Diego Barber

Diego Barber
Background information
Born	(1949-12-31)December 31, 1949 Lanzarote, Canary Islands, Spain
Genres	Jazz, classical
Occupation(s)	Musician
Instruments	Guitar
Labels	Sunnyside, Origin

Diego Barber (Lanzarote, Canary Islands, Spain) is a classical and jazz guitarist. Throughout his career, Barber's discography has been featured in music charts and "best record of the year" lists by National Public Radio,^[1] Chicago Tribune and Los Angeles Times. He has received reviews from magazines published by All About Jazz,^[2] Billboard,^[3] JazzTimes and Down Beat,^[4] among others. Diego has recorded albums for Sunnyside Records^[5] and Origin Records.^[6]

Early life

Barber was born into a family of musicians.^[7] He studied at the Lanzarote Conservatory of Music^[8] with Miguel Ángel Calzadilla and took private lessons with Toñin Corújo. Years later, he enrolled at the Arturo Soria Conservatory in Madrid. He met José Ramón García, who taught him harmony, analysis, and composition.

He received a degree in classical guitar from the Salamanca Higher Conservatory of Music. During his time at Salamanca, he took lessons from Costas Cotsiolis for one year in Atenas and from Ricardo Gallén.^[9]

Barber attended the Mozarteum University of Salzburg where he completed his postgraduate studies with Marco Tamayo. He won first prize in the Leo Brouwer Guitar Festival and Competition in Spain in 2003, as well as the first prize in a competition organized by the Miami Classical Guitar Society.^[10]

Personal life

Barber lives in New York City where he has recorded^[11] the albums Calima,^[12] The Choice,^[13] and Tales in cooperation with Mark Turner, Jeff Ballard, Larry Grenadier, Ari Hoenig, Johannes Weidenmüller, and Seamus Blake, all recordings were released on Sunnyside Records. His duo album with pianist Craig Taborn, Tales, was mentioned in several top ten charts and Best-of-2014 lists such as iTunes (awarded with 4 stars),^[14] Down Beat (4 of 5 stars),^[15] The New York City Jazz Record,^[16] Baltimore City Paper^[17] and The New York Village Voice.^[18] The album 411, a quintet recording from 2011 co-led by Hugo Ciprés was released on Origin Records in 2013.

Reviews

He has received reviews from magazines such as All About Jazz, Billboard, JazzTimes and Downbeat, among others

"..known for the grandeur and majesty of his playing. Diego Barber's impressive dynamics and exquisiteness of expression are deeply rooted in extraordinary technique".^[19]—All About Jazz.

"Barber's playing is beautiful, his fingers fly lightly over the fretboard".^[20]—Down Beat Magazine.

"Diego Barber is a portent of things to come, and the beginnings of a bright career from one who has all the potential to be a truly original voice in modern music".^[21]—Michael G. Nastos, Billboard.

"Barber approaches the guitar with precision and fluidity - and with great sensitivity... He's adept at coaxing melodies embedded with an air of mystery and mischief."—JazzTimes.

"Barber and Taborn offer up a sprawling epic in four parts, music with a cerebral punch via the intricacy of the patterns of their interplay, while also forging a mainline straight to the heart via the sheer beauty of the music presented. One of the best things I’ve heard all year. Pick of the Week." ^[22]—Dave Sumner.

Discography

• 2009: Calima (Sunnyside)
• 2011: The Choice (Sunnyside)
• 2013: 411 (Origin)
• 2013: Tales (Sunnyside)

References