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Barry's mentor, the legendary jazz photographer Ray Avery, referred to his work as "performance portraits". It is that description of his work that most satisfies him.
He takes his images during performances using available light. These conditions allow him to find the honesty, vulnerability, and emotional content he looks for in his portraits.
Barry's journey into the world of photography began in the late sixties when he lived on the upper West side of Manhattan. Fascinated with New York's parks, architecture and landmarks, he spent a great deal of time photographing these subjects. Over time he began to focus more on the street life of the city, capturing images of shop owners, vendors, and street musicians and artists. Working as an actor and musician also gave him access to music and comedy clubs, lounges and nightclubs where he
photographed rehearsals and performances.
After resettling in Los Angeles in 1980, Barry says "I put my camera down for a while. A chance meeting with John and Jeanne Pisano at one of their performances one evening led me to an enclave of the finest jazz musicians to be found anywhere. John Pisano started his Guitar Night soon after our meeting. On a whim, I brought a camera to that first Guitar Night. That was more than eleven years ago and you can count on one hand the Guitar Nights I have since missed." Over the years Barry has photographed the finest and most famous jazz guitarists, along with countless bass players, drummers, horn and reed players, keyboard artists, and of course, the vocalists.
At present Barry serves on the committee for the Milt Hinton Award for Excellence in Jazz Photography and he is also the publisher of the John Pisano Guitar Night Calendar. Currently at work on a photo essay book called The Brotherhood, his photographs have been widely published in newspapers and magazines, including The Los Angeles Times, Just Jazz Guitar, Twentieth Century Guitar and Acoustic Guitar. In the last eight years his photographs have been used to illustrate over sixty CDs for well-known artists such as Kenny Burrell (Lucky So and So), Rosemary Clooney (Sentimental Journey) and Diane Schuur and Maynard Ferguson (Swingin' for Schuur).
In 2008 his work was exhibited at The American Jazz Museum in Kansas City. He has also exhibited recently in the Los Angeles area at Flazh!Alley Studio in San Pedro, The Channel Islands Jazz & Art Festival, and has an ongoing rotating exhibition at Spazio Restaurant & Jazz Club. This solo exhibition at the Brand Library Art Galleries will feature over 120 images and will be the largest exhibition of his work to date in the Los Angeles area.
Photographs by Bob Barry
(L-R) Ernie Andrews; Nancy Wilson; Enzo Todesco
pigment prints, 16" x 20"
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