Giants

Barry Greene is just about one of the best; not only as a player, but also as a writer and a teacher... a world-class musician.
Pat Martino

Giants is jazz guitarist Barry Greene's most fully realized recording to date—a powerful tribute to the players who shaped his musical voice, including Pat Martino, Grant Green, Wes Montgomery, and Russell Malone. Spanning organ trio, modern ensemble, and solo guitar settings, the album reflects a lifetime of deep immersion in the jazz tradition, delivered with authority, swing, and an unmistakable personal voice. With Pat Bianchi on B3 organ and drummer Ulysses Owens Jr., Greene captures the raw energy and soulful drive of the classic organ trio. The broader sound palette of his quintet setting with David Kikoski on piano, Steve Nelson on vibraphone, bassist Marco Panascia, and Owens, yields richly textured performances that balance fire, lyricism, and harmonic depth. More than a tribute, Giants is a statement—an artist at the peak of his powers honoring the lineage while speaking unmistakably in his own voice.

"Monster chops, soulful feel, full/rich classic jazz tone, and virtuosic harmonic techniques establish him as a top-tier guitarist." Benedetto Guitars

Production Info:

Produced by Ulysses Owens Jr.
Recorded October 17-18, 2025 by Chris Sulit
at Trading 8's Recording Studio
Mixed & mastered by Dave Darlington
at Bass Hit Productions, New York City
Cover design & layout by John Bishop

Reviews of Giants

Paris-Move (Thierry De Clemensat)
Barry Greene's Giants: A Modern Jazz Tribute That Bridges Tradition and Innovation Barry Greene's Giants poses its central question before a single note has fully settled: to whom, exactly, does this title refer? The answer, as the album gradually reveals, is less a declaration of stature than an act of reverence. Greene, an accomplished guitari ...

Jazz Weekly (George Harris)
Guitarist Barry Greene sticks to his color charts as he gives hints of guitarist Grant Green on this satisfyingly swinging stringed session. He switches between Pat Bianchi/B3, David Kikoski/p, Steve Nelson/vib and Marco Panascia/b, with Ulysses Owens Jr/dr being the only other constant, supplying a supple support. With Bianchi's humming Hammond, G ...

UK Vibe (Mike Gates)
5 STARS Delivering exactly what its title promises, Barry Greene's Giants is a deeply felt, expertly executed homage to the lineage of jazz guitar, delivered by a musician fully capable of standing alongside the figures he honours. It's an album that makes me feel nostalgic while, at the same time, rewarding me as a modern, living, breathing sta ...

Roots Music Report (Robert Silverstein)
5-STARS The name Barry Greene might not be immediately recognizable by a majority of guitar fans yet he's just released one of the finest instrumental jazz albums of the year. Backed by an alternating quintet and organ trio, Giants finds the Northern Florida based musician and guitar educator stretching out on a well-tempered, 10-track 68 minute a ...

Jazz'halo (Belgium) (Ferdinand Dupuis-Panther)
Praise from an extremely qualified mouth comes from none other than Pat Martino: "Barry Greene is just about one of the best; not only as a player, but also as a writer and a teacher... a world-class musician." "'GIANTS' is jazz guitarist Barry Greene's most fully realized recording to date - a powerful tribute to the players who shaped his musi ...

All About Jazz (Jack Bowers)
The Giants singled out by guitarist Barry Greene on his recording of that name include a number of musicians who served as role models and helped shape his singular musical voice. Pat Martino is one, as are Grant Green, Wes Montgomery, Russell Malone and Pat Metheny, each one a stepping-stone on Greene's upward path toward self-identity and mastery ...