Jill Barber is a singer-songwriter who demonstrates genuine flexibility and versatility. She also likes to switch up genres from jazz and pop to folk and roots.
In fact, the 2016 recording she made with her brother Matthew Barber titled Family Album and performed at St. Albert’s Arden Theatre that year, won a JUNO for Contemporary Roots Album of the Year.
Currently, the Vancouver-based recording artist has released Encore!, reigniting her love affair with old French music from the 1930s and 1940s. The 11-track is a sequel to Entre-Nous (2018) and Chansons (2013), her most successful French-language CD to date.
As part of a tour promoting the album, the chanteuse returns to the Arden Theatre on Saturday, Nov. 9. In this mixed bag of music, the singer will reinterpret classics made famous by legendary icons Edith Piaf, Charles Trenet, Django Reinhardt, Josephine Baker and Celine Dion.
“Speaking and understanding French is not mandatory to enjoy the concert. It’s an atmosphere. Just close your eyes and imagine yourself in another time and place. And I will be acting as the cruise director and putting songs in context for a musical tour,” said Barber.
Barber fell in love with French music almost 15 years ago when she performed at the Montreal Jazz Festival for the first time. She wanted to sing an ode to the audience in French and a friend translated one of her songs.
“The audience feedback was so positive, and it thrilled me.”
After rediscovering her love of the language, Barber enrolled in a French language school for adults in Southern France. Upon returning to Canada, the singer wanted to continue her language education and recorded Chansons, a personal interpretation of songs from artists she admired.
“We toured Chansons and it was far and away my most successful album. It outperformed any album in English. A decade later, it still gets a lot of play and it encouraged me to continue. It’s also a streaming world, and it’s been added to certain playlists for people who want to feel romantic in the moment – opening a bottle of wine and sitting by the fire. It creates an atmosphere.”
No longer the jazz ingenue she was 20 years ago at the start of her professional career, Barber has developed a vocal and songwriting maturity music followers appreciate.
“The greatest thing I’ve learned as a performer – the key to an impactful performance is not confidence. For me, the more vulnerable I am, the more people connect. If anything, losing youthful bravado and accepting vulnerability on stage makes us feel less alone.”
Accompanying her at the concert are Grammy and Juno nominated producer Drew Jurecka on violin, jazz guitarist Nathan Hiltz and jazz pianist Ewen Farncombe.
“These musicians are stellar. They’re a cut above and they’re on the album as well,” said Barber.
The concert starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $50. Visit tickets.stalbert.ca or call 780-459-1542.
