It was still cold when I was in New York just over a week ago - I'd been rehearsing with John McDaniel in Long Island
Ice on pool so no swimming in Long Island when we were working, not this time!
and Laurence Hobgood in Queens, and staying courtesy of Beverly and Richard, Andy Goldberg's fabulous parents, opposite the Lincoln Centre. Even though my nose was to the grindstone constantly I managed to attend the MAC awards, sitting next to Billy Stritch and John McDaniel, Pamela Lewis and Bill Hurley were there, Stephen Hanks and a massive bunch of other cabaret chums. Lennie Watts hosted, and John and I presented two of our great mates with awards - Tracy Stark and JP Perreux both won their categories.
John and I had our photos done by the fabulous Rick Stockwell. Here are a couple
And there's - apropos of none of the above - a new channel intro filmed by Marcus Reeves The Web Coach on my youtube channel - check it out -
Gail was there, and Rick got a beautiful couple of shots of us together.
Gail and Barb at by Rick Stockwell
The fabulous Lennie Watts and I hosted a workshop with Tracy on piano. Laurence took me to see Paul Taylor's superb dance company at the Lincoln Centre as Arianne Reinhart, his partner, is on their board. And I managed to sneak in an evening of fun and chat with Jane and Luka in the East Village, and another one with Andy and Maamoun in Hell's Kitchen.
The view from the rooftop at Andy and Maamoun's as night fell NYC March 2015
I ran into a bunch of people including Michael Barakiva at a reading of Carmencita Jones, (book my my mate Stephen Clark), and bought my mum an handbag and myself some terrific face cream. It was a very action/work/packed trip.
Returned to a wonderful Easter Sunday show with Simon Wallace and Davide Mantovani at Crazy Coqs.
Superb audience, packed house, my family and friends there, and a lot of wild crazy audience folks. We filmed the show and there'll be a superb film by Matt Lynch of it all soon. In case you forgot Matt made this of my version of Sweet Thames Flow Softly, music produced and played by Simon Wallace and Neville Malcolm. Here it is - spring love for all - Ewan MacColl's great song, packed with London place names……
And now back to April and all that it brings, and remember…. all you need is…..love……
Namaste! Peace and love to all. May your daffodils blossom and your heart be filled with joy.
So happy today to see this Matthew Lynch Inside out film made for the BBC on youtube at last. Of course there's a bit in there where I'm a tad cross with time wasting, so thanks a lot Matt I-thought-you- were-my-friend for keeping that in! Lovely also that it shows rehearsals both with the fabulous Gareth Fuller and the Deep Roots Tall Trees choir, and also me with the band in rehearsal at Mark Brennan's studio, and the stage and the Corby audience at the concert and of course a few teeny tiny clips of us working with Antony Weeden and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
Valentine's Night at The Purcell Room was a total joy. Sometimes it all just hangs together and you don't know how and you don't know why, it just does. It was one of those nights. Simon Wallace and Davide Mantovani played beautifully and the audience was terrific and the house was full. Essentially the force was with us, we were in the flow and coursing down the river of song. Glorious. And afterwards a bunch of us went to Ping Pong and ate our bodyweight in Dim Sum and drank it in prosecco. Here are some of the wonderful Habie Schwarz's photos from it all……
Barb and Davide at The Purcell Room, Valentine's Night 2015
Barb at The Purcell Room, Valentine's Night 2015
Grooving to Simon Wallace's piano at The Purcell Room, Valentine's Night 2015
There have been some lovely UK shows, too, In Didcot and Diss in Norfolk, and the Sunday residency at Crazy Coqs with my great mate Julian Clary was a triumph. Its always fab to go back and sing all those songs together again, but we put a couple of new country duets into the mix, and they were hilarious. We managed to share the dressing room, too - which for those who know the Crazy Coqs is actually a cupboard, and here's the selfie to prove it!
Julian and Barb hot to trot in the Crazy Coqs' hilarious dressing room.
