From 1994-2002, the arresting pianist, vocalist and composer Patricia Barber recorded five albums for the then young Premonition Records label. These discs earned critical acclaim and also made her one of the biggest stars in jazz, with a following that sill extends beyond that idiom's core audience. In 2007, Premonition released an expansive box set, entitled Patricia Barber, The Premonition Years, 1994-2002. The box set -- which fully captured Barber's unique m'lange of modern pop, revered standards and inventive originals -- was created with the idea that the three individual CDs would one day be issued separately. Now, Premonition is doing just that. From the beginning of her career, Barber proved herself a wry but heartfelt exponent of pop iconography. And she did it before it was standard practice among female jazz vocalists. This disc presents a collection of Barber's best pop songs recorded for Premonition. "This is the kind of art we need to be on the lookout for everwhere. The 21st century has started. We can't afford to be left behind." NEW YORK TIMES "It was as if a skylark had swallowed a bassoon that first moment singer/pianist Patricia Barber opened her mouth; a blues-hooting, nervously flittering bird with smartly semantic wiseacre lyrics beating her own drum vocally and rhythmically. Premonition is where she learned to fly." JAZZ TIMES
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