Pat (Pascel Emmanuel) LaBarbera (Born April 7, 1944 in Mt. Morris, New York, USA) is considered one of the finest saxophone soloists working within the framework of John Coltrane's principals. The connection was most obvious when he worked with Elvin Jones groups which began in 1975. He studied with his father Joseph LaBarbera, John LaPorta and Joe Henderson. LaBarbera became best known for his solo work with the bands of Buddy Rich (1967-1974), Louis Bellson, Woody Herman and his own groups. He moved to Toronto, Ontario, Canada in 1974 and is a member of the faculty at Humber College. A true intellectual of improvisation, he has been among the key members of the Toronto jazz scene for more than 30 years. LaBarbera has played a major role in the development of a generation of Canadian saxophonists. Rejoining Elvin Jones' Jazz Machine in January 2001 for two years, Pat performed and toured North America, Britain, Europe, and Japan. Presently, he continues to write and perfonn with his own trio and quartet.
His ballads CD Deep In A Dream with Don Thompson, Neil Swainson and Joe LaBarbera featuring lesser-known jazz standards, received both Juno and Jazz Report awards for instrumental jazz in 2000. It is available from Radioland Records at all major record stores in Canada and from www.jazzpromo.com in the United States. His CD From The Heart with George Cables, Rufus Reid, and Joe LaBarbera, features original tunes by Pat and his brother Joe, and some standards. Produced by Justin Time Records, it is available at all major record stores in Canada. Pat's latest CD Crossing The Line was recorded at the Top O'The Senator jazz club in Toronto. It features Brian Dickinson, Neil Swainson, Joe LaBarbera, and special guest, Randy Brecker. It was released in October of 2005 by JazzCompass Records in Los Angeles and is available at jazzcompass.com.
"Pat has tremendous musical ability beyond technical facility. He has great power of concentration to detail and is totally committed with body and soul." Elvin Jones
