Digital Drive

• Barber is often a polarizing artist - mls-stl 17:18:17 06/29/12 (5)
  In Reply to: RE: Patricia Barber's "Modern Cool" on Dual Layer Blu-Ray posted by Disbeliever on June 27, 2012 at 23:28:35

  People either seem to think she's the most gifted person in jazz currently out there or they seem to react as if she's Miss Piggy giving voice to her most famous line: "Pretentious? Moi?"
  
  Somehow I ended up in the middle category. She's certainly a technically knowledgeable musician, but her style seems rather canned and overly laconic to me. I don't dislike her, but never go out of my way to find her stuff.
  

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  • "but her style seems rather canned and overly laconic to me" That discription sounds more like Diana Krall - gme109 17:04:17 07/03/12 (1)
    In Reply to: RE: Barber is often a polarizing artist posted by mls-stl on June 29, 2012 at 17:18:17

    to me. Barber's style is anything but canned. I know of no other jazz musician that sounds anything like her. And her lyrics are never uncommunicative.
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    • Your reply illustrates... - mls-stl 18:01:44 07/03/12 (0)
      In Reply to: RE: "but her style seems rather canned and overly laconic to me" That discription sounds more like Diana Krall posted by gme109 on July 03, 2012 at 17:04:17

      ...my original point. Barber seems more likely to draw either a strong positive or negative response than a neutral one.
      
      And, in this case, by "canned", I find her rather formulaic in her style (though this comment applies to many artists). In this context, "canned" doesn't mean she sounds generic or like others, it is just that I don't find that she ranges very far from her base sound. However, I think that attribute stands out a bit more when one isn't taken with the performer.
      
      (Think of all the Jack Nicholson -- he's certainly a draw and has played a wide range of parts, but they all tend to come out the same. Contrast him to Alex Guinness who once played 8 different parts in the same film. I'd call Nicholson "canned" in comparison to Guinness, and I like both actors.)
      

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  • I am in your boat - Sordidman 16:23:49 07/03/12 (0)
    In Reply to: RE: Barber is often a polarizing artist posted by mls-stl on June 29, 2012 at 17:18:17

    I wouldn't say "canned," - but I really like Cafe Blue, and after acquiring other discs, was disappointed. A few really great songs mixed in with "filler."
    

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    "Asylums with doors open wide,
    Where people had paid to see inside,
    For entertainment they watch his body twist
    Behind his eyes he says, 'I still exist.'"
    
    
    

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  • I quite like her. - soundnut 07:37:55 07/02/12 (1)
    In Reply to: RE: Barber is often a polarizing artist posted by mls-stl on June 29, 2012 at 17:18:17

    I don't love every single track she's put out, but I find most of it is excellent. "Modern Cool" is a favorite Barber album for me.
    
    But I also really dig Diana Krall & Norah Jones, and a lot of people hate them too.
    
    I'm also really into Phil Woods, Oscar Peterson, Bud Powell, Mulgrew Miller, Diz, Bird, Miles, and all the stuff the "real" jazz people like.
    
    If something isn't to my taste, I usually hesitate to say it "sucks" or it's "crap". It's just something I'm not into. (I do make exceptions to that rule for The Spice Girls, 50 Cent, Toby Keith, etc.)
    
    Cheers,
    Bobbo :-)
    

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    • I congratulate you... - mls-stl 10:42:47 07/02/12 (0)
      In Reply to: RE: I quite like her. posted by soundnut on July 02, 2012 at 07:37:55

      ...on your ability to like musicians you do without going radically negative on those for which you don't care. Lots of people could take a lesson from you.
      

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• I'll Make a Deal with You ... - Mudshark 04:59:03 06/28/12 (6)
  In Reply to: RE: Patricia Barber's "Modern Cool" on Dual Layer Blu-Ray posted by Disbeliever on June 27, 2012 at 23:28:35

  I will buy you the new "Modern Cool" Blu-ray so you can try a different Patricia Barber album, and you ship me your despised MFSL "Cafe Blue" SACD.
  

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  • RE: I'll Make a Deal with You ... - Disbeliever 05:32:45 06/28/12 (5)
    In Reply to: RE: I'll Make a Deal with You ... posted by Mudshark on June 28, 2012 at 04:59:03

    OK its a deal let me have your address. I will PM you mine. I have just noticed that you require SACD version cafe blue. Quite frankly I am glad I did not buy the SACD version of this crap disc.Premonition Records 66917/90/6027.
    

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    • RE: I'll Make a Deal with You ... - jazz1 08:01:53 06/28/12 (2)
      In Reply to: RE: I'll Make a Deal with You ... posted by Disbeliever on June 28, 2012 at 05:32:45

      Cafe Blue is most probably Barber weakest outing, Mythologie and Verses
      are fantastic discs, and better recordings.
      Nevertheless Patricia band is very good, great bass player, drummer and guitar man.
      Jim Anderson is the extraordinaire recording engineer.
      Is there a better piano sound than the one on Mythologie???
      OK it is a Fazzioli!!

      • http://www.jazzchicago.net/barber.html   (Open in New Window)

      
      

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      • Best Patricia Barber Releases - Mudshark 13:54:10 06/28/12 (1)
        In Reply to: RE: I'll Make a Deal with You ... posted by jazz1 on June 28, 2012 at 08:01:53

        I agree that "Cafe Blue" is a weaker outing, and I would rank "Companion" and "Nightclub" as her top releases.
        

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        • don't forget "A Fortnight in France" - triode 13:33:29 06/30/12 (0)
          In Reply to: RE: Best Patricia Barber Releases posted by Mudshark on June 28, 2012 at 13:54:10

          great live sound, and the band really stretches out...worth it for their version of "Norwegian Wood" alone!
          
          "Your liver suffers dearly now for youthful magic moments...so rock on completely with some brand new components"
          
          

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    • As my father used to say ... - Mudshark 06:20:04 06/28/12 (1)
      In Reply to: RE: I'll Make a Deal with You ... posted by Disbeliever on June 28, 2012 at 05:32:45

      "That was a joke, son."
      
      The OOP "Cafe Blue" SACD sells for BIG $$ on the used market. I assumed you had the SACD and I was trying for a laugh by offering to take it off your hands for the $20 USD price of the new "Modern Cool" BD.
      
      The CD version of "Cafe Blue" is still in print, relatively inexpensive and of no interest to me. (Thanks anyway, though.)
      

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      • RE: As my father used to say ... - Disbeliever 07:12:42 06/28/12 (0)
        In Reply to: RE: As my father used to say ... posted by Mudshark on June 28, 2012 at 06:20:04

        OK No problem. Why anyone would want to pay big bucks for the SACD version is beyond me, the CD sound is very good, I just do not care for the content.
        

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