Gary Bartz graduated from the Baltimore City College high school and The Juilliard School; his break into the music industry came when filling in with Art Blakey's band at his father's club in Baltimore. Gary Bartz has played with Miles Davis at the Isle of Wight festival, Charles Mingus, Max Roach, McCoy Tyner, and Jackie McLean. His group, the Ntu Troop, combined soul, funk, African music, hard bop, and avant-garde jazz.