Over ten years ago internationally renowned jazz guitarist, John Pisano, inaugurated his weekly Guitar Night at Papashon's Restaurant in Sherman Oaks, CA. John's concept was to have a-once-a-week gathering featuring a guest guitarist backed up by the best bass players and drummers available. From the very first Guitar Night at Papashon (which nowadays is held on Tuesday nights at the Club Spazio, also in Sherman Oaks) you would find John comping and trading licks with artists like Herb Ellis, Mundell Lowe, Howard Alden, Phil Upchurch, Al Viola, Joe Diorio and many more high profile as well as  lesser known, but no less accomplished, players. Guitar Night has become a must see Jazz Guitar event in Southern California.

Mr. Pisano invited jazz aficionado, musical entertainer and photographer, Bob Barry, to that inaugural evening, and music and visual art history was made. Mr. Barry photographed that night's musicians, and the seeds for this elegant photographic series were planted. Since that night Mr. Barry has photographed over 150 guitarists and nearly 500 Guitar Nights as well as creating the photo art for many legendary jazz artists including Kenny Burrell, Rosemary Clooney, Mundell Lowe and Dianne Schuur. 

"The Brotherhood" focuses on those men and women known as the "jazz guitarists". Barry describes his experience as follows: "Having lived in the world of the arts all my life, it was refreshing to be with artists, who weren't overly protective, withholding, paranoid or insecure about the people and the world around them. They truly are a cohesive band of  troubadours, a real 'Brotherhood. As a photographer it has always been my choice to not only capture the ambiance of the event, but to also get some insight into the artist. This I try to achieve by shooting them while performing, using only available light. When an artist is working, he is not concerned with how he looks, and there is no guarded uncomfortable posing." 

As well as selling his images to magazines and other print media and photographing concerts  Mr. Barry is also on the Board of Directors of the Milt Hinton Award Committee for Excellence in Jazz Photography.

The only public receptions will be on San Pedro's 1st Thursdays Art Walk Nights, June 5 & July 3, 2008 from 7-11 PM ADULTS ONLY (18 and over) "The Brotherhood" can also be seen by appointment. Please call, 310.833.3633 or flazhalley@aol.com

Flazh!Alley Studio is located at 1113 S. Pacific Ave., Suite B, San Pedro, CA. Park in the large city parking lot behind the Ramona Bakery at Pacific & 11th Street. Enter Flazh!Alley from the alley, of course.

www.flazhalleystudio.com