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Release: September 30th 2020
Release: March 29th, 2015
Award-winning jazz bassist Barry Stephenson returns to the spotlight with The Iconoclast, his followup to 2015’s Basic Truths. What does it mean to be an “iconoclast” in 2020? Rather than smash idols, Stephenson instead strives to break down boundaries with his music, creating an “accessible freedom” that invites the listener to reconsider preconceived notions of what a contemporary jazz album “should” be.
“[O]ne of the most sought-after bassists on the scene today. His powerful sound, swinging concept and soulful approach to music come through in every note he plays, and I’m certain that he will continue to be one of the most important voices on his instrument for many years to come.”
—Mark Whitfield
“It’s like if Duke Ellington met Ornette Coleman. The melodies throughout the album complement each other in a way that creates a powerful thread of integrity and continuity between them.”
—Jason Moran
Stephenson’s pen is responsible for all of the material on the disc that, following a short intro, dives into his exuberant “Battle of Apollo and Dionysus.” In this case, the competitive engagement is between saxophonists Ricardo Pascal and Joe Goldberg backed by a small, capable unit of brass. Pianist Chris Pattishall, who attended Florida State and impresses throughout the CD, boasts flying fingers on an accelerated tune that, with its certain old school flair, should please jazz lovers.
Good programming enhances the album, making it sound like a well thought out radio show. From the large ensemble it moves to a trio format on “Triple Bypass,” on which Stephenson’s warm and inventive basslines can be fully appreciated. A funky edge, accented by his bass, Ross’ drums and Goldberg’s baritone, is given to the rather lengthily, yet intriguing titled “Message from Abrasive Negro: It Is What It is (Y’all Ain’t Ready).”
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Barry Stephenson
New York City-based acoustic/electric bassist and composer Barry Stephenson has been acclaimed as “one of the most sought-after bassists on the scene today.” Released in 2020, Barry’s The Iconoclast was nominated for the NAACP Image Award® for Outstanding Jazz Album (Instrumental), and was notably the only independently-produced album in a category that included work by Jon Batiste, George Burton, Christian Sands, and Immanuel Wilkins. The Iconoclast was also named by Offbeat magazine as one of the Top 50 Albums of 2020.
As with his debut album, 2015’s Basic Truths, The Iconoclast was entirely original music (with the exception of a new arrangement of Thelonious Monk’s “Bemsha Swing”) — a showcase of Barry’s work as a composer that has earned him the Ernest O. and Shirley N. Svenson Jazz Composition Award, and the ASCAP Foundation’s Louis Armstrong Award. Barry has also composed for film, most recently the score for the award-winning short, “Truth, Inc.”
Barry has performed and toured extensively with TV personality, musician, and bandleader Jon Batiste and Stay Human, including regular appearances on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and performances at **a variety of festivals, including the Monterey, Montreaux, Montreal, Newport, North Sea, Umbria, and Playboy Jazz festivals; he has also performed at Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza. Barry has been featured on recent episodes of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and Godfather of Harlem.
Barry has performed with many internationally-recognized jazz, blues, and soul artists, including Nicholas Payton, David Sanborn, Seal, the late Freddie Cole, Diane Schuur, Marc Cary, Jamison Ross, Sullivan Fortner, Jazzmeia Horn, Herlin Riley, the late Henry Butler, Mark Whitfield, Tim Warfield, Russell Gunn, Christian Sands, Cyrille Aimee, Etienne Charles, Marcus Printup, Davell Crawford, Rodney Green, and Theo Croker.
In addition to his work as a musician, Barry currently serves as one of three elected Artist-Owner Representatives on the board of the independent, cooperative music platform Ampled, which Salon called “a punk-inspired collective [beating] the streaming giants at their own game.” Furthermore, Barry is a founding member of the BAMF Collective, which creates sustainable systems for musicians to get started in their careers.
Barry is currently preparing to tour in the fall of 2021 to promote The Iconoclast, and will be making special international appearances with other artists while continuing to produce new music.
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photography: lauren desberg
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