Guy Barker
Jazz
Guy Barker's career has moved through several distinct phases, from jazz soloist and sideman, to bandleader, composer and latterly one of the most in-demand arrangers in Europe.
Guy’s distinctive trumpet sound has led him to work with some of the industry’s greats, such Gil Evans, Ornette Coleman, Quincy Jones and Wynton Marsalis, to name a few. He’s toured with Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr, Lena Horne, Liza Minnelli, and Mel Tormé. Guy has also recorded eight solo albums, two of which were nominated for the Mercury Music Prize.
As a session musician Guy has worked with Paul Weller, Sting, Van Morrison, Elvis Costello, Phil Collins, Grace Jones, Peter Gabriel and George Michael. He has also presented more than a dozen radio series for Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 2, 3 and the World Service. Since 2008 Guy has been the Musical Director and arranger for the annual Jazz Voice which opens the EFG London Jazz Festival. He performs a similar role at the Cheltenham Jazz Festival every year and has formed long-lasting working relationships with many of the singers from both events.
Composing and arranging has always formed an important part of Guy’s musical life and over the last fifteen years he has become increasingly sought after. In 2013 he was appointed Associate Composer for the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra and was awarded an MBE in 2014.
