The Gateway’s Custin Jazz Series will bring in the New Year with the sophisticated jazz and soulful blues of Barbara Martin and Liz Barnes. Liz and Barbara have each made significant names for themselves in more than 20 years of composing, touring, recording and teaching. In 2012, they decided to meld their considerable talents to partner as Liz Barnes & Barbara Martin.
“We love gigs where we can play off each other’s energetic stage presence and showcase our original work,” says Barbara about working with Liz. “We believe our audiences thoroughly enjoy the way we mix playfulness with skillful musicianship. And it’s great fun for us.” They will be back by Tom Harbeck on bass and guitar. The January 12 performance is at 8 pm. WTA’s Gateway is at 329 West Main in downtown Waynesboro.
Jazz pianist Liz Barnes has been teaching and performing for 20 years. She quickly made a name for herself in the 80’s performing with well-known regional acts and opening for acclaimed blues artists such as Anson Funderburgh and Sam Meyers, the Fabulous Thunderbirds, Delbert McClinton, the Nighthawks and Sapphire, just to name a few. While Liz’s piano style is firmly rooted in the blues, it reflects the whole jazz tradition from bebop to modernism.
Barbara Martin is a musician known for being an accomplished vocal interpreter of the great jazz and blues standards yet brave enough to stretch the boundaries of the female jazz and blues singer stereotype. Chanteuse, girl-next-door and perceptive poet all rolled into one, the Washington Post calls Barbara Martin’s music “… as American in style as it is universal in emotional intelligence.” In describing Barbara’s evolution, Jim Newsom in Portfolio Magazine stated: Martin’s “voice has become lilting and uplifting, giving off an aura of happiness, similar in register and tone to that of Ella Fitzgerald. It’s a joy to hear.”
Bassist and guitarist Tom Harbeck has performed on the East coast for over 40 years. He has played with many great musicians throughout his career including Emily Remler, Hod O’Brien, Royce Campell, Carter Beauford, Tim Reynolds, Vince Lewis, and John D’earth. He brings his considerable talents and experience to the Barnes and Martin duo.
The Custin Jazz Series is made possible by a grant from the GE Foundation and a local donor.
Advanced tickets are $10 and may be purchased online (www.wtagateway.com) or by calling the box office (540-943-9999). Tickets are also available at the box office on the night of performance for $12.
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