Sensational Sydney-sider Steve Barry returns to Ōtautahi to play a special one-off show for 03 Sessions at The Piano

"…one of Australia’s most inventive and accomplished composer/improvisers."
— Loudmouth Magazine

"...dazzling in his harmonic adventurousness, melodic resourcefulness, switchback rhythmic ideas and non-bombastic sense of drama."
— Sydney Morning Herald

Based in Sydney since relocating from Auckland in 2009 and with deep Cantabrian roots, Dr Steve Barry is a pianist, organist, improviser, composer and educator of jazz and contemporary classical music.

Barry’s recent projects reflect his manifold interests – from a collaboration with Sydney new music group Ensemble Offspring, to a Hammond organ trio to an album of free improvisations with koto player Michiyo Yagi.

Yet his quartet music stems from his background in the grooves, swing, lyricism, forms and joyous, bubbling, fizzy exchanges so unique of the jazz tradition. This show at 03 Sessions will premiere a new suite of original music inspired by travel through Japan, old Westerns, long distance running and the surrealities of 2020.

Barry is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Bell Award for Young Australian Jazz Artist of the Year (2013), 2nd place in the National Jazz Awards (2013), and a BBM Travel Scholarship (2011). He was a finalist in the 2019 APRA Professional Development Awards and a nominee for the 2016 Freedman Fellowship.

Barry's recent release for avant-garde jazz quartet, Blueprints & Vignettes (2018), received a 4-star review in the Sydney Morning Herald and was longlisted for the 14th Australian Music Prize. An album of improvisations in duo with Australian jazz luminary and pianist Judy Bailey (OAM) was released in 2020, and nominated for the Te Kaipuoro Tautito Toa (Best Jazz Artist) at the Aotearoa Music Awards.

Steve Barry – piano & compositions
Jimmy Rainey – tenor saxophone
Brad Grainger – bass
Joe McCallum – drums

03 SESSIONS // Original and improvised music every Thursday

$20 General Admission
$15 03 Members
$15 Students
$10 Student Members

Presale via Humanitix or cash/EFTPOS on the door