To kick off our summer season this week, The Jazz Gallery is proud to welcome Australian drummer Simon Barker to our stage for two nights of special events. Based in Sydney, Barker is one of Australia's most prolific drummers, playing with internationally-renowned groups led by trumpeters Phil Slater and Scott Tinkler, as well as leading several of his own bands. Barker is a true musical omnivore, comfortable in almost any idiom—as critic John Shand of the Sydney Morning Herald puts it, "Barker has few peers worldwide for flexibility, resourcefulness, imagination, and a complete absence of rhythmic cliches."One of Barker's chief musical interests, however, are the rhythms of Korean traditional music. At 6 P.M. on Monday, July 10th, Barker will lead a workshop at The Jazz Gallery on Korean rhythms and applying them within a jazz-improvisational setting. To hear Barker talk more about his experiences with Korean music, check out the video below. On Tuesday, Barker will perform two sets at the Gallery with a mixed group of both Australian collaborators and New York friends, including Marc Hannaford on piano, Tony Malaby on saxophones, and Jen Shyu on voice. Before coming to the Gallery to check out Mr. Barker's rare craft, take a listen to his record Gathering Rains (Kimnara), which received a five-star review in the Sydney Morning Herald and encapsulates Barker's holistic and multifaceted approach to improvised music.Drummer Simon Barker plays The Jazz Gallery on Tuesday, July 11th, 2017. Mr. Barker will be joined by Marc Hannaford on piano, Tony Malaby on saxophones, Jen Shyu on voice, and a special guest. Sets are at 7:30 and 9:30 P.M. $15 general admission ($10 for members), FREE with SummerPass. On Monday, July 10th, Barker will present a workshop on Korean rhythms at 6 P.M.. $15 general admission ($10 for members), FREE with SummerPass. Purchase tickets here.