Stuart Barker Quintet

From arriving slightly behind schedule on our first day in the studios, Paul made us feel very comfortable and emphasised there was no rush to beat away. This relaxed but motivated and comfortable atmosphere only helped the band to produce an album of work which exceeded our own musical expectations, in our own playing but even more so in the results that Paul produced from the desk from initial set up to the finished master.

Paul’s knowledge of recording a Jazz quintet exceeded that of any engineer is have worked with before and the warmth and depth of the recording ensures he will be the first port of call for our next recording. Paul was enthusiastic and patient from the start to finish and always listened to our views and produced a sound that exceeded our expectations.

The Stuart Barker quintet is a modern jazz movement, who mix influences from the whole of jazz and beyond. The band led by bass player and arranger Stuart Barker consists of five members all still in their teens who have a range of different musical character and sound. From alto saxophonist James Penny’s aggresive fusion ripping through, guitarist Rob Luft’s intriquite influence of modern guitarists such as Kurt Rosenwinkle, Keyboard player David Kaye’s phenomenal chord and solo work adding a range of colours, Drummer Mark Hale’s knowledge of the musical backgrounds make from an extremly intelligent and musical rhythmic bassis, while Stuart Barker lays down the low frequencies with a very new era idea of the double bass’s role within a jazz group.