Patricia Barber...so many but which ones?

[DaveyF]

I haven't had much exposure to Patricia Barber. I would like to change that, but there are so many pressings and titles that I thought I would ask which one's are the cream of the crop...

Are the MFSL's the best....they do seem to be the most pricey The new 200gram RTI pressing of Cafe Blue, any good...how good.....so many pressings, I'm confused

 

[garylkoh]

Best way to change that is Monday night, 8pm at the Green Mill, Chicago

http://www.greenmilljazz.com/phpBB2/calendar.php

After hearing her live a few times (almost every time I've been in Chicago) I don't listen to her albums anymore. I hear her way too often at shows & etc. But if I were to pick one album, I'd pick A Fortnight in France for a live album and Companion for a studio. Cafe Blue is too "audiophile" for my tastes.....

 

[DaveyF]

Best way to change that is Monday night, 8pm at the Green Mill, Chicago
...

Not going to be able to do Chicago, but thanks anyway, Gary

BTW, I kind of like "too audiophile"...so, is Cafe Blue the one to get and which pressing
Others?

 

[rblnr]

I like the live stuff and 'modern cool' too. But Gary's right about going to Chicago, she's much more engaging live which is not always the case. The Green Mill is Al Capone's old speakeasy.

 

[mauidan]

To experience The Green Mill, pick up:

 

[Wardsweb]

I have Cafe Blue on 45 vinyl but prefer Modern Cool.

 

[LenWhite]

I own three Patricia Barber Mobile Fidelity SACD's: Verse, Modern Cool, and Companion - all are wonderful albums. The Companion disc contains an awesome arrangement of "Black Magic", and Modern Cool contains the striking "Constantinople". But the Verse album is absolutely a stunning work musically and sonically from the clever and foot tapping beginning track "The Moon" to the melancholy ending track "If I Were Blue".

Ms. Barber is a prolific composer, lyricist, and consummate pianist. Every track contains wonderfully unique arrangements with structure, pace and rhythm making her albums clearly identifiable. Her music style allows her fellow musicians to fully participate.

The Mobile Fidelity productions possess excellent presence, articulation, dynamics, and imaging. I consider Verse one of the musical and sonic gems in my music collection and each listening session with this album always gets my full attention.

 

[mep]

I still trying to decide if Patricia Barber is really good or if she just sings pretentious babble that sounds cool.

 

[DEV]

Best way to change that is Monday night, 8pm at the Green Mill, Chicago

http://www.greenmilljazz.com/phpBB2/calendar.php

After hearing her live a few times (almost every time I've been in Chicago) I don't listen to her albums anymore. I hear her way too often at shows & etc. But if I were to pick one album, I'd pick A Fortnight in France for a live album and Companion for a studio. Cafe Blue is too "audiophile" for my tastes.....

I agree with Gary three picks although I do have them all, including Box sets and her latest Cafe Blue remix on HQ-180 to compare with my box set 45. "Box sets" good luck with thoughs, very exspensive on the market place now.

 

[garylkoh]

I still trying to decide if Patricia Barber is really good or if she just sings pretentious babble that sounds cool.

You're close enough to Chicago to really find out

I wouldn't judge her by her albums. Like Bob says - she is much more engaging live.

 

[MylesBAstor]

To experience The Green Mill, pick up:

View attachment 2548

BTW, the Tape Project is releasing one of Kurt's recordings

 

[MylesBAstor]

I agree with Gary three picks although I do have them all, including Box sets and her latest Cafe Blue remix on HQ-180 to compare with my box set 45. "Box sets" good luck with thoughs, very exspensive on the market place now.

I always felt Companion was underrated. Problem is that many of her older albums are no longer available on vinyl (and the eBay prices are ridiculous). Cafe Blue is a bit overprocessed for my taste. I also think it's digital mixed down to analog tape? But I might be wrong.

I wish I had a copy of the Patricia Barber piece Wayne Donnelly wrote for me several years Somewhere in storage

 

[mep]

You're close enough to Chicago to really find out

I wouldn't judge her by her albums. Like Bob says - she is much more engaging live.

Because she looks cute in her mohair suit? After awhile, all of her songs start running together and sound the same. I like her in small doses, but she gets tiring to me fairly quickly.

 

[DaveyF]

Anybody have her current MFSL LP's.....The Cole Porter mix and Mythologies? Worth a listen

Cafe Blue seems to be her most desired LP, looking at the price that the MFSL's go for!!

I just haven't had a lot of exposure to her and have heard that her MFSL pieces are spectacular.

Modern Cool is high on my list now, but which pressing?

 

[NorthStar]

Big fan of her (among many other female Jazz singers), so I got all of her CDs and SACDs.

'Companion', 'Modern Cool', 'Verse', 'Mythologies', ... all good stuff.

 

[NorthStar]

Anybody have her current MFSL LP's.....The Cole Porter mix and Mythologies? Worth a listen

Cafe Blue seems to be her most desired LP, looking at the price that the MFSL's go for!!

I just haven't had a lot of exposure to her and have heard that her MFSL pieces are spectacular.

Modern Cool is high on my list now, but which pressing?

SACD, from MoFi. ...Or the LP (only the best ones).

 

[garylkoh]

If I would have to be limited to have just one of her albums, I would keep the Classic Records double album "A Fortnight in France".

 

[Ronm1]

Big fan of her (among many other female Jazz singers), so I got all of her CDs and SACDs.

'Companion', 'Modern Cool', 'Verse', 'Mythologies', ... all good stuff.

We are in sync there, Bob....

 

[flez007]

I do like Verse among all from her, 45RPM pressing of course.

 

[DaveyF]

Today, I played Barber's Cole Porter Mix on MFSL LP. Gotta say this LP is AWESOME!!!


Absolutely love it, and for those who haven't heard this pressing, all I can say is you've gotta hear it.
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT.