Artist Name: Gary Bartz Artist Biography: Born September 26, 1940 in Baltimore, Maryland, alto and soprano saxophonist Gary Bartz burst upon the scene in the mid-´60s after studying at the Julliard School of Music and Peabody Conservatory. Bartz worked as a sideman with such high-profile and boundary-pushing musicians as Max Roach (´64), Art Blakey (´65), McCoy Tyner (´68-´76), and Miles David (´70-´71). Meanwhile, he formed his own group, Ntu Troop, in 1967. Bartz recorded regularly as a leader for Prestige and Milestone, but after the landmark 1973 recording I´ve Known Rivers and Other Bodies his recordings became more disco-funk and commercially oriented. In 1987, Bartz re-emerged on the scene, combining his Parker roots with post-bop influences to become one of the ´90s strongest players. In the past decade he has recorded regularly, albums for Atlantic, Candid, Prestige and Verve. E-mail:   Web Site: