Her trademarks are her low-vibrating alto that is something between talking and whispering and her adventurous, elegant way of playing the piano. Vocalist/pianist Patricia Barber from Chicago, who was five years old when her father taught her to play the piano, cleverly knows how to find a synthesis between modern classical music and jazz. The last decennium Barber has manifested herself as a creative and serious musician, with a solid reputation as an independent and intellectual artiest who knows what goes around on the musical front. One explanation for her habit to operate the pedals of her piano barefoot goes all the way back to her very first performance at the North Sea Jazz. The heat of a spotlight caused her to feel so dizzy during her performance, that she decided to take of her shoes to cool down, on the spot. Ever since, she got used to it. Verse, already Barber's fourth album for Blue Note, produced praising reviews worldwide and was described as one of the best albums of last year.
