Album Notes

Cheryl D. Barnes & Phillip Cabasso

Shortly after meeting in 1985, Cheryl Barnes and Phillip Cabasso embarked on a musical adventure which continues to this day.
Seeking to go beyond the well-worn path of playing and singing the standard jazz repertoire, they are continually seeking new and interesting ways to present their musical ideas.

With Phillip’s particular emphasis on harmonic and rhythmic exploration and Cheryl’s unerring sense of what a musical performance is supposed to be all about, their efforts have been well received by a wide variety of audiences, from those new to jazz, all the way to top jazz pros.


Working with some of the greatest players on the planet has produced some memorable musical moments, and the accolades of these great players attests to the artistic success of Cheryl and Phillip’s collaborative efforts.

Married in 1989, they bring two lifetimes of musical education and performance to the collaboration.

Phillip began studying piano at age five, adding trombone at age nine. Playing throughout his school years, he was active in multiple, diverse musical ensembles at U.C. Davis from the University Symphony to several jazz ensembles. Remaining at U.C Davis for medical school enabled Phillip to continue playing with his long-established
musical associates further developing his growing musical landscape.
He has a busy, successful private practice in Internal Medicine.

Ms. Barnes’ U.S. tours have paired her with the likes of Wynton Marsalis, J.J. Johnson, and Quincy Jones. She is quite often heard in and around Los Angeles as a solo singer as well as a participant in a number of established vocal ensembles. From NYC’s world famous BIRDLAND to Hollywood’s revered jazz club, CATALINA BAR & GRILL, Cheryl has sung the songs from Be-Bop to Broadway to Bach. She also appears as a guest artist/clinician at schools and universities throughout Southern California. She tours the world over from Amsterdam to the Antilles, and from Sao Paulo to Singapore.

No stranger to classical music, Cheryl began her voice studies at the age of nine. She attended the University of Denver’s Lamont School of Music where she sang the lead in operatic productions along with serving as the featured singer with the award winning D.U. Jazz Band. Her training, both formal and practical, has reinforced her enormous vocal range and laid a solid foundation for her estimable vocal abilities, ranging from Pop to Latin to Classical to Jazz. She has performed with the Denver Symphony Orchestra, the Florida Orchestra, the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra and was co-host of Denver’s popular TV magazine show, “The Other Side”.