Patricia Barber

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American jazz pianist/singer/songwriter - Morley keeps going on about her and I'm intrigued by the new Ovidian (!) concept album Mythologies; somewhere between Nina Simone and Annette Peacock I am led to believe (wow! if it's true...but is it?). So I'd like to know more; who here has heard her, what's she like, how good is she, where to start, etc.

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Friday, 8 September 2006 11:28 (nineteen years ago)

She's like lit-jazz, or maybe NPR-jazz. She plays at the Green Mill in Chicago reguarly.

Not my thing exactly, but I do think she's good. I might like her as a pianist better than as a singer/lyricist, it seems like she really tries to go somewhere different in her solos and not be all chopsfest.

― Jordan (Jordan), Friday, 8 September 2006 11:52 (nineteen years ago)

Stylistically, is her piano playing in the usual post-Bill Evans lineage; whereabouts would you place her in terms of comparison points?

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Friday, 8 September 2006 11:55 (nineteen years ago)

I don't know enough about jazz to place her in a context, but I have seen her perform twice, and she is very good: a wonderfully smoky voice, abstractly literate lyrics (her new album is based entirely on Greek mythology, I believe), and dreamily textured piano.

― jaymc (jaymc), Friday, 8 September 2006 12:23 (nineteen years ago)

Sort of Joan As Police Woman meets Paul Bley, then. Hmmm. I think I'll investigate.

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Friday, 8 September 2006 12:25 (nineteen years ago)

If you're in Chicago, go see her Monday-night residency at the Green Mill - some of the best live jazz I've ever seen. Two or three sets, a mix of originals and standards. There's an intensity and sponteneity to the live show that doesn't quite come across on her studio recordings - in the live show, the experimentation and the loyalty to the song both come across - in her playing, and in her scowls when anyone's solo (including her own) meanders into indulgence. She's really a marvel.

― Eazy (Eazy), Friday, 8 September 2006 17:55 (nineteen years ago)

And I would agree with Jordan that her real strength is as a pianist - though she's a fine singer and composer too. But her performance on the piano, at least in performance, is comparable to her influences - Jarrett, Evans, Monk.

― Eazy (Eazy), Friday, 8 September 2006 17:57 (nineteen years ago)

If I might direct you to a big huge puff-piece I wrote about her in PopMatters: http://www.popmatters.com/music/reviews/b/barberpatricia-nightclub.shtml

― Haikunym (Haikunym), Friday, 8 September 2006 18:08 (nineteen years ago)

Have some of her discs. Vocally, she's an acquired taste. But she has a good jazz sense and I agree that her playing is very good.

― Sean Robison (yaratnam), Saturday, 9 September 2006 00:43 (nineteen years ago)

I like what I have heard quite a bit ... but apart from what's been commented upon -- her piano playing, singing, lyrics -- what struck me immediately was her *compositional sense*. Just really kind of knotty and unconventional structures into which she shoehorns the other stuff. in a good way. Again I'm no expert but what I have heard (all on the radio) I have enjoyed. Marcello, I think you would enjoy it as well and I would probably just start with the earliest stuff -- been totally meaning to do so myself...

― Stormy Davis (diamond), Saturday, 9 September 2006 06:00 (nineteen years ago)

A few live songs and concert footage:
http://www.patriciabarber.com/av/

― Eazy (Eazy), Saturday, 9 September 2006 07:21 (nineteen years ago)

ust really kind of knotty and unconventional structures

Yeah, I think this is a good point. "Knotty" is a good word; I was going to use "thorny" myself. :)

― jaymc (jaymc), Saturday, 9 September 2006 13:52 (nineteen years ago)

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Patricia Barber - C/D?