Bob Barry (photographer)

Bob Barry
Born (1943-03-17) March 17, 1943
Suffern, New York, US
Residence Los Angeles, California
Occupation Photographer, Actor

Bob Barry (March 17, 1943 - ) is an American actor and photographer based in Los Angeles, California. He is known for his “performance portraits” of jazz, R&B and blues musicians.[1]

Early Life and Acting Career

Barry was born Robert Barry Horowitz in Suffern, New York. He grew up in Spring Valley, New York and worked as an actor in New York City.[2] As Robert Barry, he appeared Off-Off Broadway in Alligator Man,[3] Off-Broadway in The Brass Butterfly with Sam Waterston[4] and made his Broadway debut in the 1976 musical So Long, 174th Street starring Robert Morse.[5] During this period Barry established side careers as a lounge entertainer and television commercial performer. Among his commercial assignments was the role of a singing raisin for Post Raisin Bran.

Photography career

While pursuing acting work in New York, Barry was a model for photographer Diane Arbus's 1968 Zeiss-Ikon Camera ad campaign. Upon moving to Los Angeles in 1980, he developed an interest in professional photography. His subsequent friendship with guitarist John Pisano led Barry to photograph over 160 noted jazz guitarists at Pisano’s weekly “Guitar Night” event, including George Van Eps, Herb Ellis, Al Viola, Howard Alden, Joe Diorio, Anthony Wilson, Jimmy Wyble, Dori Caymmi and Phil Upchurch.

Barry’s mentor, photographer Ray Avery, used the phrase “performance portrait”[1] to describe Barry’s approach of photographing musicians during performance using only available light. Barry practiced his craft at jazz festivals, concerts and clubs in the Los Angeles area, such as Vitello’s, Catalina’s and the Jazz Bakery, which made him their official photo archivist in 2012. His photographs have appeared in the artwork for music releases by Kenny Burrell, Rosemary Clooney, Diane Schuur, Pat Martino, Mary Stallings, Mary Murphy, Johnny Rivers and Danny Seraphine.

Barry serves on the committee of the Milt Hinton Award for Excellence in Jazz Photography.[6] Barry’s photography was the subject of a 2012 documentary by filmmaker Dailey Pike.[7] Titled Bob Barry: Jazzography in Black and White, the nonfiction film is an examination of Barry’s life and careers.[8][9] It was awarded at the Tupelo Film Festival.[10][11]

Public Exhibitions

References

[12]

  1. 1 2 Neil Thrun, “Photographer Bob Barry captures the energy of performers in ‘Jazzography’”, Kansas City Star, June 8, 2013
  2. ↑ Ibsen, David Allen. "PRO-PORTRAIT: Performance Photographer Bob Barry--photography is about getting to know people.". GetTheFive.
  3. ↑ George L. George, “The Party & Alligator Man," Backstage, July 28, 1972
  4. ↑ Clive Barnes, “A Smooth and Elegant Brass Butterfly," The New York Times, January 31, 1970
  5. ↑ Clive Barnes, “So Long, 174th Street Is New Musical at the Harkness," The New York Times, April 28, 1976
  6. ↑ Al Kratzer, “Bob Barry – Performance Portraits”, The Painted Note Gallery, February 22, 2011
  7. ↑ "Jazz Photographer Bob Barry Profiled In New Feature". LA Jazz.
  8. ↑ "Filmmaker highlights reunion session in his documentary about guitarist Joe Pass". Glendale News-Press. May 02, 2014|By Kirk Silsbee
  9. ↑ "JJA Member Updates: July 2012". JJA News, Jul 18th, 2012 | By Michael J. West
  10. ↑ “2013 Tupelo Film Festival Winners”, Tupelo Film Festival website
  11. ↑ "Jazzography in Black & White" a film about photographer Bob Barry by Dailey Pike—FIVE THOT discover ideas, people, views, lifestyles and business. GetTheFive
  12. ↑ Redefining mainstream: African-American works take their rightful place in history - KansasCity.com

External links

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