LEIGH BARKER

Bassist, bandleader, composer (and sometime tuba player) Leigh Barker arrived in Paris in 2016 to set up a new European base for his music, family and diverse projects. Over the past twenty years Barker has appeared at venues and events such as the Sydney Opera House, Jazz at Lincoln Center, ‘Frankie 100’ in New York and the Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Festival, establishing himself worldwide as a first call sideman and award winning band leader. Accompanying artists as diverse as Branford Marsalis, Gordon Webster, the Hot Jazz Alliance and Sarah McKenzie, Leigh found living in Australia was limiting his ability to tour full time.

After some time off to establish himself on the Paris scene, as well as siginificant touring with artists such as Gordon Webster, the Avalon Jazz Band and Duved Dunayevsky, Barker formed a ‘European Edition’ of his long-running band, extending the excellent body of work from his eight full length album releases and more than ten years of touring. Happily he was also able to include on the majority of projects the singer and violinist from his group since 2011, Heather Stewart.

Post pandemic Leigh Barker released the double album PARIS / MELBOURNE in 2021 featuring both french and australian musicians, and restarted touring around France and Europe. in 2025 the brand new album CROSS STREET arrived worldwide, and for the very fist time in VINYL too..

LEIGH BARKER BAND LATEST ALBUM:

At the end of 2022, we finished a wildly successful tour of eastern and southern Australia. It was a real homecoming and the biggest treat in the world to share the stage again with Eamon, Matt, Sam, Don, John, Jason and of course Heather was there from Paris too, delighting everyone and coalescing the group like only she can.

We managed to organise two full days in the studio and made the most of some very special guests Alf Jackson, Grant Arthur and Brennan Hamilton-Smith. The repertoire is a collection of music developed each night during the tour in ensembles ranging from three musicians to the mighty eight-piece ensemble.

All of the tracks were recorded live and in one single take with zero overdubs or editing, with Heather singing live in the same room. Since the very beginning it has always been the goal, mission, dream, concept, vision (whatever you want to call it) to try and cover the widest territory of Jazz that we love whilst avoiding any feeling of pastiche.

Leigh Barker
Seine et Marne Sud, France
March 2025

Click above on the Album IMAGE, OR, 'BUY MUSIC' link to purchase.

Featured in these clips are the titles “I Want Somebody to Love”, “Viper’s Dream” and “Root Hog, or Die”

Released May 10, 2025

All songs copyright © 2025 Leigh Barker
Serial number / catalogue number BMM 2025

Recording information:
All music arranged and/or composed by Leigh Barker
Recorded 7th and 8th December 2022 by Phil Noy at the Cross Street Music Hall in Brunswick, Victoria, Australia
Produced and mixed by Phil Noy and Leigh Barker
Mastered by Robby Hunter at “The Attic” New York
Design by Megan Grant
Photography by Van Weyenbergh (Paris) Greg Stoodley gregstoodley.com (Canberra)
plus studio photography and portraits from the band members

Musicians :

TRACKS 1-3, 6, 12

BAND 1 / DAY 1
Leigh Barker – bass
Heather Stewart – voice and violin
Eamon McNelis – trumpet
Matt Boden – piano
John Scurry – guitar and banjo
Sam Young – drums
Jason Downes – clarinet and alto sax
Grant Arthur – trombone

BAND 2 / DAY 2
Alfred Jackson – drums
Brennan Hamilton-Smith – clarinet and alto sax
Donald Stewart – trombone
*No Donald
**Add Phil Noy – tenor saxophone (CD ONLY!)

QUARTET
Alf drums, Leigh Heather and Matt
TRIO
Alf drums, Leigh and Matt