As accomplished and perhaps popular as Gabe Eaton and Rob Barics may be, both individually and as a team, the "EBQ" offers much more than the considerable talents of these able two saxmen. Also featured are three more of the brightest young mainstream players on the Bay Area scene: pianist Adam Schulman, bassist Marcus Shelby and drummer Jeff Marrs. The group performs it's self proclaimed "meat and potatoes" originals as well as the rich arrangements from the books of Clark Terry, Johnny Griffin, Lockjaw Davis, Thelonious Monk, Duke Ellington and more.
Originally from Laguna Beach, California, Gabe Eaton has been performing for 20 years. The alto saxophone has taken Eaton as far as Japan, where he played for 3 years under the Sony Records label with his band DiG, making numerous appearances at major jazz festivals. Eaton has shared the stage with a host of jazz greats, including Jimmy Smith, Tommy Flanagan and Reggae great Don Carlos. His recording credits include the Marcus Shelby Jazz Orchestra’s "The Lights", Gravy’s "Live at Brunos" and DiG’s "Cool Flow".
With his style deeply rooted in the traditions of old New Orleans jazz, Barics brings a unique approach to the EBQ. Fluid in jazz styles of all eras, Barics has performed with Wynton Marsalis, the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band. He's been a fixture on the San Francisco jazz scene for over 15 years.
Eaton and Barics play with the fire of the committed jazz lifers, burning through original compositions and revered standards.
The sparks fly, all right, but the energy is refined by the special musical empathy that these two young veterans, bandmates for years in ensembles large and small, bring to their work together.
(photos by quaevide.com)
Our parent organization, the Marcus Shelby Jazz Orchestra
Live at the Great American Music Hall, SF 10/07
