Gato Barbieri Performing At Special 77th Birthday Party
Saxophonist Gato Barbieri, who in 1972 recorded what would become one of the most popular and requested smooth jazz songs of all time, “Europa (Earth’s Cry Heaven’s Smile),” will be 77 on November 28. But he isn’t waiting until then to mark the occasion. Barbieri will be performing Saturday, November 21, at a special birthday show in his honor at Tarrytown Music Hall in Tarrytown, N.Y.
Barbieri was born in Rosario, Argentina, in 1932. He’s also well-known for composing the Grammy Award-winning score to the controversial motion picture Last Tango in Paris. His 50th and most current CD, Shadow Of The Cat, was released in 2002. A full-length documentary on his life is currently in production.
“It’s the melody,” Barbieri says. “The melody is the most important thing, and something I very much love. It’s exciting that people are still moved when I play, and I consider myself blessed to have had fans that have listened to me for such a long time. They still do, and I’m still having fun.”