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Been playing guitar for and at what age did you first get into guitar playing?BG: I started at 10 years old, 44 years.JGL: Were you interested in jazz from the beginning or were there other musical interests before jazz?BG: I wasn’t interested in jazz at all. I was into the Beatles in the 1960s, Led Zeppelin in the 70s and found jazz in high school in the late 1970s.JGL: Can you recall that particular moment that first excited you about jazz guitar or jazz in general? The one that made you say “that’s what I want to do”!BG: It was hearing Joe Pass, George Benson and Pat Martino. I couldn’t believe that a human being could play guitar at such a high level without massive amounts of distortion I wouldn’t say that I loved the music at that moment but I felt the need to try to play the instrument like that.JGL: Similarly, Was there a defining moment when you decided that Jazz Guitar would/could be your career path?BG: I wasn’t the greatest kid in high school, I skipped many a class staying home learning Aerosmith tunes and really didn’t have anything else that I was good at other than music. I decided to go to the Berklee College of music in 1979 after graduating high school.JGL: You are an endorser of Master Guitar Luthier Robert Benedetto and play a Benedetto Bravo Model. Would you mind sharing the details of how this endorsement came to be? But before you do…what was your first guitar?BG: My first guitar was something called a Zim Gar. It was made of plastic! I had been playing Buscarino guitars for quite a while, but an unfortunate incident happened during my divorce and was all of a sudden without my precious guitar. I was playing a friends Gibson ES 165 when Howard Paul from Benedetto guitars saw me at the Savannah jazz festival. The rest as they say is history:)JGL: What other gear are you using?BG: Benedetto amplifiers which I absolutely love and Thomastik Infeld 14 guage flat wounds.JGL: Who were your influences on jazz guitar

When you were beginning, and have they stayed the same or have they changed over the years?BG: They have stayed the same. I’ve always loved the horn like, hard swinging playing style of Pat Martino, George Benson, Wes Montgomery, and Joe Pass.JGL: Who are you listening to today (guitarists or non-guitarists)?BG: I like listening to all types of music though, from R&B, soul, funk, blues, classical, country I just love it all. You can learn something from everything. I also listen to the Sirius FM jazz station often, that gives me a good glimpse into what’s happening in the world of jazz.JGL: Who has been most influential in your life as a Jazz Guitarist and why?BG: George Benson. He encompasses everything that makes an incredible musician. There is no one that can touch him in regards to a soulful pocket, and the fact that he sings breathes true melodic life into his music. I’m not a fan of technical music and I don’t like modern musicians who are doing away with the passion and soul of jazz. Jazz music was born of struggle and should still reflect that.JGL: You have made education a huge part of your music career, much to the benefit of others and to the overall Jazz Guitar Community! This leads me to three related questions: 1) How did you get involved in teaching?BG: Thanks! I had been a professional musician since I was 20, I had reached 30 years old and hadn’t seen much improvement financially. I wanted a family, health insurance and a chance at a retirement. Getting into teaching seemed an obvious choice. I already had a bachelors degree from William Paterson College so I decided to enroll at the University of South Florida in Tampa where I was currently living.2) What do you personally get out of teaching?Having to put into words what I have learned has been an amazing experience. It’s also a constant refresher course for me. Another benefit is that I work with great students who have taught me plenty!3) Can the essence of Jazz truly be taught?Yes. It is

Would sound like robots.JGL: As an educator, you have also published a relatively large collection of method books with titles such as Solo Jazz Guitar Method, Advanced Jazz Guitar Improvisation, Jazz Guitar Standards/Chord Solos and so on for the music publishing giant Mel Bay. More importantly though, you have also started self-publishing digital method books as well. How has this been working out for you and do you still write for the traditional press or are you solely self-publishing now?BG: I will self publish from now on. The two main reasons are that digital distribution allows me to update the books whenever I need to, and financially I go from earning 10% to 60%. It has been a wonderful supplement to my career as a professor.JGL: For the student of Jazz Guitar, what would you say is the most important thing to do when approaching this art form for study?BG: Listen and love the music. You should never have to be coaxed into improving, it should be the driving force in your life.JGL: What is the one big issue that you see beginning students repeat over and over again and what can be done to rectify this?BG: It has to be the constant struggle of balancing learning theory with the organic, creative part of being a musician. I’d rather hear a musician with no theory background than someone who relies on it for musical decisions. To me, music theory only validates why things sound good.JGL: What is your practice routine like these days? Do you work on specific things or just play tunes?BG: I practice an hour at most usually playing through a tune. I try to make at least one new “discovery” a day. A new sub, an new way of approaching a chord. I don’t put anywhere near the same hours I did when I was in my 20’s:)JGL: How difficult do you/did you find it making a living as a jazz guitar player, or have you found it to be relatively easy?BG: I’ve found getting gigs easy, but making a living is very difficult as a performing

To perform at more festivals, particularly things in Europe, but selfish I am not, and would be content doing exactly what I’m doing for another 10-15 years.JGL: If you could do one thing over again, what would it be and why?BG: Nothing. I made plenty of mistakes and have learned from them all. I expect to make many more in the future!JGL: Have you ever had second thoughts about your choice to have music as a career and if so, what other career path do you think you would have followed had you not been a guitar player.BG: No. Music chooses you. Once it’s got you, there is no turning back.JGL: Apart from music, what else do you like to do for fun?BG: Spend time with my girlfriend, travel, visit restaurants and keep up with music technology. My kids are getting older and I don’t interact with them as much anymore, but I love them and have their back.JGL: As we wrap this up Barry, do you have any parting advice for the younger guy or gal out there who might be considering a career as a jazz guitar player?BG: The same advice you hear time and time again. If you love the music and put in the hours, you will be successful. The path you choose will most likely come with many unexpected turns and you will likely be at plan c or d by the time things fall into place, but never give up, and try to be the very best at it.JGL: Thank you so much Barry for taking the time to be on jazzguitarlife.com. It is most appreciated and I wish you great success in your career and life.BG: Thank you Lyle! Awesome questions.Please consider spreading the word about Barry and Jazz Guitar Life by sharing this interview amongst your social media pals and please feel free to leave a comment. We would love to hear from you 🙂If you would like to support all the work I do on Jazz Guitar Life, please consider buying me a coffee or visiting the Jazz Guitar Life sponsors.