Patricia Barber - Modern Cool

[Wardsweb]

Artist - Patricia Barber
Title - Modern Cool
Year of Release - 2002
Record Label - Mobile Fidelity Koch
Genre - Female Vocal / Jazz

First off this is the SACD version, but it is also available on Redbook and there is even a release coming on 45 vinyl (three ablums).

This is an incredible ablum, right from the start. The very first cut "Touch of Trash" is sensuous music, showcasing Barber's voice and piano skills. Her voice is sultry and appealing. Close your eyes and just get lost in this smokey jazz.

[Drybasement]

I've been meaning to get some Patricia Barber, at least Cafe Blue anyway, but never have. I put her on the list and near the front of music I need to buy.

Diana Krall I've heard and don't like. I think she's incredibly boring.

[CarlV]

Yes, get Cafe Blue to start with. I have the MFSL 45 issue and it is really something. Unfortunately I do not care much for this current "sultry" style female jazz singing so I do not care to collect many of hers. But Cafe Blue does rise above that for me.

Carl

[Wardsweb]

I have Cafe Blue on 45 vinyl, truely exquisite.

[Andyman]

I picked up "Verse" and "Modern Cool" at a garage sale and played them each once I think. I bought them because I've heard of her and they played something on NPR with her at a B3 that I liked.
These two CDs really didn't float my boat, but I'll give them another listen over the weekend. But right now, I'll favor Madeline Peyroux or Diana Krall for my current jazz chanteuse.

[Fast_Eddie]

Ok, clearly I live under a rock, but where are you guys getting this stuff? I have a pretty good Tower Records near me and what I thought was a fantastic Vinyl only record store up the street, but I have never seen these records and have never seen anything on a Redbook.

This sounds like a record my wife and I would both enjoy. I'll have to ask about it at the stores.

Thanks,

Ed

[Tripqzon]

Personally I prefer Diana Krall "Live In Paris".
Check it out. I don't believe you'll be disappointed. Very sweet voice and wonderful jazz music.

[CarlV]

Scroll down to the link of our sponsors Elusive Disk and Oz Enterprises. :)
Warning:
It will, not maybe, hazardous to your wallet.

Carl
oops, needed an edit :)

[Tripqzon]

Scroll down to the kink of our sponsors Elusive Disk and Oz Enterprises. :)
Warning:
It will, not maybe, hazardous to your wallet.

Carl

OUCH!!!

[Fast_Eddie]

Scroll down to the link of our sponsors Elusive Disk and Oz Enterprises. :)
Warning:
It will, not maybe, hazardous to your wallet.

Carl
oops, needed an edit :)


Wow, you weren't kiddin'. It would be worth buying the album on cd just see if you really like it before plunking down that kinda money on the 45. But I just gotta try one!

Ed

[tentoze]

I've been meaning to get some Patricia Barber, at least Cafe Blue anyway, but never have. I put her on the list and near the front of music I need to buy.

Diana Krall I've heard and don't like. I think she's incredibly boring.

They both make me look immediately for another room to occupy.

[Andyman]

OK, I just played Modern Cool again. My immediate reaction was to look for my beret, black turtleneck, and grow a pointy goatee.

Holy Maynard G. Krebs, there's bongos in here! Lots of bongos!!

Seriously, the lp seems to be well recorded, but "Modern Cool" fits it to a tee. It seems to be good at what it is, but beatnik cool jazz/poetry just isn't my cup of java.

PM me with swap offers if anyone wants these, because I don't think they'll crack my rotation anytime soon again

[CarlV]

Wow, you weren't kiddin'. It would be worth buying the album on cd just see if you really like it before plunking down that kinda money on the 45. But I just gotta try one!

Ed
I had asked regarding the sound of the Time Out 45 set in that thread, I will get that now. They are rather proud of them but Cafe Blue is that much better than the disks.

Carl

[Fisherdude]

They both make me look immediately for another room to occupy.


I have to agree. I've tried to like Patricia Barber, I really have. Dave said it's an acquired taste, and I've listened to several albums, including Cafe Blue. The music critic in the Chicago Tribune talks about the creativity, the fact that it's not the same old same old as so many jazz vocalists, like Diana Krall.

I'm sorry, but random key changes in the middle of a phrase is not creativity, it's an inability to sing. It's not striking out on your own, it's not being able to carry a tune. Patricia Barber can't sing. In addition to Cafe Blue I have Nightclub. I'll give Modern Cool a try, but only because youse guys recommend it.

She can play piano, but she can't sing. I would put Madeleine Peyroux at the opposite end of the spectrum. Great voice, great talent, great songs, and terrific production values in a world-class album.

[Billfort]

I'm always amazed at how P. Barber and Krall bring out the violent 'I hate that shit' howls from some.

Hey, to each their own and there sure isn't anything more personal and subjective that musical taste but for me, I like Barber for the most part and even listen to Krall every once in a while, especially when my wife wants to share in a little listening.

Acquired taste maybe, but it's probably more of a black-and-white, love-hate thing with Barber. Pretty hard to argue with the stellar technical quality of these recordings though, especially on vinyl and even SACD - sonic spectacular stuff.

