Barry Green, served as Principal Bassist of the Cincinnati Symphony for 28 years, and more recently Principal Bassist of the California Symphony and Sun Valley Idaho Summer Symphony. As former Executive Director of the International Society of Bassists, he taught U. of Calif. Santa Cruz for 22 years before moving back to Cincinnati in the spring of 2018 and taught bass and his inspirational courses on the mind-body and spirit at Ohio State University School of Music until 2022. He also teaches special classes at local Cincinnati public schools and has organized the Bass Club Cincinnati serving bass players of all ages and styles of bass playing.
As a double bass soloist, Barry is known for his creative and eclectic ‘Green Machine’ concerts including the bass in jazz, folk, contemporary and world music in combination with, dance, voice, art and theater. Green has created three new multimedia productions called Anna’s Way, from Inspiration to Artistry and Anna’s Gift, the Way of Passion and Anna’s Promise. These unique hour-long productions are for solo bass, narration with background visuals and performed in combo version as well as with full concert band and chamber orchestra. These stories are based on his inspirational books devoted to the mind, body and human spirit.
Green was the first bass soloist ever to solo with the Cincinnati Symphony in 1970 when he commissioned Frank Proto to write the Concerto for Bass and Orchestra conducted by Erich Kunzel. He has since twice appeared with the Cincinnati Symphony under the late Maestro Thomas Schippers who personally commission the Frank Proto Violin and Double Bass Concerto (with Ruggiero Ricci). In 1993 Green performed Jon Deak’s concerto/Jack and the Beanstalk conducted by Jesus Lopez-Cobos.. He most recently performed the Deak concerto in February 2005 in with the US Air Force Band in Wash DC, Constitution Hall and in August 2016 he commissioned and performed Anna’s Promise World Premiere with the US Army Orchestra, Pershing’s Own in Washington DC.
He is author of the Doubleday book The Inner Game of Music, with W. Timothy Gallwey, (1986) which deals with musicians reaching their potential in performance and learning which has sold over 250,000 copies worldwide. He has written seven Inner Game of Music Workbooks published by GIA Music for keyboard, voice, instruments and ensembles. Green’s 2nd book, The Mastery of Music, Ten Pathways to True Artistry published by Broadway/Doubleday in May 2003. The Mastery of Music is based interviews with over 120 world famous musicians on topics of courage, passion, creativity, discipline, humility etc. It deals with qualities of greatness from the human spirit that transcend all professions. Green most recent book is called Bringing Music to Life is published by GIA Music, 2009 and exploring three techniques of breath, pulse and movement that allow the musician to channel expression through their bodies. This work is based on exploring creativity and inspiration through collaboration with the great improvisation cellist David Darling and his organization called Music for People. The DVD on the same title was also just released by GIA Music in December 2010.
Barry is active as a bass soloist, recording artist, author and teacher. Barry has been directing bass camps and schools for over 48 years. Green has studied with the legendary bassist François Rabbath. Barry’s most recent project includes a unique exercise program for all strings with collaborator-educator Bob Gillespie called Stringersize. This program integrates traditional and non-traditional string techniques with popular music beats and videos. Green has also produced an 8-part educational an inspirational series of videos with co-host Jason Heath called Buckeye Bass Bashes published on YouTube. His most recent multi-media concert programs include a documentary style presentation called Music from Ukraine and Beyond and has raised significant funds through the Hope4Ukraine Society of Cincinnati. Barry’s most recent multi-media narrated production is called The Four Elements and appeals to audiences of any age who is concerned about the wellbeing of the planet!
Green’s wrote two bass method books for bass: The Popular Bass Method in three volumes in collaboration with Bay Area jazz bassist Jeff Neighbor and Advanced Techniques of Double Bass Playing. Green’s recent CD recordings include Ole-Cool with colleagues from Spain and American and Live from St. Croix in recital with pianist James Hart as well as a jazz inspired recording with Lenny Carlson called Seat of the Pants. Green can be heard with numerous recordings on YouTube.