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With rave reviews internationally and two New York awards (2008 Outstanding Cabaret Vocalist and Best International Artist 2003), Barb Jungr is renowned for her unique vocal style, approach to arrangements and interpretation of song. Her acclaimed record releases and performances have revealed her to be one of Europe's most exciting voices.
After an extraordinarily successful 2010, with her new CD The Men I Love released on Naim Label, appearances on NY1 and BBC Breakfast TV, a sellout tour of Australia, several highly praised shows in New York, and performances for the first time in St Louis, Cleveland and San Francisco, Barb Jungr is celebrating 2011 with touring the UK with a new live Dylan collection, reforming Girl Talk with Mari Wilson and Gwyneth Herbert, and collaborating again with Kuljit Bhamra and Simon Wallace on Durga Rising.
Critics have compared Barb Jungr to Nina Simone and Peggy Lee, called her "a British Edith Piaf", "one of the best interpreters of Jacques Brel and Bob Dylan anywhere on this angst ridden planet today" (Village Voice, New York), "one of the best nightclub singers in the world" (Time Out New York) and “mesmerizing” (The New York Times).
She has worked with some of the finest musicians and composers in the UK, has toured all over the world for the British Council (Malawi, Cameroon, The Yemen, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Cote D'Ivoire, Sudan), appeared in Australia (2006, 2007 and a sellout tour in 2010), toured Norway and has appeared in Holland and often in New York (several seasons at The Cafe Carlyle and Metropolitan Room and at Joe's Pub).
Singer and writer Barb was born and raised in the northwest of England. She worked with now legendary comedians and performers on the emerging Alternative Cabaret circuit in the UK (Julian Clary, Alexei Sayle, Arnold Brown) before beginning to create the themed shows which became her trademark and led her to the attention of Linn Records with whom she subsequently released 6 records before moving to the Naim label in 2010 for her latest release, The Men I Love.
She combines touring with her work as a respected writer and lyricist, her credits include The Jungle Book, (Birmingham Stage Company), The Fabulous Flutterbys, (The Little Angel Theatre), Cinderella, Beauty and The Beast and Dick Whittington for The Newbury Corn Exchange and Mabel Stark Tiger Tamer currently in development for Northampton Royal and Derngate.
"she draws out the stories the words tell with the focus of a fine actress "
Downbeat Magazine, **** (4 stars)
Recent Shows:
THE MEN I LOVE
“The Men I Love is a musically and theatrically thrilling evening of re-discovery…” (Theatermania)
The Café Carlyle was the site of a small revolution…with the sensational uptown debut of the sensational cabaret singer Barb Jungr.” (New York Times)
“Barb Jungr is special. As a vocalist, she is a genuine artist.” (Time Out, New York)
“(Barb) is one hot number as she reaches out, grabbing you body and soul with her intensity of style.” (Cabaret Scenes)
A show featuring a stunning new collection of songs coinciding with the release of The Men I Love album, which is currently being recorded. As has come to be expected with Barb, the material displays her impressive ability to re-imagine well-known popular songs, revealing deep meanings and latent emotional content that comes to light when she dislodges the songs from their original contexts.
The Men I Love comprises songs by Dylan, Cohen, Springsteen, Paul Simon, David Byrne and many more in superb new arrangements by Barb and pianist & composer Simon Wallace, with whom Barb worked on her best-selling album of Bob Dylan songs and her chansons material for Linn Records. The pair first performed The Men I Love during a 3-week season at New York’s premier cabaret room, the Café Carlyle at the Carlyle Hotel, NY in March 2009. So critically acclaimed and successful was the run that Barb and Simon will return to New York at the end of September for a reprise at the award-winning Metropolitan Room.
“astute…simmering…intelligent” (The Sunday Times)
“The kind of voice that many more should get around to hearing.” (MOJO)
MAN IN THE LONG BLACK COAT – Barb Jungr sings Bob Dylan
“The Manchester born and London-based chanteuse is one of the best interpreters of Bob Dylan anywhere on this angst ridden planet today.”
(The Village Voice NY)
Barb Jungr is fast becoming the definitive performer of one of the great musical icons of the twentieth century, Bob Dylan.
Recently the BBC hosted a Barbican concert to celebrate the uncontested poet laureate of the rock and roll era and the pre-eminent singer/songwriter of modern times, Bob Dylan. In introducing Jungr Billy Bragg described her as "possibly our best interpreter of Dylan's songs". He is not alone in this view, as Jungr has been wowing audiences and critics worldwide with her astonishingly powerful re-interpretations of this great songwriter's work.
“Of all the new takes on Dylan, none is more essential than Jungr's” (New York Sun)
Barb Jungr’s three Dylan shows at the 2006 Adelaide Cabaret festival sold out as did the New York run at The Metropolitan Room in 2007.
"I just hope Dylan himself has a listen and starts writing for her direct” (The Observer)
Latest Press:
BARB JUNGR: "She's not new - in fact this highly idiosyncratic chanson diva has been performing and recording for years - but she's reached beyond cult status and is tantilisingly close to mass attention with her jazzy versions of Dylan, Elvis and Nina Simone. Check out her singing 'Like A Rolling stone' on YouTube. Then quickly get the back catalogue for your next dinner party"
(Independent on Sunday, ‘The Hot List’ February 2009 - bringing together the 100 hottest people, things and fashions in the UK this year)
Recent Awards:
Barb Jungr 'No Regrets' and 'I Got Life' elected Best Cabaret Show in Time Out New York Metropolitan Room - January & September 2008
"The English singer cut loose with raw anguish and easy humor, confirming her status as the most exciting interpreter around."
Nominated for 4 Darkchat awards September 2009
Best Music
Best Song – No Man’s Land
Best Show
Best Moment – Rod Stewart story
Latest Review:
Barb Jungr at The Metropolitan Room, New York, Sept Oct 2009
There was no way I was going to miss British cabaret star Barb Jungr's acclaimed show "The Men I Love" - it received rave reviews when it played at the Cafe Carlyle and now she has brought it to The Metropolitan Room for a 4-show run. So I was there last night - and not a smidgen disappointed. With precise piano accompaniment by her London-based director Simon Wallace, Ms. Jungr thrilled the sold-out room with a mix of familiar and not-so-familiar songs, each of them given the famed Jungr treatment. Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Todd Rundgren, Leonard Cohen, Neil Diamond, David Byrne and Paul Simon were all represented, and performed with such magical interpretation that often even familiar songs seemed like you were hearing them for the first time. Barb digs into each composition, and mines from the lyrics and melody diamonds and gold, treating each number with full respect to the songwriters intentions, while at times bringing to the words a meaning the composer might not even have intended. She weaves each of the songs - which on paper look entirely disconnected - into a tapestry of immense feeling and excitement. Interspersing the songs with witty and pithy patter, Ms. Junge gave us an evening that was thrilling and fresh from start to encore. A "must see" for any cabaret performer, Ms. Jungr does not simply sing the songs - she lives them as she performs them. A middle-aged couple sitting next to me added a special element to the show for me - I watched as they seemed to reach out to each other, holding hands through nearly every song. (Stu Hamstra)