Gary Bartz NTU Troop was formed in 1970 by jazz, fusion, and funk saxophonist Gary Bartz (born in Baltimore, Maryland on September 26, 1940). Bartz, who had studied at the Juilliard Conservatory of Music, played alongside Eric Dolphy and McCoy Tyner in Charles Mingus’ Jazz Workshop. He began working as a sideman for Max Roach and Abbey Lincoln before spending time as a member of Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers. He spent time with McCoy Tyner’s band Expansions before joining Miles Davis’ band in 1970 in time for the recording of the Live-Evil album. That same year, he formed NTU Troop, a group that mixed African folk music, soul, hard bop, jazz, and funk into a heady brew. Their debut album, Home!, was released in 1970. At the time, the band featured musicians such as Albert Dailey (piano), Bob Cunningham (bass), Rashied Ali (drums), and Woody Shaw (trumpet). While Gary Bartz was ever-present, NTU Troops’ line-up would change with each album. Their next two releases were issued in 1971: Harlem Bush Music – Taif, and Harlem Bush Music – Uhuru. Further albums included Juju Street Songs (1972), I’ve Known Rivers and Other Bodies (1973), Follow the Medicine Man (1973) and Singerella – A Ghetto Fairy Tale (1974). Although there were no further NTU Troop releases, Gary Bartz continued as a respected solo artist and sideman. He also became Professor of Jazz Saxophone at Oberlin College in Ohio.
