Patricia Barber
Patricia Barber
If there’s such a thing as a typical jazz vocalist, Patricia Barber doesn’t fit the profile. What distinguishes the cerebral performer from virtually all of her peers is the keen intelligence of her original material, which is often informed by her literary ambition. Quirky, insistently independent and emotionally cool, she’s attracted a dedicated following with her rigorous songwriting craft and sly, harmonically deft piano work. She won a Guggenheim Fellowship Award in 2003 to compose an ambitious song cycle based on Ovid’s epic poem “Metamorphoses,” making her the first singer-songwriter to ever receive the prestigious grant. A savvy bandleader who has honed a tight, telegraphic style with her quartet, Barber is known for transforming unlikely pop tunes into sleek jazz numbers, reinventing Cole Porter, and constantly reworking her impressive book of originals. Barber’s previous two albums were recorded at the storied Chicago jazz spot The Green Mill, where he’s held down a weekly gig for more than a decade, and this performance celebrates the release of her Concord Jazz debut, Smash. Whether she’s interpreting standards or her incisive original tunes, Patricia Barber has created a richly rewarding body of work unlike anything else on the scene.
Artist Personnel
Patricia Barber piano, vocals
John Kregor guitar
Larry Kohut bass
Jon Deitemyer drums