And finally, I realised that there were a ton of fabulous songs on the Cheek2Cheek film Chansons Encore that we made ages ago when I had long hair, at New Greenham Arts, with their wonderful film production team. And they've found this rap I did years ago about Battersea Park, before singing the song "Where Are You Now?" which I share since there's very little of my raps on youtube.
So. Its spring. I'm soon off to Barton on Humber to the fabulous Ropery Hall, and the new Rialto in Brighton to do my chansons.
Tomorrow I'm rehearsing for The Purcell Room Valentine's special I'm doing - have you booked? Do, cos tickets are going fast now - and we are doing the best collection of love songs. I've titled the show my Funny Valentin - Songs For the Wild at Heart. Partly because my hearts pretty wild and partly because those are the kind of love songs I love above all, for example my version of Wichita Lineman, I Saw The Light, I Love Paris, Sweet Thames Flow Softly - its a brilliant collection of songs though I say it myself and the superb Davide Mantovani is on double bass with of course the wonderful Simon Wallace on piano. Here's info and tickets and all
My Funny Valentine - songs for the wild at heart - The Purcell Room, SBC, 14th Feb 2015.
Last Monday night I was at The Islington Pub, which is amazingly in Islington, to talk about Bob Dylan for near 2 hours with musician Sid Griffin, writer David Hepworth and DJ and journalist Mark Ellen. The room was packed to bursting. The Bobcats were there. We were united in our delight in, and fascination with, all things Bob. Here we are afterwards the 4 of us, in the bar - surprise surprise -
Mark Ellen, Sid Griffin, Barb and David Hepworth at the Word In Your Ear Bobcast recording
David Hepworth's blog on more Dylan thoughts is here
Gorgeous way to spend a freezing Monday night in London. Here's the big piece in the American magazine that gave a load of the Dylan new album away, for the Bobcats reading today -
And afterwards film maker Mathew Lynch, performer and writer Kerry Shale, David and I went to Yipin, the Hunan Chinese restaurant around the corner, which has a very different menu to any Chinese restaurant I've ever been in, anywhere. Admittedly I've not been to your actual China, but I have eaten Chinese food in nearly every other town and country I've ever been in.
They have a really diverse and fabulous menu and you can eat jolly well if you're a veggie there, too. Or not. Either way.
And Kerry has a new show coming in March - the 2000 Year Old Man. Read about that, here - he's recreating the fabulous Mel Brooks Carl Reiner classic comedy routine at JW3.
And as I always like to end with a fab video. Here's one of mine. I'm in that kind of love song mood today. Here's MacColl's beautiful Sweet Thames Flow Softly filmed by above mentioned and wonderful Matthew Lynch.
Come see us at The Purcell Room, and laugh and cry and love with us on Valentine's.
Namaste,
Barb
What a whirlwind. I write from my sickbed as a dreadful lurgy struck me just as I was to leave for London from the East Village. Jane, my fabulous friend and theatrical landlady to the stars, and Luka, her son and tech wizard, were at home due to Martin Luther King day, and I could barely open my eyes let alone get to an airport. But buoyed up by vitamin C tablets and natural vim and vigour I managed to get myself back to London.
So many wonderful things, times places. Such great work. Fabulous people.
Apart from Jane and Luka, highlights included the 54 Below run which was a total joy and resulted in some lovely reviews and the making of new friends.
and a massage from the fabulous bodyworker George Russell - cannot recommend more. You can find out more about him, here - he's sorted my lower back pain in one session with a set of brilliant exercises.
Then I found out Hard Rain had won a BroadwayWorld.com award for best CD of 2014 which is just mind blowing. There was a nice piece about it in the Examiner, here
Then I started working with the terrific singer, Pamela Lewis and her band of musicians - a delight from start to finish and great to see her do 2 really terrific opening shows of this new Billy Joel material New York State Of Mind at The Metropolitan Room with Ritt Henn on bass, John Hurley on guitar, Marcus Parsley on trumpet and Bill Heller on piano and really nice arrangements. She'll be doing another performance of this in early March in NYC if you missed her this time around.
