Steve Barta's trio with Ronnie Shaw (dms) Kim Stone (bs) perform Steve orchestral arrangements with players from the Denver Symphony Orchestra.

The Christmas Waltz

Alseep in the Sweet Light

Steve Barta's new arrangement of Claude Bolling's Irlandaise from Steve new Symphonic Arrangement; Suite for Flute and Jazz Piano recording.

Irlandaise

Steve Barta's "Carinho", with Hubert Laws (flt) Dori Caymmi (gtr & vocals) Steve Barta (pno) Mike Shapiro (dms) Jerry Watts (bs)

Carinho

There are few pieces of music written that can lay claim to being part of two completely different genres of music.  Such is the case with Claude Bolling’s Suite for Flute and Jazz Piano.

Since its release in 1975, this work has become a Classic. After its initial release in 1975, Bolling’s Suite enjoyed a ride on the Bill Board charts for a record breaking 530 weeks and literally helped coin the musical term, Crossover in the process.   Appealing to people the world over, Flutist Jean-Pierre Rampal, Pianist Claude Bolling, Bassist Max Hediguer and drummer Marcel Sabiani cut new ground with this fusion of classically influenced Jazz music and Jazz influenced classical music.  As it seems is often the case, critics from both sides of each genre took some cutting stabs at this new work – but no matter what the critics said, the masses simply loved it.

With Mr. Bolling’s approval, American Composer / Arranger Steve Barta set out to rearrange and re-introduce this masterpiece to the world once again – but with quite a different approach.  Mr. Barta has taken the original work and arranged this for jazz quartet, string quartet and orchestra. Here, you will hear Steve Barta’s  interpretation of Bolling’s Suite in a whole new light, as he brings together the best soloists in the jazz and classical worlds to present his new interpretation. 

Barta states, “I remember pianist Jeffrey Biegel and I got together sometime in 2008. He had a concert with the orchestra in town, and he was running through some repertoire in my home.  At dinner, we were discussing both jazz and classical music, and naturally Bolling’s Suite came up in the conversation.  It was like our thoughts were tracking the very same thing at the same time. I had been considering doing an arrangement of the Suite for orchestra for quite some time, and Jeff had been holding the same thought in his mind – thinking of how an arrangement for this with orchestra might come together.  Over a tasty Pasta and a fair red vino, the idea to arrange this for orchestra simply clicked .”

For Steve Barta, the correct personal to interpret the Suite was essential.  Master flutist Hubert Laws was simply the only choice for Barta: “Hubert is the rare person who has the capacity to walk in both the classical and jazz worlds”, states Barta.   Here you will find Mr. Law’s interpretation of the Suite is perfection.  Jeffrey Biegel is a prodigy talent that is so appealing, not only because of his brilliant abilities at the piano, he likes to take musical risks – step out into new areas of music and further his abilities as an artist.  Steve says, Jeff’s interpretation of Bolling’s piece is masterful.”  Brazilian drummer and co-producer Michael Shapiro brought to the session a payment of homage to the original arrangement, while at the same time putting his own stamp on this fusion of classical and jazz as only Michael Shapiro can do. 

Bassist Mike Valerio is yet another of the ensemble who holds the capacity to walk in the worlds of classical and jazz as well. Working with both orchestras and jazz ensembles, Valerio has his own sound and his own style, which fit perfectly into the jazz quartet. “I can’t imagine a better group of four people for the jazz quartet”, says Steve Barta.

Steve Barta masterfully weaves string quartet, jazz quartet and orchestra into what Claude Bolling himself calls, “a modern and true arrangement”, giving Barta and the crew, “A Thousand Bravos!”

-Pierre Fornier

"Steve Barta​'s rethinking of Bolling's Suite for Flute and Jazz Piano Trio is an important event in jazz and one that is long overdue."

C. Michael Bailey ~ AllAboutJazz.com

01 Baroque Blue

03 Javanese

There are few pieces of music written that can lay claim to being part of two completely different genres of music. Such is the case with Claude Bolling’s Suite for Flute and Jazz Piano.

Since its release in 1975, this work has become a Classic. After its initial release in 1975, Bolling’s Suite enjoyed a ride on the Bill Board charts for a record breaking 530 weeks and literally helped coin the musical term, Crossover in the process. Appealing to people the world over, Flutist Jean-Pierre Rampal, Pianist Claude Bolling, Bassist Max Hediguer and drummer Marcel Sabiani cut new ground with this fusion of classically influenced Jazz music and Jazz influenced classical music. As it seems is often the case, critics from both sides of each genre took some cutting stabs at this new work – but no matter what the critics said, the masses simply loved it.

With Mr. Bolling’s approval, American Composer / Arranger Steve Barta set out to rearrange and re-introduce this masterpiece to the world once again – but with quite a different approach. Mr. Barta has taken the original work and arranged this for jazz quartet, string quartet and orchestra. Here, you will hear Steve Barta’s interpretation of Bolling’s Suite in a whole new light, as he brings together the best soloists in the jazz and classical worlds to present his new interpretation.

