b. 8 January 1948, Chicago, Illinois, USA. Emerging from the Chicago free scene, a founder member of the AACM, percussionist Barker first played and recorded with fellow Chicagoans Kalaparush Maurice McIntyre, Joseph Jarman, Muhal Richard Abrams and Anthony Braxton, in whose quartet he played in the late 70s. Economic survival meant periods of working in musical pit bands, but joining Cecil Taylor’s Unit in 1986 brought further exposure. Taylor’s dense, polyrhythmic style required the services of someone with an acute sense of structure and an incisive attack; these Barker has in abundance. At the suggestion of Billy Bang, Barker has added the marimba to his armoury, playing with exquisite grace and fire on Bang’s exotic The Fire From Within. His drumwork on guitarist Joe Morris’ Human Rites is equally impressive.