I managed to fit in some fun time with New York's best Doctor Thelma Reyes, writer Kristine Reyes and her husband, photographer Jason De Crow, and we had lunch at Veselka on 2nd Avenue.
Jason, Kristine, me and Thelma on 2nd Avenue in sub zero tempertures.
Jane got me started watching Celebrity Big Brother, which I have managed to avoid for, what, decades? Now I know why. Addictive and vindictive and other words ending in "ive". Destructive. There are more I'm sure. Luckily being back home has broken the cycle and I've been able to detox by watching the first magnificent episode of Wolf Hall, and marvelling at Mark Rylance's fabulous acting, again.
I digress. APAP was amazing. Its in the New York Hilton and its mind boggling. Every musician within a hundred mile radius of New York must have been playing and there were people there from all over the world come to ply their wares at the world's biggest performers and agents trade fair. At one point in our green room there were jazz musicians, close harmony blonde country chicks dressed in shortie pink lace, pirates (not kidding) there were basemen, drummers, trombonists, percussionists, every kind of stringed instrument you can imagine. Walking past each conference room you'd hear bluegrass, then there would be a group of what looked like Japanese schoolgirls dancing on chairs, a woman with a lute, a jazz combo. It was chocca with life. Liz Thomson from Book Brunch was around, too. She's working on a great new project to bring it all back to Greenwich Village. More here…..
And Tammy McCann the great singer from Chicago was performing.
Tammy and Barb at APAP
As was the fabulous pianist Laurence Hobgood.
Laurence and Barb at APAP
Gail Boyd Management, who look after us all, had a booth downstairs, and we all dropped by on Monday to hang and have fun and eat popcorn.
Tammy, Gail, Barb and Laurence in front of the best booth at APAP no mistaking.
There was time to have lunch and a really good chinwag with James Gavin, mid tour of his Lena Horne show. And the wonderful pianist Aaron Graves took me to meet Barry Harris and to one of Barry's now legendary workshops. Ask Simon Wallace how important Barry is, he'll tell you for sure.
Lenny Watts, Tracy Stark and I workshopped with a bunch of lovely singers, and we reconnected with Jay, one of our alumni from last year's Connecticut Eugene O'Neill Cabaret Conference.
Both Mike Lunoe and I got food poisoning from what used to be my favourite Thai restaurant - I will never eat at Room Service on 9th Avenue again. I have returned, tail between my legs, to Pam's Pad Thai, and now all is well.
And the Sunday on Long Island working with arranger and composer John McDaniel on our new show for this year's Connecticut Conference was a joy of joys. But much more about all of that, soon……
And a mention of the weather. Which was brutal, to put it mildly. But clear and sunny, often, and cleansing in a mad wintry way.
Meanwhile, there's a new series of French cop genius show Spiral on iplayer, and time flies…..
And Tom Lescher, as always, has great advice from the heavens……
I begin my year leaving a city on fire with the best firework display around an old clock ever seen -
London ablaze to welcome 2015
And arriving to watch the ball drop in Times Square
Times Square New Year's Eve 2014
Open at 54 Below tomorrow for a 3 night residency with Tracy Stark on piano and Mike Lunoe on percussion. Still a few tickets if you get cracking fast -
Eleven songs by Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen may be a little much, right? Not when this British cabaret singer gets through with the poignant, often seminal, soundtracks that once represented an entire generation of protest during times of struggle. Jungr handles the protest (“Blowin’ In The Wind,” “It’s Alright Ma,” “Who By Fire,” “First We Take Manhattan”) gracefully, adding her feminine touch and infinite compassion in vocals that never stray into hysteria or strident homily. She makes the listener feel the emotional ramifications of the social injustices, and keeps those themes relevant today. “I knew right from the start it was all the tougher songs of Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen that I wanted to sing. I knew there was somehow a through thread to them — that the world they described and the actions they rejected and celebrated were of as much importance today as the day those songs were penned. There’s something in both writers that transcends the material itself, as though the words and music have powers beyond the paper and the groove, beyond the voice and the piano.” Right on.
