In much the same way that a visual artist paints memorable themes on canvas, Patricia Barber puts her ideas into music by establishing an open avenue of communication with her audience. Her voice is always a pleasure. Her piano work is comfortable in the context of her role as storyteller. Her compositions are deep enough that we’ll revisit them again and again.

Barber puts the blues into each of her adventurous musical portraits. Her quartet partners, guitarist Neal Alger, bassist Michael Arnopol and drummer Eric Montzka, surround the singer/pianist with hot stuff from start to finish. The scenes vary, as the characters that she’s chosen to represent come from different viewpoints.

“Icarus” is light and positive, while “Pygmalion” suffers from a heavy dose of the blues. “Narcissus” drowns in romantic sorrow; “Orpheus” treads heavily while crying out in sorrow. “Oedipus” perks up with a raging storm of percussion activity, while “Persephone” waltzes slowly and lightly as if through a meadow of flowers in full bloom. The five-star program delivers a thousand images bound by progressive, enduring jazz wrappings.

Barber, now fifty, grew up in South Sioux City, Nebraska. Her music retains the influence of America’s heartland through its storytelling, down-home comfort and soulful sharing. Through Mythologies, we’re transported home to our own roots: the church, school and neighborhood organizations that helped us to develop and mature.