Person

Barth, Bruce

1958-

Bruce David Barth was born on September 7, 1958, in Pasadena, California.

He is an American jazz pianist, composer, and producer. He began playing the piano at around the age of five. From 1978 to 1980, he took private jazz lessons from pianist Norman Simmons. He studied at the New England Conservatory of Music in the early 1980s, where he learned under Jaki Byard and George Russell. Barth moved to New York in 1988 and participated in groups led by Stanley Turrentine from 1989 to 1990 and Terence Blanchard from 1990 to 1994. His first album as a leader, "In Focus," was released by Enja Records and featured jazz standards. The follow-up album, "Morning Call," was released by Enja and primarily consisted of Barth's original compositions. Since 1993, he has led his own small groups and worked as a freelance pianist and arranger. Additionally, he was on the teaching faculty at Berklee College of Music from 1985 to 1988 and at Long Island University starting in 1990. Barth has also served as a record producer, including work with vocalist Carla Cook.