Jorge Barnet Jazz, Fusion, Eth

In 1978, I started the Professional Diploma Major in Electronic Music at Berklee College of Music. The following year, 1979, I was granted with FGMA Venezuelan Government Scholarship to complete my Music Studies at Berklee College.

I finished my Major in Electronic Music, at Berklee College December 80. I belong to the Class 81.

Those are some of press reviews about me:

"An impressive guitarist, Jorge is an even more impressive writer of complexly arranged contemporary jazz and fusion compositions... Sounding at times like a cross between Larry Carlton and Carlos Santana, his emotional blues-bebop style incorporates beautifully phrased lines with quick melodic runs."

Guitar Player, Octuber, 1985,U.S.A. Spotlight, Mike Varney, Showcase For New Talent.

"His solo release Cuando tu regreses (When You Return), brilliantly combines Latin and flamenco influences with fusion jazz guitar influences, creating a Latin Jazz sound unique, yet familiar...as if Carlos Santana was fronting Spyro Gyra. Even hard-core rockers' can't help but appreciate his guitar work and skill as an arranger and composer ...",

April 2002, Patrick Ferris,
LINK

"Nice instrumentation ... Solid Band ... Wonderful guitar work ..." Boswell on "Coast Roads", www.MakeaStar.com

Check and buy my CD at LINK
 

Q:Could you tell us a brief history about how you become involved with music?
A:I began playing the "cuatro", a tipical 4 nylon strings folk instrument from Venezuela, tuned A, D, F# and B (From 4th String to First String. Later I jumped to the guitar when I was 12, growing up since then listening to Alirio Diaz, Chet Atkins, George Harrison, Jose Feliciano, Paco de Lucia, Carlos Santana and George Benson. Later on, when I got to Berklee I was exposed to the whole universe of Jazz and non jazz guitar players available. I used to play some pop songs with a Jazz approach, and that was called at that time soft or commercial Jazz. Now it has got a real name: Smooth Jazz. This is the style I mainly play today with some latin and flamenco influence.

Q:What are you working on now?
A:I am working on new music for my new act. I am getting envolved with the arranging of my original music.

Q:When was your first CD released?
A:In 1993 I produced my first CD "When you Return". It was released the same year. It is still available at http://www.jazzpromo.com/sections.php?op=viewarticle&artid=132

Q:What have been some important gigs or venues you've played?
A:My Compositions and guitar performances were reviewed by Mike Varney, "Guitar Player Magazine", Octuber 1985, "Spotligth for new talent". I played in several jazz fest in Caracas. The best bands I ever had in Venezuela back then, had Otmaro Ruiz and Aron Serfaty as members. In the 1990 when I was in Colombia I played with several great musicians there like Tono Arnedo. Since I came to Europe I played with several jazz bands here in Portugal and Spain,trying to find a creative space for Jazz. I played at Golden Gate Cafe during the Funchal Jazz Fest on July 2004.

Q:What kind of people or opportunities are you hoping to find on Berkleemusic?
A:To keep promote my self over the Web, for performing and teaching as well, as well as get sign by a record label that allow for artistic freedom.