Barbara Paris - Swingballadsblues&Bossanova / Various

Barbara Paris is an excellent jazz vocalist able to make even war-horses sound fresh through her enthusiasm and subtle creativity. She grew up in a musical family and as a child played violin, piano and then guitar. Barbara gained early experience as a folk singer while a teenager, but soon discovered jazz. However, music was put on the side for a time, as she worked as a hairdresser. The singer dated her first real jazz performance as having taken place on April 3, l989. Barbara was encouraged by Eddie Shu, a tenor saxophonist formerly with the Gene Krupa, and Claude Tissendier, a saxophonist with Claude Bolling's Orchestra. She worked in Europe with Tissendier and for five years off and on with pianist Joe Bonner in Colorado. Barbara Paris has recorded four fine CD's for her Perea label and is a welcome fixture in the Colorado jazz scene, occasionally singing on both the East and West Coasts and in Europe. - Scott Yanow All Music Guide to Jazz All About Jazz, ' Paris is one of those savvy singers who understand that these melodies are timeless and are the jazz vocalist's best friends. She takes each one of these gems and makes it her own for whatever time she takes to perform it. Each rendition by a good singer adds to the luster of these marvelous entries from the Great American Popular Songbook. And Paris adds her own layer of sheen. Paris is not endowed with a strong set of vocal chords. She comes from the Billie Holiday school where expressiveness, timing and phrasing are major priorities rather than powerful (as in muscular) delivery. Delivered with an almost gentle demeanor, Paris makes subtle adjustments in phrasing and timing that give her highly stylized interpretations a distinctive flavor.' - Dave Nathan Barbara Paris Reviews Tidbits Cadence, 'A singer with a strong, high voice and a natural rhythmic sense that lends itself to jazz.' - Jerome Wilson Jazz Hot, 'A voice that swings to the nuance of jazz, with a silky and sensual resonance.' - Michel Bedin LA Jazz Scene, '...a lovely sweet voice and a gentle, straightforward style.' - Scott Yanow Jazz Now, 'Her approach is straightforward and sincere.' - Stella Brandt JazzTimes, 'Paris is a wonderfully expressive vocalist.' - Chuck Berg Jazz Times '...delivers silky smooth lyrics with a sassy lilt.' - Patricia Meyer Cadence 'A melodic, swinging voice...just right for starry-eyed moods.' - Jerome Wilson Down Beat, August 1995 '*** 1/2' - Fred Bouchard.

1) Star Eyes
2) Exactly Like You
3) I'll Be Tired of You
4) Romance in the Dark
5) Corcovado
6) Paris Blues
7) Like Someone in Love
8) Gentle Rain
9) He May Be Your Man
10) April in Paris
11) If I Should Lose You
12) Copacobana
13) I'll Remember April
14) Everything Happens to Me