc All’s exuberant spot.
-Scott Yanow
