Sam Barsh
Encyclopedia
Sam Barsh is an American pianist, keyboardist, and record producer based in New York City
. While he is known primarily for his work in jazz
, he has worked in the genres of R&B, pop
, funk
, and electronic music
.
. Barsh attended New Trier High School
in Winnetka, IL. He graduated New Trier in 1999, in the same class with media personality Julia Allison
. Upon finishing high school, Barsh received a full-tuition scholarship to attend William Paterson University in Wayne, NJ. He graduated from William Paterson in 2003, Magna Cum Laude, with a Bachelors in Jazz Studies.
Since moving to New York City in 2001, Barsh has worked with a diverse group of musical artists, including Cassandra Wilson
, The Brand New Heavies, Bobby McFerrin
, Jeremy Sisto
, Roy Hargrove
, Jeff Parker (guitarist) (of Tortoise (band)
), Robin Eubanks
, and Debbie Friedman
. He appears on over 20 recordings as a pianist, keyboardist, organist and producer.
Barsh's solo project, the Sam Barsh Band, is a mix of jazz, r&b, ambient and electronic music. The band has two albums, the independently released Live!, and I Forgot What You Taught Me on the Razdaz Label.
From 2003-2006 Barsh was a member of the band of bassist Avishai Cohen, with whom he toured the world extensively. Barsh appears on Cohen's albums At Home and Continuo
, and the live album/DVD As Is...Live at the Blue Note. For his work with Cohen, Barsh was praised as being one of “the most freakishly talented, tasteful and fresh-sounding newcomers today.”
In 2009 Barsh co-founded, along with vocalist Jesse Palter, the electronic pop group Jesse Palter and the Alter Ego. The group released the 4-song Limited Edition EP in June 2009.
Barsh has produced recordings by a number of artists, including Vosotros Presents: The Years, which was rated the #6 best R&B album of 2009 by Amazon.com.
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. While he is known primarily for his work in jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
, he has worked in the genres of R&B, pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
, funk
Funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
, and electronic music
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
.
Biography
Barsh was born Samuel Joseph Bar-sheshet in Chicago, IL. At the age 4 his family moved from Chicago to the nearby town of Wilmette, IL. At that time, Barsh began taking piano lessons, and at age 13 began studying jazz piano at Alan Swain studios in the neighboring town of EvanstonEvanston
Evanston may refer to locations:in Australia:* Evanston, South Australiain Canada:* Evanston, Calgary, a neighbourhood in Calgary, Alberta* Evanston, Nova Scotiain the United States:...
. Barsh attended New Trier High School
New Trier High School
New Trier High School is a public four-year high school , with its major campus located in Winnetka, Illinois, USA, and a second campus in Northfield, Illinois, with freshman classes and district administration...
in Winnetka, IL. He graduated New Trier in 1999, in the same class with media personality Julia Allison
Julia Allison
Julia Allison is an American journalist, television commentator, and co-creator of lifecasting portal NonSociety.com. A Georgetown University alumna, Allison is originally from Wilmette, a northern suburb of Chicago....
. Upon finishing high school, Barsh received a full-tuition scholarship to attend William Paterson University in Wayne, NJ. He graduated from William Paterson in 2003, Magna Cum Laude, with a Bachelors in Jazz Studies.
Since moving to New York City in 2001, Barsh has worked with a diverse group of musical artists, including Cassandra Wilson
Cassandra Wilson
Cassandra Wilson is an American jazz musician, vocalist, songwriter, and producer from Jackson, Mississippi. Described by critic Gary Giddins as "a singer blessed with an unmistakable timbre and attack [who has] expanded the playing field" by incorporating country, blues and folk music into her...
, The Brand New Heavies, Bobby McFerrin
Bobby McFerrin
Robert "Bobby" McFerrin, Jr. is an American vocalist and conductor. He is best known for his 1988 hit song "Don't Worry, Be Happy". He is a ten-time Grammy Award winner.-Life:...
, Jeremy Sisto
Jeremy Sisto
Jeremy Merton Sisto is an American actor. Sisto has had recurring roles as Billy Chenowith on the HBO series Six Feet Under and Detective Cyrus Lupo on Law & Order on television and also starred in the films Jesus, Clueless and Thirteen.-Early life:Sisto was born in Grass Valley, California, the...
, Roy Hargrove
Roy Hargrove
Roy Anthony Hargrove is an American jazz trumpeter. He won worldwide notice after winning two Grammy Awards for differing types of music, in 1997, and in 2002...
, Jeff Parker (guitarist) (of Tortoise (band)
Tortoise (band)
Tortoise is an American post-rock band formed in Chicago, Illinois, in 1990.-Music:Tortoise's almost entirely instrumental music defies easy categorization, and the group gained significant attention from their early career. The members have roots in Chicago's fertile music scene, playing in...
), Robin Eubanks
Robin Eubanks
Robin Eubanks is an American jazz and jazz fusion slide trombonist, the brother of guitarist Kevin Eubanks and trumpeter Duane Eubanks.-Biography:...
, and Debbie Friedman
Debbie Friedman
Deborah Lynn "Debbie" Friedman was an American composer and singer of songs with Jewish religious content. She was born in Utica, New York but moved with her family to Minnesota at age 5. She is best known for her setting of “Mi Shebeirach”, the prayer for healing, which is used by hundreds of...
. He appears on over 20 recordings as a pianist, keyboardist, organist and producer.
Barsh's solo project, the Sam Barsh Band, is a mix of jazz, r&b, ambient and electronic music. The band has two albums, the independently released Live!, and I Forgot What You Taught Me on the Razdaz Label.
From 2003-2006 Barsh was a member of the band of bassist Avishai Cohen, with whom he toured the world extensively. Barsh appears on Cohen's albums At Home and Continuo
Continuo (album)
Continuo is a studio album by jazz bassist Avishai Cohen, released in 2006.- Track listing :All tracks by Avishai Cohen# "Nu Nu" – 5:14# "Elli" – 3:57# "One for Mark" – 4:58...
, and the live album/DVD As Is...Live at the Blue Note. For his work with Cohen, Barsh was praised as being one of “the most freakishly talented, tasteful and fresh-sounding newcomers today.”
In 2009 Barsh co-founded, along with vocalist Jesse Palter, the electronic pop group Jesse Palter and the Alter Ego. The group released the 4-song Limited Edition EP in June 2009.
Barsh has produced recordings by a number of artists, including Vosotros Presents: The Years, which was rated the #6 best R&B album of 2009 by Amazon.com.
As Producer
- Vosotros Presents: The Years (Vosotros, 2009)
- Jennifer Lee Snowden In My Own Company (2009)
- Russ Nolan & Kenny Werner Trio With You In Mind (Rhinoceruss, 2008)
As Sideman
- Meilana Gillard Day One (Inner Circle Music, 2009)
- Gene Segal Hypnotic (Innova, 2009)
- Beyondo The Gambler EP (2008)
- Avishai Cohen As Is...Live At the Blue Note (Halfnote/RazDaz, 2007)
- Rick Parker Finding Space (WJF, 2006)
- Avishai Cohen Continuo (Razdaz, 2006)
- Jeff Parker The Relatives (Thrill Jockey, 2005)
- Zach Brock and the Coffee Achievers Chemistry (Secret Fort, 2005)
- Avishai Cohen At Home (Razdaz, 2005)
- Lonnie Plaxico So Alive (Sony/Village, 2004)
- Russ Nolan Two Colors (RN, 2004)
- Zach Brock and the Coffee Achievers (self-titled) (Secret Fort, 2003)