John Baboian has been a featured performer on over 20 recordings in a variety of musical styles: Video

24.12. – Happy Birthday !!! Guitarist/Composer/Educator, John Baboian, has been on the faculty at Berklee College of Music in Boston since 1980.  Before beginning his teaching career at Berklee, he received a Bachelors Degree in Music Education from Berklee and later a Masters Degree in Jazz Studies from New England Conservatory.

Although best known for his work in the jazz & swing idioms, John has performed in the Classical, Blues, Rock, R&B, Latin and World music genres.  His performances include concerts, clubs, recordings, radio and television throughout the United States and Canada, as well as performances and teaching clinics in Japan, Central & South Americas, Europe, South Africa, and the former Soviet Union including his ancestral home, Armenia. 

His compositions and arrangements have been heard on television shows “Walker, Texas Ranger”, UPN’s “Seven Days”, ABC’s “All My Children”, HBO’s “The Soprano’s”, and others.  

He has accompanied headliners Frankie Avalon, Sergio Franchi, Connie Francis, Tom Jones, Al Martino, Marilyn Michaels, Jim Nabors, Bobby Rydell, Ben Vereen and many others, and has shared the stage with Jazz greats Gary Burton, Alan Dawson, Joe Lovano, Bob Moses, Herb Pomeroy, Esperanza Spalding, Leni Stern, Phil Wilson, Warren Vache and many others. 

John has been a featured performer on over 20 recordings in a variety of musical styles.  Recent recordings include performances with “The Boston Big Band”, “The World Leaders”, “The Black Sea Salsa Band”, and a host of vocalists from the New England area.  Under his own leadership, John has released The “Be-Bop” Guitars & More! (2000) and “Freshly Painted Blues” (2007), featuring his all-faculty guitar ensemble from Berklee called The “Be-Bop” Guitars.  He recently returned from South Africa where his band played at the Cape Town Jazz Festival.

His picture is included in the recently published book: “Faces Of Jazz” which features prominent New England Jazz artists.

John is a voting member of The Recording Academy (Grammy’s), an active member of the American Society of Composers, Authors & Publishers (ASCAP), a winner of many ASCAPLUS writing awards, and a “Network With An Expert” consultant to the Jazz Education Network (JEN).

Recently, John surprised his fans and students with a “cameo” appearance in the feature film “Ted” filmed in Boston.  Look for the moustachioed guitar player in the house party scene and you will see a familiar face.

John plays and is an endorser of D’Addario strings.