Joseph James LaBarbera (born February 22, 1948) is an American jazz drummer and composer. He is best known for his recordings and live performances with the trio of pianist Bill Evans in the final years of Evans's career. His older brothers are saxophonist Pat LaBarbera and trumpeter John LaBarbera.
Career
He grew up in Mount Morris, New York. His first drum teacher was his father. For two years in the late 1960s he attended Berklee College of Music, then went on tour with singer Frankie Randall. After Berklee he spent two years with the US Army band at Fort Dix, New Jersey. He began his professional career playing with Woody Herman and the Thundering Herd.
His reputation grew in the 1970s when he spent four years recording and touring with Chuck Mangione. He also worked as a sideman for Bob Brookmeyer, Jim Hall, Art Farmer, Art Pepper, John Scofield, Toots Thielemans, and Phil Woods. In 1979 he was a member of the Bill Evans trio, then spent much of the 1980s and early 1990s with Tony Bennett. He was in a quartet with his brother Pat and in a trio with Hein van de Geyn and John Abercrombie. He has taught at the California Institute of the Arts and the Bud Shank Jazz Workshop.
Discography
As leader
The Joe La Barbera Quintet Live (Jazz Compass, 2001) Mark Time (Jazz Compass, 2003) Love Locked Out (2003), with Patti Wicks and Keter Betts Native Land (Jazz Compass, 2006) Silver Streams (Jazz Compass, 2012)
As sideman
With Tony Bennett
1986 The Art of Excellence
1987 Bennett/Berlin
1990 Astoria: Portrait of the Artist
1992 Perfectly Frank
2007 Sings the Ultimate American Songbook Vol. 1
With Rosemary Clooney
1989 Rosemary Clooney Sings Rodgers, Hart & Hammerstein
1992 Girl Singer
1997 Mothers & Daughters
2000 The Songbook Collection
2001 Sentimental Journey: The Girl Singer and Her New Big Band
With Bill Cunliffe
1993 A Paul Simon Songbook
1995 Bill in Brazil
2001 Live at Bernie's
2002 Bill Cunliffe Sextet: Live at Rocco
2003 How My Heart Sings
With Bill Evans
1979 Live at the Balboa Jazz Club, Vol. 1
1979 Live at the Balboa Jazz Club, Vol. 2
1979 Live at the Balboa Jazz Club, Vol. 3
1979 Live at the Balboa Jazz Club, Vol. 4
1979 Live at the Balboa Jazz Club, Vol. 5
1979 Live in Buenos Aires, 1979
1979 We Will Meet Again
1980 Letter to Evan
1980 Turn Out the Stars
1983 The Paris Concert: Edition 1
1983 The Paris Concert: Edition 2
1996 His Last Concert in Germany
1996 The Brilliant
1996 Turn Out the Stars: Final Village Vanguard Recordings
2000 The Last Waltz
2005 Live in Rome 1979
With John LaBarbera
2003 On the Wild Side (Jazz Compass) 2005 Fantazm (Jazz Compass) 2013 Caravan (Jazz Compass)
With Pat LaBarbera
1976 Pass It On
1993 JMOG (Jazz Men on the Go) 2003 Deep in a Dream 2005 Crossing the Line
With Chuck Mangione
1973 Land of Make Believe
1975 Bellavia
1975 Chase the Clouds Away
With Bud Shank
1996 Plays the Music of Bill Evans
1999 After You Jeru
2000 Silver Storm
2002 On the Trail
2009 Fascinating Rhythms
With Kim Richmond
1994 Range
1999 Look at the Time
2001 Ballads
With Terry Trotter and Trotter Trio
1993 It's About Time
1995 A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum...In Jazz
1995 Company...In
1995 Stephen Sondheim's Sweeney Todd in Jazz
1996 The Michel Legrand Album
1997 Sketches on Star Wars
1998 Follies
2001 The Fantasticks in Jazz
With others
1992 In Tribute, Diane Schuur
1997 " All the More", Kenny Wheeler
2003 As Time Goes By: The Great American Songbook, Volume II, Rod Stewart
2003 Michael Bublé, Michael Bublé
2004 Renee Olstead, Renee Olstead
2007 Call Me Irresponsible, Michael Bublé
2009 Skylark, Renee Olstead
2009 Crazy Love, Michael Bublé
References
1948 births
Living people
Musicians from New York (state) 20th-century American drummers American jazz composers American jazz drummers American jazz musicians