about
Harry Bartlett is a Canadian guitarist and composer currently living in Nashville, TN. "With a background in jazz and an affinity for folk music, Harry’s compositions “transcend a single genre” (Textura).
Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, Harry moved to Toronto in 2016 to study jazz guitar at the University of Toronto. He relocated to Nashville in 2023 to pursue his interest in folk and string band music, performing regularly as a bandleader and side-person across North America.
His most recent recording, Mountain Air, was made with support from the Suba Institute and recorded with a distinguished cast of Canadian folk-jazz musicians: Aline Homzy on violin and Andrew Downing on bass. Mountain Air is "presented with a delicacy combining classical, string band and jazz elements” (The Whole Note).
Harry started composing Mountain Air shortly after moving to Nashville to deepen his knowledge of old time and folk music where he has studied and collaborated with some of Nashville’s foremost folk. These experiences have redefined how Harry approaches the acoustic guitar. While his music is still grounded in the methodology of jazz improvisation, his new project, Mountain Air, offers clear shades of bluegrass, old time, and folk styles.
His first project, Wildwood, was composed and recorded over a 6 month period on Gambier Island BC. The rugged, isolated character of the BC coast permeate this record lending qualities of reverence and peace. “Bartlett is more than a guitarist, or even a composer: he’s a director… Every track serves a purpose, evokes a feeling, or tells a story.” (Rhythm Changes)
In addition to an active performing career, Harry has toured public schools across Canada leading improvisation workshops. He developed these workshops in 2019 with the aid of the FMUA.
Harry holds a Bachelor of Music degree with honours from the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Music (2016-2020) and attended the School of Improvised Music in Brooklyn, New York (2019). He is the recipient of multiple awards including the Suba Institute Award for Performance Excellence, the Mary Alice Stuart Jazz Scholarship, the TD Niagara Jazz Festival Jazz for the Ages Award, a “Neo Traditional” award from Clifftop ( Appalachian String Band Festival), and grants from the Canada Council for the Arts and the FMUA.
Listen
“Harry Bartlett presents Wildwood with intention. Every track serves a purpose, evokes a feeling, or tells a story.”
“Wildwood is an utterly compelling record that deserves repeated listening.”
“Wildwood is rooted in the jazz tradition but its music transcends a single genre. The trio has developed a strong rapport vividly captured on the new edition.”
“Harry Bartlett’s music is imaginative and worth hearing.”
“The Harry Bartlett Trio is an encouraging look into the future of the Canadian jazz scene. Harry is a creative and sophisticated composer already and simply put, plays the guitar at a very high level.”
“Wildwood is an extraordinarily creative and finely detailed listening experience.”
“Bartlett’s style is rooted in American folk and Western music sounds, but it also embraces jazz and improvisation. A fine and engaging set of tunes.”
“Where impressionistic scenes alternate with the necessary unrest.”
“Wildwood is thoughtful, impressionistic, and cinematic.”
“The Harry Bartlett Trio come together for this exciting jazz listen that meshes folk and Western ideas into the improvised landscape. Bartlett and company mesmerize us through a very meticulous record.”
“All the tunes have an atmospheric quality that is enhanced by the trio’s empathic playing. Wildwood is an engaging and beautiful.”