Help: I have no Patricia Barber; is that good or bad?

PhilNYC · « **Reply #40 on:** 18 Apr 2008, 09:38 pm »

Quote from: satfrat on 18 Apr 2008, 09:34 pm

Mmmm, I don't see that at all in her music. I'm more in agreement with Miklorsmith's assessment myself. If anything I would call Patricia's style more of a jazz fusion but in no way do I see rock in her music. Color me puzzled,,,, I look good in that color. aa

Maybe it's because I only listen to Companion...

On that album, she's doing tunes like Use Me, Let it Rain, and Black Magic Woman....

rajacat · « **Reply #41 on:** 18 Apr 2008, 10:08 pm »

I see her operating within the jazz tradition and stretching the boundaries in her own unique direction. I just have Live- Fortnight in Paris and Mythologies. Fortnight is more mainstream jazz with even Witchcraft thrown into the mix. She even tosses a bone to the jazz/rock crowd with a nice unique turn on Norwegian Wood. There are some of the more cutting edge progressive numbers such as Crash and Gotcha for contrast.
Mythologies certainly taps her more progressive juices and might require a more open mind and versatile ears to fully appreciate.

Diana Krall is so vanilla and safe that it puts her in a lower creative category altogether and borders on smooth jazz.

-Roy

giantsteps · « **Reply #42 on:** 18 Apr 2008, 11:04 pm »

Quote from: Bob in St. Louis on 18 Apr 2008, 09:16 pm

Ok, you guys sold me. I couldn't resist.

I'm bidding on some Partricia Barber on ebay. Please don't outbid me.

Bob

Hey Bob, which one(s) are you bidding on?

Frank

giantsteps · « **Reply #43 on:** 18 Apr 2008, 11:11 pm »

Quote from: PhilNYC on 18 Apr 2008, 08:42 pm

I kind of have a hard time classifying Patricia Barber as "jazz". To me, she's an experimental singer/songwriter with more in common with body-performance artists and new-wave poets than most jazz musicians..

BULL'S-EYE!!

Frank

ted_b · « **Reply #44 on:** 18 Apr 2008, 11:55 pm »

Thanks again to all the great opinions. I'm getting a kick out of what my original post has created. As far as Diana Krall is concerned I agree that 90% of what I've heard from her is smooth jazz quality, pablam, boring stuff. There are a few nice nuggets though, including Joni's Case Of You from Live in Paris (great Wilson Benesch demo at RMAF last year) and a couple from Girl In The Other Room.

"Smooth Jazz" is such an oxymoron, really, and to me a pox on the larger genre. I hate it. I know that it is a subcategroy that many people like, but I can't handle the sameness and lack of creativity, IMO. I was worried Patricia Barber was in that genre but since posting, sampling and surfing this subject I'm relieved that she's not, and excited to peruse an up-till-now-unknown artist's catalog.

giantsteps · « **Reply #45 on:** 19 Apr 2008, 01:05 am »

TAKE 6 anyone?

Frank

jimdgoulding · « **Reply #46 on:** 19 Apr 2008, 01:44 am »

I have Modern Cool and I would agree that it’s stylized. What I haven’t read much about here is her songwriting and piano playing. The opening track is a lament for a lonely lady, perhaps shallow, making the bar scene but “she works harder that you”. The musicianship is very good on the album and it’s very well recorded. Big, sensual, in your room presence. One of her tunes is based on an EE Cummings poem with a small group of singers named Choral Thunder Vocal Choir that’ll take your breath away. Some tracks are largely instrumental and very jazzy. Once again, the musicianship is very good. I definitely think you should add this to your collection if you are a fan of jazz, original artistry, and bold, clear sound. Cheers.

giantsteps · « **Reply #47 on:** 19 Apr 2008, 02:21 am »

Obviously I'm not a Patricia Barber fan nor are the the gazillion musicians I'm in contact with. There is no doubt that she has talent if only she could get rid of her affectations. But I would like to pose a question...do you know her range(in octaves) and #2 do you care?

