Barb Jungr Barb Jungr
 

BIOGRAPHY

 

With rave reviews internationally and two New York awards (2008 Nightlife Award for Outstanding Cabaret Vocalist and Best International Artist 2003 Backstage Award), Barb Jungr is renowned for her unique vocal style, approach to arrangements and interpretation of song. Her acclaimed releases on Linn Records and performances have brought her to the world stage and revealed her to be one of Europe's most exciting voices.
Currently touring the UK with a repertoire of songs recorded by Nina Simone, Linn Records now release her new recording, "Just Like A Woman (hymn To Nina)" (Linn AKD309). The tour began in January with a sellout season at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club and the album will be officially launched at The Shaw Theatre, London in March.

Critics have compared Jungr to Nina Simone and Peggy Lee, called her "a British Edith Piaf" and "one of the best interpreters of Jacques Brel and Bob Dylan anywhere on this angst ridden planet today" (Village Voice, New York).

In 2007, she appeared at The Queen Elizabeth Hall in collaboration with the composer Mark Anthony Turnage in "About Water", which was written specifically for her voice. In 2005/6 Jungr appeared on BBC television performing at the Tribute to Bob Dylan Concert alongside Odetta, KT Tunstall and Billy Bragg. In July 2006, she was featured on a BBC One documentary Queens of Heartache - a programme about iconic female singers.

Rochdale-born and Stockport-bred, Jungr's passionate singing and extraordinary song styling has its roots in northern soul, opera and jazz - the music that informed her early years.

In the 1980s she was part of the ‘alternative cabaret' circuit performing and recording with the cult vocal harmony group The Three Courgettes. Subsequently she enjoyed a 12 year song-writing and musical partnership with blues guitarist and songwriter Michael Parker. Together, they released six albums and worked extensively on tour, radio and television with, among others, Julian Clary and Alexei Sayle.

During the early 1990s Jungr created the award winning harmony show "Hell Bent Heaven Bound" but her solo career began in earnest after she recorded "Bare" in 1999 on Irregular Records. This recording brought her to the attention of Linn Records, with whom she has now recorded six albums. Her own self-penned material also features on certain albums.

Since appearing in New York in 2002, Jungr regularly performs in the United States - especially in New York where she has a loyal following. Australia has proved an equally successful territory as illustrated by a sell-out residency at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival in summer 2006, followed by an 11 date nationwide tour in 2007 further underlining her fast-growing global reputation as a leading song-stylist.

With Mari Wilson and label-mate Claire Martin she created the sell-out cabaret show "Girl Talk" whose album (Linn AKD 279) was released and launched at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, London in 2006.

Jungr continues to write extensively and was the lyricist for Birmingham Stage Company's sellout version of The Jungle Book.

 

Barb JungrBarb Jungr

Barb Jungr