Its been a fabulous past year but now its time to turn up the cruise control to warp factor 5. Look out 2015. Here we come.
And I wish a very Happy New Year to all my family, friends and acquaintances around the world - I wish for us all this year to be in the places we love with the people we love in the best ways possible…..
My Beloved Isle of Skye - the Cuillens in the distance
London - the bee's knee's
London - a top babe
New York New York - so good I can eat it every day…..
WORKSHOP and TUITION ALERT NEW YORK CITY - I forgot to add this via Tracy Stark - The amazing Barb Jungr is returning to NYC this week! There are numerous ways to connect with her. 1. She will be performing at 54 Below, this weekend! Fri-Sun, Jan 2,3 & 4th. 2. If you'd like a private lesson, Barb and I will be teaching private hour sessions, on Sat, Jan 10th. For more information, and to secure a spot, message me here on Facebook, or email me at Tracy@TracyStark.com 3. Or, if you prefer a double whammy, Barb and Lennie Watts will be teaching a masterclass on Sat, Jan 17th Contact Lennie at: lenniewatts@gmail.com
and this
International
Recording Artist and Master Song Stylist Barb Jungr crosses the pond
and joins forces with Multi Award Winning Director Lennie Watts for this
one day special Master Class! In this workshop, the focus will be
on the uniqueness of each performer, and the best way to support that
with technique and imagination. Special attention will be given to
bringing out the story in each song and making that story specifically
yours.
To reserve a spot or if you have questions. Contact Lennie Watts at lenniewatts@gmail.com
BARB
JUNGR is an award winning renowned UK based song stylist and performer
who's 30 year career has taken her all over the world. She has done
seasons in the major residencies in the UK, US and Australia and has
garnered rave reviews everywhere. She has since 2000 released 7
acclaimed CDs on Linn records and 2 on Naim Jazz.
LENNIE
WATTS is a 10 time MAC, 5 time Backstage Bistro, and 3 time Nightlife
Award winner; outstanding vocalist, director, producer and booking
manager for over 25 years; recently named one of “The 50 Most
Influential People in New York Cabaret.” Toured nationally and
internationally: THE MUSIC MAN (Marcellus), THE WIZARD OF OZ (Lion).
Regional credits include: THE SANTALAND DIARIES (Crumpet) DROWSY
CHAPERONE (Man In Chair), GUYS AND DOLLS (Nicely Nicely) and JESUS
CHRIST SUPERSTAR (Herod) among others. Directed regional productions:
DAMES AT SEA, JOSEPH & THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT, PHANTOM,
H2$. 2013 MAC Award winner for MAJOR ARTIST for BLOODY BLOODY LENNIE
WATTS. www.lenniewatts.com
This is such a wonderful time of year. The old year draws to a close, the nights get longer and longer as we head towards the winter solstice, and certainly my thoughts turn towards the new year and all the wonderful things looming.
This year though there's such a lovely run of shows with Mari Wilson and I, and the utterly fabulous Alastair Gavin on piano. Singing with one of your best mates is one thing, but when those best mates are some of the best singers in the western world, it just makes it all a total joy. We opened at Crazy Coqs on Sunday and had such a terrific show. The audience went bonkers with joy, singing along to the Christmas songs and laughing at all the shenanigans. There's more this week and next before I get my break-ette for the holidays. Here they are at the bottom of this blog - Brighton this friday 12th December, The Vortex Jazz Bar this coming saturday the 13th, Altrincham on the 17th, Greenham on the 19th and Maidstone on the 21st.
