December 8, 2005

Posted December 08, 2005

Jazz pianist and vocalist Patricia Barber mentioned Joni in a recent interview with Andrea Canter. A native of suburban Chicago, Barber was genetically predispositioned to follow the jazz life; her father, Floyd "Shim" Barber, played sax with Glen Miller. Studying psychology and classical music at the University of Iowa, she switched to jazz, later moving back to Chicago and literally launching her career in 1984 with a standing engagement (5 nights per week) at the famed Gold Star Sardine Bar.

Patricia has since gained a critical and cult following, and released numerous albums. Of her album called "Verse", Patricia makes this comment in the interview:

"Verse is about songwriting," says Barber, "and about trying to create new material within both a narrow and broad construction of what vocal jazz is now. I have been diligent about trying to learn from, absorb, and acknowledge the great American songwriters whose songs have been appropriated as repertoire by the jazz masters... I was hearing the songs in my head had more to do with the guitar than the piano. In a loose way, Verse is a Patricia Barber homage to Joni Mitchell."