Groove is at the heart of Pace (pa-chay) Barrett’s playing. This fact has made him one of New York’s first call players. Equally comfortable in the studio and on the stage, he has played electric and acoustic guitar on many of NYC’s best stages.

Born in Philly, guitarist and composer Pace Barrett spent the early part of his life moving with his family. He had a desire to play that showed at a very early age. By the age of five, he was playing drums, and by seven piano and classical violin

When asked how he got started in music Pace states that “music started in me”. His earliest memories are of plunking out melodies on his family’s worn out piano or beating out rhythms on chairs. His first set of drums was purchased after his parents realized that a used drum set was cheaper than new chairs.  By the time he was in his teens he traded in his violin and was playing bass, guitar, piano and beginning to write songs.

Already a Berklee College of Music alumni, Pace next received a scholarship to study at Kripalu, in Lenox MA. Here he met an older fellow traveler who had a measure of success in the music industry, but had become disillusioned with the direction in which he saw his career going. The two became instant friends. Pace spent the next sixty days listening to stories and absorbing musical concepts. It was his new mentor that gave him his first acoustic guitar, and even more importantly, the conceptual foundation that would shape his sound for years to come.

The next experience would prompt him to start his own group. While in rehearsal with Abbey Lincoln, she pulled him aside and told him that he "was jazz, past and present and future" and that he "had all that [he] needed to be great, [he] just had to let it out."

"Mr. Funky Sax". This name aptly describes the musical old-school funky, foot-stomping music of Lil Maceo. His powerful music has made him one of the most sought-after saxophonists in
the industry. This isn’t nickel & dime store this is bona fide unadulterated funk and R&B cleverly crafted by a master musician with hardcore roots in funk, pop, dance, and contemporary jazz. His shows are high energy ultimately compelling audiences to get out of their seats and party.

Lil Maceo has shared the stage with a host of music giants including Prince, Cyndi Lauper, JT Taylor, Maceo Parker, Nick Colionne, Euge Groove, Marcus Johnson, Cyril Neville, Sinbad, and Gavin DeGraw. He has been mesmerizing audiences nationally since 2001. His music received huge acclaim from critics and audiences alike.

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