Jazz Articles about Patricia Barber

Patricia Barber: The Cole Porter Mix

by George Kanzler
September 17, 2008

The mix here is a Cole Porter cocktail, a dry martini but with a touch of jalapeno instead of olive. And while there are strains of melancholy, as Barber says in the notes: “Cole Porter never wrote a song that said 'I'm miserable.'" That jalapeno heat comes from the evocative jazz arrangements and solos, especially those of guest tenor saxophonist Chris Potter (on five of the 13 tracks) and acoustic and electric guitarist Neal Alger, as well as the singer's ...

Patricia Barber: The Cole Porter Mix

by Dr. Judith Schlesinger
September 15, 2008

Patricia Barber is absolutely one of a kind. There are any number of jazz vocalists who have good voices, pitch, time, and piano chops; there are others who also sing as if they were looking straight into your eyes. But there is no one who is so consistently iconoclastic, and so deliberately intellectual. Ever since her first CD in 1989, abstract headiness has defined Barber's compositions and delivery; it was the core of her Mythologies release (Blue Note, 2003), a ...

Patricia Barber: Mythologies

by Hrayr Attarian
November 23, 2006

Poetry and music are two peas in a pod. For the past two millennia the Roman poet Ovid has inspired artists of all kinds, from poets and playwrights to filmmakers and musicians. Most recently, his timeless tales served as an inspiration to Patricia Barber, who is an accomplished musician and a poet in her own right.

Listeners who are familiar with Barber's work tend to expect thought-provoking lyrics, complex composition, innovative improvisation and sensual vocals, and this CD is no ...

Patricia Barber: Mythologies

by AAJ Italy Staff
November 22, 2006

E' un mare denso e scuro quello in cui si arrotola il pianoforte sensuale di Patricia Barber in apertura di questo sontuoso Mythologies. Con i gabbiani evocati dalla chitarra elettrica di Neal Alger pronti a gridare nel vento. Il tema dell'album è quello della rilettura in chiave moderna delle Metamorfosi di Ovidio e la cantante pianista di Chicago non si lascia scappare l'occasione di smontare e rimontare a suo piacimento le metafore e i paradossi, i miti e le storie ...

Patricia Barber: Mythologies

by Jim Santella
August 13, 2006

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 ...

Patricia Barber: Live: A Fortnight in France

by Woodrow Wilkins
March 3, 2005

The mere mention of a woman speaking French is enough to set many men's imaginations to wandering. If she's singing it, and has a pleasant voice to boot, the listener--male or female--can't help but smile. Although Patricia Barber only offers Français on one track of her latest album, Live: A Fortnight in France , it is one of the many high points. Recorded early in 2004 at clubs in three French cities (L'Arsenal in Metz, La Coursive in ...

Patricia Barber: A Fortnight in France

by Dr. Judith Schlesinger
September 13, 2004

Patricia Barber has always been edgy, iconoclastic, and daring, and she has committed the cardinal sin of insisting on creative control of her product. After seven albums on her own label (Premonition) or in cooperation with Blue Note, this is the first to be released exclusively by the latter.

Not coincidentally, her music is unique and instantly identifiable: powerful and passionate, but also whimsical and tongue-in-cheek. Barber is a skilled pianist and supple singer who can be sensitive ...