[Fisherdude]

Wellllll, I really don't think it was an "I hate that shit" howl!

I just don't think she can sing very well. Not the same at all. And I do think she's a terrific pianist. And I agree that the sonic quality of her cd's is superb. And I did say I was going to give Modern Cool a try, anyway, even though I didn't care for much about the albums I already have. So there! :butt1: :D

I do share your puzzlement over why Diana Krall gets so much flak. I like her stuff although I certainly don't think she's the best ever. I think she brings out so much vitriol in some folks because she's so commercial and "middle of the road", as opposed to Patricia Barber who certainly has an individual style. And Diana is successful. And gorgeous. And rich. And blonde.

Ya know, now that I'm sitting here thinking about it, what turns me off about Patricia Barber is the few songs on her cd's that are really fingernails-on-a-blackboard bad, the ones that make me grab for the remote so I can hit "skip". "Wood is a pleasant thing to think about" would be at the top of my WTF list. The rhythm is certainly different, and she's trying to be creative, but, yikes.

[grumpy]

Shes definitely an acquired taste. I think her first was her best and the others went down hill. I can still listen to em all but would rather listen to "over played" Nora Jones instead.

If your going to listen to Barber then get Cafe Blue first. If you don't like it then you will NOT like any of her others.

Grumpy

[bear-hifi]

I have Patricia Barber Companion CD (XRCD) I would have to agree that there are better pianist than her but it is Jazz after all. :D I Like her music due to all the different instruments her group uses and to me its great for hifi listening.

Patricia Barber - piano, vocals, Hammond B-3
Michael Arnopol - bass
John McLean - guitar
Eric Montzka - drums/percussion
Ruben P. Alvarez - percussion
Jason Narducy - guest vocalist on "Touch of Trash"
-The Beat Goes On
-Use Me
-Like JT
-Let It Rain
-Touch of Trash
-If This Isn't Jazz :D
-Black Magic Woman

[cabinover]

Hit a record store today. Now when is the last time someone said that? The sign over the door said records and books so I went in. Perused their selection of folk CDs which absolutely trumped any other genre (we're in a college town here). Came across 2 discs by Patricia Barber and vaguely remembered WW and this thread so I picked up Modern Cool. Listened to it on my 45 ride home in the car trying to figure out just what I had bought. The more I listened the more I liked it. Not so much her but just what Bear Hi-Fi said above, for the many various instruments in the music. Great standup bass, awesome drums and bongos, and her piano playing.

I don't know how often I'll get this into my rotation but it decidedly a step in a different direction than what I'm used to. Now Let It Rain is something I can sink my teeth into!

Can't wait to get it home without the family around.

[gamalot]

Cafe Blue.

I asked about this artist a while back because I had read somewhere that this album was superb. I had never heard any of her music and did not know her style.

Many here and elsewhere told me to try it. Many also mentioned she had a sound & style that is an acquired taste.

Then I was faced with the format to purchase because this particular title is available in many forms from basic CD to SA/CD (Super Audio) and OMR (Original Master Recording) as well as standard Vinyl and another super high end Vinyl pressing the name for which eludes me at the moment.
I opted to locate the basic CD to see if I liked her style and music but was unable to find the basic CD. I purchased the SA-CD OMR and had an opportunity to listen last night.

I must preface this by admitting my DVD/CDP is not able to extract the SA/CD as it is a bit older and not quite up to this format. The disc played very well and I am now considering a new upgrade in my system so I can enjoy what I might be missing on this disc.

I planted myself dead center and 15 feet away from my trusty model 19 Altecs. I was fully prepared with a cocktail and the volume control and it was dark and quite comfortable.
Let the tunes begin!

I still can’t say if I really like her style and I now know what was meant by the “Acquired Taste “ comments. I will have to spin this one a few more times to get a better feel in this regard.
As for the recording, all I can say is I was blown away! There is no other way to put this because even though my unit could not play the super audio format on this disc, the recording put speakers in my room and in places where I simply don’t have speakers.
Throughout the entire disc I was amazed at how the play on positions from where sound was coming from could possibly have been done. We are talking plain old stereo here yet at one point she would directly in front and at numerous other points she could be anywhere from left to right to far back or in your face. The musicians are superb with fantastic guitar runs and some very interesting percussion. Her vocals are very smooth and appealing and this recording is faultless in every sense of the term.

I highly recommend this to anyone here who believes his or her system is up to the task to sit and really listen to this music. Even if it is not your preferred style or sound, I doubt you could be disappointed after hearing this selection. Few selections in my vast collection can even come close to the purity of sound contained in these tracks.
I give this all five stars and both thumbs fully up and I have not yet heard the best of this SACD disc. I will most likely make the High End Vinyl pressing of this title my first purchase of this rather expensive format. I can’t wait to hear this music on vinyl and thru the PD 121 with DL 103 MC cartridge. Try it, you just might like it.

Gary

[Whitehall]

I'm with the "Patricia Barber leaves me cold" school.

She's not sexy, not even friendly, to my ear.

Where's her limbic system?