Frank

rajacat · « **Reply #48 on:** 19 Apr 2008, 02:30 am »

What's a gazillion? Just an affectation?
Since when does a jazz musician's vocal range determine their worth? Diana Krall really doesn't have much range. Billie Holliday was very limited too. I think it is more about delivery, emotion and ironically

style.

-Roy

giantsteps · « **Reply #49 on:** 19 Apr 2008, 02:39 am »

You' re not listening............. #2 ............do you care?

Frank

miklorsmith · « **Reply #50 on:** 19 Apr 2008, 05:01 am »

#2, range in octave, care? A - no, not whatsoever. Nobody said she's a phenomenal vocalist, rather a superlative musician. Not the same.

jimdgoulding · « **Reply #51 on:** 19 Apr 2008, 05:43 am »

Think I'll bump this thread cause it's vigorous and cause I want to add as a point of interest, hopefully, that the first time I heard F*** Me Pumps by Amy Winehouse it reminded me of the lady on the opening track on Modern Cool. In a simpler style, sure, and not nearly the recording.

Martyn · « **Reply #52 on:** 19 Apr 2008, 05:56 am »

She's certainly superlative, but I don't think "musician" is quite the right word. She has a talent for interpretation and arrangement, and also understands how to deliver a high quality recording. Sorry if this sounds a little flakey, but perhaps what she does is closer to art than most contemporary performers get. Her music certainly gets a positive emotional response from me, which for me is something that art should do. To my wooden ears, most "experimental" jazz is simply noise with little musical or artistic merit.

Diana Krall, on the other hand, is also pleasant to listen to (when she covers other people's compositions, at least), but doesn't move me or compel me to pay attention like Barber does. I suspect that she's technically a better pianist than she is a singer, although I'm no really qualified to do more than voice an opinion on that. I do enjoy her Tom Waits interpretatons...

Bob in St. Louis · « **Reply #53 on:** 19 Apr 2008, 12:45 pm »

Quote from: giantsteps on 18 Apr 2008, 11:04 pm

Hey Bob, which one(s) are you bidding on?

#230242498572
#350050252522

Don't even think about it Frank.

Bob

giantsteps · « **Reply #54 on:** 19 Apr 2008, 01:49 pm »

Quote from: Bob in St. Louis on 19 Apr 2008, 12:45 pm

Quote from: giantsteps on 18 Apr 2008, 11:04 pm
Hey Bob, which one(s) are you bidding on?

#230242498572
#350050252522

Don't even think about it Frank.

Bob

Gee Bob I just wanted to be nasty and have some fun.

This thread has stirred too much controversy.

Long live Patricia Barber and may she continue to delight her many fans.

Frank

Bob in St. Louis · « **Reply #55 on:** 19 Apr 2008, 02:38 pm »

That's alright Frank. Based on the folks "reviews" of Mrs. Barber, she sounds like she'd be right up my alley. I've got wide horizons musically speaking and those "weird-kinda-jazzy-doesn't fit into a solid genre" female vocalists are a favorite of mine.

Bob

giantsteps · « **Reply #56 on:** 19 Apr 2008, 03:06 pm »

Quote from: Bob in St. Louis on 19 Apr 2008, 02:38 pm

That's alright Frank. Based on the folks "reviews" of Mrs. Barber, she sounds like she'd be right up my alley. I've got wide horizons musically speaking and those "weird-kinda-jazzy-doesn't fit into a solid genre" female vocalists are a favorite of mine.

Bob

Speaking of wide musical horizons right now I'm listening to T-Pain.

Frank

Bob in St. Louis · « **Reply #57 on:** 19 Apr 2008, 03:07 pm »

A dentist could fix that T pain for ya'.

Never heard of 'em.

Bob

giantsteps · « **Reply #58 on:** 19 Apr 2008, 03:11 pm »

Quote from: Bob in St. Louis on 19 Apr 2008, 03:07 pm

A dentist could fix that T pain for ya'.

Never heard of 'em.

Bob

T-Pain is a talented dude. But not for the faint of heart.

Frank

Bob in St. Louis · « **Reply #59 on:** 19 Apr 2008, 03:27 pm »

Yea, I just Googled him. I see what you mean Frank.