Barta states, “I remember pianist Jeffrey Biegel and I got together sometime in 2008. He had a concert with the orchestra in town, and he was running through some repertoire in my home. At dinner, we were discussing both jazz and classical music, and naturally Bolling’s Suite came up in the conversation. It was like our thoughts were tracking the very same thing at the same time. I had been considering doing an arrangement of the Suite for orchestra for quite some time, and Jeff had been holding the same thought in his mind – thinking of how an arrangement for this with orchestra might come together. Over a tasty Pasta and a fair red vino, the idea to arrange this for orchestra simply clicked .”

For Steve Barta, the correct personal to interpret the Suite was essential. Master flutist Hubert Laws was simply the only choice for Barta: “Hubert is the rare person who has the capacity to walk in both the classical and jazz worlds”, states Barta. Here you will find Mr. Law’s interpretation of the Suite is perfection. Jeffrey Biegel is a prodigy talent that is so appealing, not only because of his brilliant abilities at the piano, he likes to take musical risks – step out into new areas of music and further his abilities as an artist. Steve says, Jeff’s interpretation of Bolling’s piece is masterful.” Brazilian drummer and co-producer Michael Shapiro brought to the session a payment of homage to the original arrangement, while at the same time putting his own stamp on this fusion of classical and jazz as only Michael Shapiro can do.

Bassist Mike Valerio is yet another of the ensemble who holds the capacity to walk in the worlds of classical and jazz as well. Working with both orchestras and jazz ensembles, Valerio has his own sound and his own style, which fit perfectly into the jazz quartet. “I can’t imagine a better group of four people for the jazz quartet”, says Steve Barta.

Steve Barta masterfully weaves string quartet, jazz quartet and orchestra into what Claude Bolling himself calls, “a modern and true arrangement”, giving Barta and the crew, “A Thousand Bravos!”

-Pierre Fornier

"Steve Barta​'s rethinking of Bolling's Suite for Flute and Jazz Piano Trio is an important event in jazz and one that is long overdue."

C. Michael Bailey ~ AllAboutJazz.com

04 Fugace

Steve's arrangement for string orchestra of The First Noel - Strings from the Colorado Orchestra

14 The First Noel

Frank Loesser's beautiful classic, "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?" the way I hear it.....

06 What Are You Doing New Year's Eve-

A classic featuring the wonderful Paul Nagem on Flute, along with Russell Bizzett, Drums - Kim Stone, Bass - Steve Barta Piano & arrangement

01 Caroling, Caroling

Featuring Steve Barta, Piano - Kim Stone, Bass - Ronnie Shaw, Drums, with string orchestra. Arrangement: Steve Barta

12 My Favorite Things

Steve's solo piano version of this classic.

11 Auld Lange Syne

Radio interview with Hubert Laws about the new recording: Symphonic Arrangement: Suite for Flute and Jazz Piano

Hubert Laws Symphonic Suite For Flute AR  (1)

Dreamscapes, from my Another Life Brazil CD with Dori Caymmi, Hubert Laws, Paulinho DaCosta and Herbie Mann

Dreamscapes

Steve is a music educator with over 30 years of experience teaching intermediate to advanced students, educators and professional musicians. Special areas of instruction for private students, clinics and Master Classes are Music Interpretation, Improvisation, Arranging and Composition.

He also teaches private students from his studio in Colorado Springs, Colorado and also offers online studies via Skype. Steve authored The Source, a book widely used by teachers and university programs worldwide. Published by Hal Leonard, with a foreword by Dr. Billy Taylor, and enthusiastic endorsements by Oscar Peterson, Dave Brubeck, Clark Terry and Lionel Hampton, The Source has become the standard scale/chord reference book in music education. Recently, the Source was revised and re-released in a 2nd edition to include the classical music market. Endorsements from the classical world include Rebecca Penneys (Eastman School of Music), classical pianists Jeffrey Biegel and John Bayless, and Composer/Conductor David Amram.

Steve has released four books of his original compositions and arrangements, and arranged several books for Hal Leonard, most notably The Beatles songbook.
ABOUT STEVE

Pianist Steve Barta is a Recording Artist and Composer, whose contribution to the world of music includes 15 Recordings that reflect his many influences, particularly Brazilian, Jazz and Classical.

Steve teamed up with Jazz legend Herbie Mann, and a great cast of players to record the Brazilian jazz Blue River. Steve recorded Another Life Brazil with legendary jazz & latin greats Hubert Laws, Herbie Mann, Dori Caymmi, and Paulinho da Costa. Both recordings are Steve's original compositions.

Reflecting his love of American jazz standards, Steve arranged some of the most well loved songs by Cole Porter, Duke Ellington, George Shearing, Michel Legrand and Irving Berlin. Steve’s fresh, inventive arrangements in UnStandards and Encore UnStandards bring these wonderful songs back to their rightful place in your playlist.

These "studio live" recordings capture the wonderfully warm, live and “in the moment conversations” between the players.

While on tour in Eastern Europe, Steve recorded A Midwest Dream with symphony orchestra for the classically influenced recording Moment in Movement.

Steve's well loved recordings of holiday arrangements range from the elegant solo piano Noel to The Twelve Days of Christmas with jazz trio and string orchestra. These works capture the magic and majesty of the holiday season. Steve teamed up with jazz harpist Deborah Henson Conant to record Christmas Around the World, a collection of well loved songs from around the world.

Steve Barta

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