Bernard Joseph Baron (born June 26, 1955 in Richmond, Virginia) is an American drummer best-known for working in avant-garde jazz with Bill Frisell and John Zorn.

Music career

Baron, who is of Jewish heritage, was born on June 26, 1955, in Richmond, Virginia. When he was nine, he taught himself how to play the drums. As a teenager, he played in rock bands and dixieland jazz groups and was given his first gig opportunity at the age of 13 when pianist BJ Doyle's regular drummer took ill and she knew he was a keeper after just minutes. After high school, he spent a year at the Berklee College of Music. He moved to Los Angeles in the early 1970s and embarked on a professional career, playing with Carmen McRae and Al Jarreau. He worked as a freelance drummer and session musician with Chet Baker, Stan Getz, Dizzy Gillespie, and Hampton Hawes. In 1982 he moved to New York City and joined guitarist Bill Frisell, with whom he would play often throughout his career. He also played in groups with Red Rodney, Fred Hersch, Enrico Pieranunzi, and Marc Johnson. Starting in the late 1980s, he became a bigger part of the avant-garde jazz scene when he played regularly at the Knitting Factory, recorded with singer Laurie Anderson, and began a long association with John Zorn. For several years he participated in Zorn's projects Naked City and Masada. Baron contributed to David Bowie's Outside (1995). Bowie would later praise Baron, stating: "Metronomes shake in fear, he's so steady."

Discography

As leader/co-leader

As sideman

With John Abercrombie With the Toshiko Akiyoshi With Laurie Anderson With Tim Berne With David Bowie With Jakob Bro With Uri Caine With James Carter With Anthony Coleman With Dave Douglas With Mark Feldman With Bill Frisell With Fred Frith With Richard Galliano With Jim Hall With Fred Hersch With Haino Keiji With Marc Johnson With Steve Kuhn With Joe Lovano With Pat Martino With Carmen McRae With Mark Murphy With Gary Peacock With Enrico Pieranunzi With Hank Roberts With Herb Robertson With John Scofield With Julian Siegel With John Taylor With Toots Thielemans With Roseanna Vitro With John Zorn

Filmography