Thurman Barker
Thurman Barker (born January 8, 1948, Chicago, Illinois, United States)[1] is an American jazz drummer.
Barker's first professional experience was at age sixteen with Mighty Joe Young.[2] Barker took his bachelor's at Empire State College,[3] then studied at the American Conservatory of Music under Harold Jones[4] and at Roosevelt University.[5] He next served as an accompanist for Billy Eckstine, Bette Midler, and Marvin Gaye.[2] He was house percussionist at the Shubert Theater in Chicago for ten years.[2] In 1968, he joined Joseph Jarman's first ensemble, and soon after became a member of the AACM in its early days.[1] Aside from Jarman, he played in the late 1960s and 1970s with Muhal Richard Abrams, Pheeroan akLaff, Anthony Braxton, Billy Bang, Henry Threadgill, and Kalaparusha Maurice McIntyre.[1] He recorded and toured again with Braxton in 1978-80 and with Sam Rivers in 1979–80.[5] In 1985 he played in a trio with Jarman and Rivers, and in 1987 he played marimba with Cecil Taylor.[5]
In the 1990s, Barker concentrated more on composition. His 1994 work Dialogue was premiered at the Merkin Concert Hall in New York City,[2] and he composed Expansions (1999) for the Woodstock Chamber Orchestra.[2] Since 1993 he has taught at Bard College, where he is currently Professor of Music.[3] In 1999, he was guest lecturer at Smolny University in St. Petersburg, Russia.[6]
Discography
As leader
- The Way I Hear It (Uptee, 1999)
- Voyage (Uptee, 1999)
- Time factor (Uptee, 2001)
- Strike Force (Uptee, 2004)
- Rediscovered (Uptee, 2009)
As sideman
With Muhal Richard Abrams
- Levels and Degrees of Light (Delmark, 1967)
- Young at Heart/Wise in Time (Delmark, 1969)
With Billy Bang
- The Fire from Within (Soul Note, 1984)
- Live at Carlos 1 (Soul Note, 1986)
With Anthony Braxton
- Seven Compositions 1978 (Moers Music, 1979)
- Creative Orchestra (Köln) 1978 (hatART, 1978, released 1995)
- Performance (Quartet) 1979 (hatART)
With Joseph Jarman
- Song For (Delmark, 1966)
- As If It Were the Seasons (Delmark, 1968)
With Sam Rivers
With Cecil Taylor
- Live In Bologna (Leo, 1978)
- Live In Vienna (Leo, 1978)
- Olu Iwa (Soul Note, 1986)
other appearances :
- Pheeroan akLaff: Fits Like A Glove (Gramavision, 19839
- Art Ensemble Of Chicago: Art Ensemble 1967-68 (Nessa)
- Jerome Cooper: Outer and Interactions (About Time, 1988)
- Leroy Jenkins : Themes & Improvisations on the Blues (CRI, 1992)
- John Lindberg: Dimension 5 (Black Saint, 1981)
- Maurice McIntyre: Humility in the Light of the Creator (Delmark, 1969)
- Roscoe Mitchell: Roscoe Mitchell (Chief, 1978)
- Butch Morris: Testament - A Conduction Collection (New World, 1988–95)
- Amina Claudine Myers: The Circle of Time (Black Saint, 1983)
- Wadada Leo Smith: Human Rights (Kabell, 1986)
References
- ^ a b c Colin Larkin, ed. (1992). The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 175. ISBN 0-85112-939-0.
- ^ a b c d e "Thurman Barker: Biography". All About Jazz. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
- ^ a b "Thurman Barker: Professor of Music". Bard College. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
- ^ Sager, Jeanne (July 18, 2006). "Thurman Barker Is Ready to Play". Sullivan County Democrat. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
- ^ a b c Feather, Leonard; Gitler, Ira (1999). "Barker, Thurman". The Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 38.
- ^ "About Thurman Barker". Bard College. Retrieved February 28, 2022.