Saxophonist Gary Bartz, a 2024 National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master with a distinguished career working alongside jazz legends like Miles Davis and Charles Mingus, recently graced the Tiny Desk with a powerful performance. With over 45 solo albums and a reputation for musical innovation, Bartz's collaboration with Ali Shaheed Muhammad and Adrian Younge showcases his continued relevance at 83 years old.

During the Tiny Desk concert, Bartz's impactful renditions included the bluesy "Nommo - The Majick Song," the poignant "I've Known Rivers" inspired by Langston Hughes, and the reflective "Reparations" featuring poet J. Ivy. Each song carried deep messages and spiritual connections, with Mumu Fresh's poetry adding to the ethereal atmosphere. Closing with "The Song of Loving-Kindness," Bartz's music and words felt like a blessing to all present.

Bartz's belief that "Music, for me, is the only religion" shines through in his passionate performance at the Tiny Desk, where he reaffirmed his status as a jazz icon with a profound connection to both the past and the present.