Saxophonist, educator and record label head Rahsaan Barber has been a mainstay in Nashville jazz circles for many years. Though he’s currently working as a professor at The University of North Carolina, he still maintains his local label Jazz Music City. Now he’s returning to town this weekend to spotlight his new LP “Six Words,” which features both his sextet Everyday Magic and a slate of all original compositions. He’ll be appearing at the Nashville Jazz Workshop’s Jazz Cave October 27 in a special album release concert.
Barber has appeared and/or collaborated with a host of music greats. These include Christian McBride, Brian Blade, the Temptations, Delfeayo Marsalis, the Spanish Harlem Orchestra, Duffy Jackson, Winard Harper, Kirk Franklin, Meghan Trainor and the Wooten Brothers. He’s also been a headliner on many prestigious stages including The Ryman, The Village Vanguard, Birdland, Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center, the Montreux Jazz Festival, and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture.
In addition to his group Everyday Magic, Barber is also co-leader of the groundbreaking Nashville-based Latin-jazz septet El Movimiento. Some past releases include “Mosaic,” a double-disc collection of original works released in April of 2021, featuring trumpeter Nathan Warner and trombonist Roland Barber, histwin brother. Some other critically acclaimed LPs are “The Music In The Night” (2017) and “Everyday Magic,” (2011) both released on the Jazz Music City label. Barber also founded The Nashville Salsa Machine in 2016, a twelve-member ensemble featuring Music City’s most celebrated Latin music performers. He remains an in-demand saxophonist for recording sessions and touring work, most recently completing a year-long tour with Kelly Clarkson and multiple tours with Lauren Daigle.
Barber’s educational credentials are equally extensive. He’s taught for over a decade. He began his collegiate teaching career at Belmont University. He spent six years there as an instructor of jazz and classical saxophone, jazz ensembles, and commercial music styles. He’s given masterclasses and concerts at numerous colleges and universities, including the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, the University of Memphis, Lipscomb University, UNC-Pembroke, UNC-Wilmington, Indiana University, The University of Wisconsin (OshKosh), the University of Evansville, and many more. Before relocating to North Carolina, Barber served as Vice-President of the Tennessee Jazz and Blues Society, and as a board member for the Nashville Jazz Workshop’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion panel.
(A release party of Rahsaan Barber and Everyday Magic’s new LP “Six Words” Sunday, October 27 at the Nashville Jazz Workshop, 1012 Buchanan Street. Tickets are $35. The concert begins at 7:30).
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