Joe LaBarbera Last updated March 20, 2025 American jazz drummer and composer (born 1948)
Joe LaBarbera
LaBarbera performs at the International Jazz Festival of Punta del Este in 2015.
Birth name Joseph James LaBarbera Born (1948-02-22 ) February 22, 1948 (age 77) Mount Morris, New York , U.S.Genres Jazz Occupation Musician Instrument Drums Years active 1970–present
Musical artist
Joseph James LaBarbera (born February 22, 1948) is an American jazz drummer and composer. He is best known for his recordings and live performances with the trio of pianist Bill Evans in the final years of Evans's career. [ 1] His older brothers are saxophonist Pat LaBarbera and trumpeter John LaBarbera . [ 2]
Career He grew up in Mount Morris, New York . His first drum teacher was his father. For two years in the late 1960s he attended Berklee College of Music , then went on tour with singer Frankie Randall . [ 3] After Berklee he spent two years with the US Army band at Fort Dix , New Jersey. He began his professional career playing with Woody Herman and the Thundering Herd. [ 4] [ 2]
His reputation grew in the 1970s when he spent four years recording and touring with Chuck Mangione . He also worked as a sideman for Bob Brookmeyer , Jim Hall , Art Farmer , Art Pepper , John Scofield , Toots Thielemans , and Phil Woods . [ 3] [ 4] In 1979 he was a member of the Bill Evans trio, then spent much of the 1980s and early 1990s with Tony Bennett . [ 3] [ 2] He was in a quartet with his brother Pat and in a trio with Hein van de Geyn and John Abercrombie . He has taught at the California Institute of the Arts and the Bud Shank Jazz Workshop. [ 3]
Discography LaBarbera in 1978 As leader The Joe La Barbera Quintet Live (Jazz Compass, 2001)Mark Time (Jazz Compass, 2003)Love Locked Out (2003), with Patti Wicks and Keter Betts Native Land (Jazz Compass, 2006)Silver Streams (Jazz Compass, 2012) [ 5] As sideman With Tony Bennett
1986 The Art of Excellence 1987 Bennett/Berlin 1990 Astoria: Portrait of the Artist 1992 Perfectly Frank 2007 Sings the Ultimate American Songbook Vol. 1 [ 6] With Rosemary Clooney
With Bill Cunliffe
1993 A Paul Simon Songbook 1995 Bill in Brazil 2001 Live at Bernie's 2002 Bill Cunliffe Sextet: Live at Rocco 2003 How My Heart Sings [ 6] With Bill Evans
1979 Live at the Balboa Jazz Club, Vol. 1 1979 Live at the Balboa Jazz Club, Vol. 2 1979 Live at the Balboa Jazz Club, Vol. 3 1979 Live at the Balboa Jazz Club, Vol. 4 1979 Live at the Balboa Jazz Club, Vol. 5 1979 Live in Buenos Aires, 1979 1979 We Will Meet Again 1980 Letter to Evan 1980 Turn Out the Stars 1983 The Paris Concert: Edition 1 1983 The Paris Concert: Edition 2 1996 His Last Concert in Germany 1996 The Brilliant 1996 Turn Out the Stars: Final Village Vanguard Recordings 2000 The Last Waltz 2005 Live in Rome 1979 [ 6] With John LaBarbera
2003 On the Wild Side (Jazz Compass) 2005 Fantazm (Jazz Compass) 2013 Caravan (Jazz Compass) [ 6] With Pat LaBarbera
1976 Pass It On 1993 JMOG (Jazz Men on the Go) 2003 Deep in a Dream 2005 Crossing the Line [ 6] With Chuck Mangione
1973 Land of Make Believe 1975 Bellavia 1975 Chase the Clouds Away [ 6] With Bud Shank
1996 Plays the Music of Bill Evans 1999 After You Jeru 2000 Silver Storm 2002 On the Trail 2009 Fascinating Rhythms [ 6] With Kim Richmond
1994 Range 1999 Look at the Time 2001 Ballads [ 6] With Terry Trotter and Trotter Trio
1993 It's About Time 1995 A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum...In Jazz 1995 Company...In 1995 Stephen Sondheim's Sweeney Todd in Jazz 1996 The Michel Legrand Album 1997 Sketches on Star Wars 1998 Follies 2001 The Fantasticks in Jazz [ 6] With others
1992 In Tribute , Diane Schuur 1997 " All the More ", Kenny Wheeler 2003 As Time Goes By: The Great American Songbook, Volume II , Rod Stewart 2003 Michael Bublé , Michael Bublé 2004 Renee Olstead , Renee Olstead 2007 Call Me Irresponsible , Michael Bublé 2009 Skylark , Renee Olstead 2009 Crazy Love , Michael Bublé 2025 Seascape , Atlantic Jazz Collective , Alma Records References
International National Academics Artists Other
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