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Bay Blues & Other Grooves
click photo to check out the new cd" BAY BLUES AND OTHER GROOVES"
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------"I started off playing clubs and bars before I was old enough to drink.I worked plenty of dives and "buckets of blood" before eventually working as an opening act for bb king,muddy waters,sam and dave,johnny winter,mike bloomfield,john mayall, among many others.I was guitarist in the house band at nyc's St.regis hotel and also performed frequently at other nyc venues which included,the Limelight,Dr.generositys,Dan lynch bar,Chicago Blues, and Pops place.Later became house guitarist at the world famous niteclub tramps in nyc, where I was working five nights a week over two years. Performed frequently in the bands of big joe turner,otis rush,louisiana red,charles otis and cousin joe.Over the last several years I have been performing and recording with my Jazz trio and composing original music.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------THUMBS UP ON THIS CD, BAY BLUES AND OTHER GROOVES.The first time I heard MIKE BARNETT play,I knew he had something special.I said to myself,if anything worthwile should come up,I want MIKE on board.I got a call from "DOC" POMUS to put a band together to back the great BIG JOE TURNER.MIKE was in the band along with three other great musicians.When you speak of grooves,this CD grooves all the way.I tip my hat to all the marvelous musicians.I love all the tunes, but two in particular blew me away.CHAMELEON and DANNY BOY.The groove on CHAMELEON is so strong it would make a man with no legs want to do the JAMES BROWN! If MIKE BARNETT should travel abroad to Ireland and play his rendition of Danny Boy,I know he would get the red carpet treatment and be treated like royalty.
CHARLES OTIS
NEW YORK CITY 2007
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Mike Barnett plays music that crosses over between soul jazz and blues. Long a part of the New York City blues circuit, in recent years he has concentrated more on jazz while not discarding his blues heritage.
Joined by Ken Kresge on keyboards (often emulating an organ), drummer Butch Bateman and percussionist Nydia “Liberty” Mata, the guitarist performs a wide ranging set that includes “Chameleon,” “Danny Boy,” Grant Green’s “Iron City” and “Fever” plus four of his own bluesy originals. The other musicians play well but the guitarist is mostly in the spotlight, ranging in style from early George Benson to B.B. King. He not only has the ability to turn everything into the blues (including “Softly As In A Morning Sunrise”) but a knack for playing chorus after chorus without repeating himself.
This tasteful, swinging and grooving set is available from www.michaelsmusic.com.
SCOTT YANOW/LA JAZZ SCENE- MAY 2009---
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GOOD TIMES MAGAZINE REVIEW
MIKE BARNETT
BAY BLUES AND OTHER GROOVES
Mike Barnett is a veteran jazz and blues guitarist who has performed throughout Long Island for more than two decades.He is also the owner and proprietor of Michaels Music, a popular music store in Freeport N.Y.
One would assume since such chestnuts as Herbie Hancock's "Chamelion"and the famous Irish song"Danny Boy"are included here,would be just a typical cover album from an unfocused artist but think again;Barnett is clearly one of the most acomplished guitarists in Long Island music history, and this diverse tasty album gives him a chance to shine in a variety of genres and styles.Ably backed by keyboardist Ken Kreske,drummer Butch Bateman,and percussionist Nydia Mata,Barnett rolls from rock to blues to swing to cool jazz without missing a beat.Highlights include the original songs" My Sweet Linda,and Blues for Little Buster"(the album is dedicated to one of the area's legends "lLittle Buster Forehand of Little Buster and the Soul Brothers),great takes on Hancock's tune and the unlikely cover of "Softly as in a Morning Sunrise"an Oscar Hammerstein classic.This is one of those rare area releases where there isn't a bad note on the entire album;Barnett can obviously play just about anything,and unlike most guitarists in this area,taste and skill rule the roost.His smooth,expert playing is on a par with virtually any major label jazz guitarist.
REPRINTED FROM GOOD TIMES MAGAZINE APRIL11-MAY25 2009
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At age 8 Mike Barnett picked up a trumpet and started making music. He hasn't stopped since. Mike soon abandoned his first musical mistress for his long-time main squeeze, the guitar. Legend has it that Mike is a bit of a musical wizard; he is proprietor of Michael's Music, a true musical wonderland in Freeport, New York, where it is told, he can play licks of any instrument in the house. For years Mike paid his musical dues by playing the Blues with Big Joe Turner, Otis Rush, Louisiana Red, Charles Honey Boy Otis, Little Buster,and many others. Mike established an enviable reputation on the New York City blues circuit, performing nightly at Tramps and other venues. Now Mike has turned his attention to jazz guitar, and that's what this recording is all about. This disc combines cuts from two very different sessions and represents Mike's foray into Jazzdom. One set is done in the studio as a duet with the venerable guitarist Lou Messana and produces a cascading swirl of notes and phrases somehow reminiscent of a charlotte russe. The remaining cuts are from a live performance featuring Bernie Thompson on the Hammond B3 and Barry Brenner on Drums. These tracks have a flinty immediacy redolent of smoke and too many twelve-o-cocktails. The overall effect is exciting, fresh and experimental, just as a trip into jazz consciousness should be.
Robert Allen-
jazz psychology magazine dec.1999......
** Order Main Squeeze ($10.95 + $3.00 s/h)
or inquire about booking please contact:
Mike Barnett
Michael's Music
29 west sunrise highway
freeport n.y 11520
516 379 4111
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PLEASE Check Out my instruments for sale at:
http://stores.ebay.com/Michaels-Music or MICHAELSMUSIC.COM
Order Main Squeeze ($10.95 + $3.00 s/h)
or inquire about booking please contact:
Mike Barnett
Michael's Music
29 west sunrise highway
freeport n.y 11520
516 379 4111
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Hello MB Rider! Mike, how are you doing? things are well here in other side of the pond, I added some new tunes - please check out 'em! your pal, -mika
Stopping by to say hello and ask you what is life without passion , our new rockumentary tells you about our passion , we hope you can find the time to watch the
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Thank you for your friendship. Please check out the my flyer for the great lineup of musicians I’m going to be working with at the Iridium Jazz Club on June 16th. I am so excited! Peace and love, Pat Holley
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Thanks for the ADD and your kind words. Personally......I think you're the best damn Blues musician around! Hope to contact you for the 2nd Annual Barrier Beach Blues & Arts Festival. This year, it's "Ladies Sing The Blues"! Luv Ya......J-Bird Entertainment, Inc.
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