Saxophonist, Carson Barnes, hits the stage at BLU Jazz, Saturday April 6th, with his jazz quartet!
Carson grew up in a musical family and began playing the clarinet at the age of twelve. At nineteen, he learned to play the flute and the tenor saxophone while studying at the Community School of Music in San Francisco and at San Barnes studied with a host of west coast jazz musicians including Francisco State University, Gabrielle Stern, Bishop Norman Williams, Julius Ellerbee and others.
He has played professionally with Kwane and the Kwanditos, a Latin band that played the music of Tito Puente and the Mongo Santamaria. Kwane and the Kwanditos has played on the same bill as Tower of Power and the Doobie Brothers at the Fillmore West Auditorium and at other venuesaround San Francisco, CA and Los Angeles, CA.
Barnes began leading his own band and working with popular jazz musicians including John Moseley (trumpet), James Spaulding (alto sax), Dick Griffin (trombone), Freddy Watts (drums), and various other recording artists. Since moving back to the Midwest, Barnes continues to play the tenor saxophone and compose around Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York with accomplished musicians including John Mosley, who toured and recorded with vibraphonist Roy Ayers. Carson has also collaborated with pianist and organist Eddie Baccus of Cleveland, who was an important part of the rhythm section for the late Rahsaan Roland Kirk.
Carson presently leads The Carson Barnes Quartet, who will perform a soulful helping of jazz standards and an array of funky down-home blues selections, intermingled with a few spicy Latin compositions.