Department of Music

• Tuesday, February 5, 2013
• Old Cabell Hall
• 8:00pm

The Charlottesville Jazz Society hosts The Patricia Barber Quartet in residence at the University of Virginia, February 4th, 5th and 6th.

The renowned vocalist, pianist, composer and poet Patricia Barber will be in concert with her quartet Tuesday evening February 5th at UVA’s Old Cabell Hall, celebrating the release of her debut recording on Concord Jazz, "SMASH." In addition to the concert, Ms. Barber will conduct two free workshops during her stay.

Veteran music writer Don Heckman (in the Los Angeles Times) called Barber “one of the most utterly individual jazz performers to arrive on the scene in years,” Barber began her career playing clubs in Chicago, where she still maintains a regular Monday night gig at The Green Mill. In the mid 80's she began to receive acclaim for her electrifying and unique live performances, leading to her major label debut in 1992 with "A Distortion of Love." That CD featured an unusual version of My Girl, arranged for just voice and finger snaps. The use of creative covers of songs not usually associated with jazz became a trademark over her next few albums. The musical and financial success of her 2 succeeding releases, Cafe Blue and Modern Cool, caught the eye of Blue Note records chairman Bruce Lundvall, leading to a contract that finally brought her world-wide notice.

Barber’s much anticipated debut on the Concord Jazz label features the new band that will accompany her for this concert. Performing with Patricia are bassist Larry Kohut and drummer Jon Deitemyer, with John Kregor on guitars.

On “SMASH,” Patricia Barber reiterates her unique position in modern music as a jazz triple-threat – imaginative pianist, startling vocalist, and innovative composer. With a new band and a dozen new compositions, she again proves that she is an intelligent and committed singer-songwriter, tackling even familiar subjects (like love and loss) with a nuance and depth rarely heard in the myriad of recordings by jazz vocalists that seem to flood the marketplace.

The 8 p.m. concert by The Patricia Barber Quartet is co-sponsored by UVA’s McIntire Department of Music. Tickets are available through the UVA Arts Box Office (http://artsandsciences.virginia.edu/boxoffice).

Ms. Barber will also present a lecture performance on Monday, February 4 from 11-11:50 a.m. in Old Cabell Hall. For more information see: http://artsandsciences.virginia.edu/music/concertsevents/pressreleases/12-13/130205BarberLecture.html.

See Cvillejazz.org for more info, or call 434-249-6191. Hear Patricia talk about her music on WTJU, 91.1FM, Monday, February 4 at noon.