And in my time there've been 2 Christmas songs. One I wrote with The Three Courgettes and I still love it and remember it with great fondness. It was originally recorded for the Zee Christmas album, when we were on Island records. Which feels like a very long time ago.
Then a couple of years ago, we took my version of Joni Mitchell's classic Christmas song, River from Stockport to Memphis and added the Northampton Royal and Derngate Gospel Choir at Simon Wallace's Underhill Studios with choral director Gareth Fuller's help. That's here -
There've been some fabulous films around. Mr Turner is worth the length and the James Brown film made me ring Jessica Lauren in the middle of the night to talk funk.
So the Christmas wreath is on the door and a little tree is my this week's purchase, and I'm clearing shelves and preparing for the dance between the years where New York City beckons -
Such a joy to be part of Ian Shaw's wonderful night of 100 years of British song at the Queen Elizabeth Hall last week. Not least of all because my mates were there. Claire Martin and Mari Wilson and I managed to get a good catch up backstage, as we all had to be there all afternoon for sound checks and run throughs. And a total delight to meet Elaine Delmar.
Mari Wilson, Elaine Delmar and I in the Green Room
Now I saw Elaine Delmar sing in what feels like 100 years ago, at a jazz festival night or something in Holland Park. And it was wonderful and a lovely summer's evening and when everything was finished and we went down to get in the car afterwards there was - parked beside my tatty old semi solid Toyota, a roller. A super dooper silver roller. Beautiful motor. And it wouldn't start. And my shabby piece of you know what Toyota started first time. So out came this man to ask for a jump start. And he didn't even have his own jump leads! So. Yes. I gave Michael Winner a jump start.
Back at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, the dressing rooms were a riot. Hairspray and coat hangers, gossip and heels. Shared with Claire, Elaine, Melanie Pappenheim and Georgia Mancio. I had been in the other dressing room but it was gloomy and I can't do gloomy rooms. They are bad for the spirit. This room was also gloomy to begin with but Elaine had demanded a dressing room table with lights which had been miraculously provided so I slipped in there instead.
Judith Owen, Jumoke Fashola, Elaine Delmar, me and Sumudu
The concert itself was lovely. It's always fabulous to get to hang out with a bunch of singers who's work you admire and appreciate, and its rare. You're not usually on a bill with a bunch of other singers. Comedians get to hang together, as do musicians, but its a much less common experience for us. And the Green Room was full of happy snappers once we'd gotten our stage kits and eyelashes on. The girls had IT that night. And the band were so lovely. They played for everyone and for hours and gave it such joy and finesse. Salut to Barry green on piano, Mick Hutton on bass and Dave Ohm on drums. And the lovely pianist Jamie Safirrudin (who played with me on the Isle of Wight last weekend in Ventnor Arts Club) played for Ben Cox and Jumoke Fashola introduced the night for the London Jazz Festival. Ian Shaw was magnificent, held the whole thing together with vision and generosity, and sang like a demon himself into the bargain. And right slap bang in the middle of the night Julian Clary came on and did a stirring version of Bowie's hot becoming Major Tom right there win front of our eyes…….
Just like the old days - Julian and I under the clock!
We'd even managed, Julian and I, to get a bit of shopping in before the show and after the sound check and I got a rather splendid necklace - which was a good job as I discovered when we got back to get ready that I'd left the one I was going to wear at home……
Natalie Williams, me, Mari Wilson, Judith Owen and Georgia Mancio in our frocks (and the necklace).
And now we're heading towards the Christmas show, Woman to Woman dust down their jingle jangle hats and prepare for a nice run of dates including London, Altrincham, Newbury and Brighton. Here's a video of the first time we took it all out at the Pheasantry.
And here are all the dates coming up - hope to see you there.
So, as the year winds towards the solstice and the longest night, sayonara and namaste - enjoy this coming season however it moves you, and goodwill and peace to all. And if you're looking forward, here's the link for Valentine's day at The Purcell Room
