Barb Jungr

Barb Jungr born 9 May 1954 in Rochdale, England [http://www.worldjewishnewsagency.org/celebrities_of_the_year5.htm CELEBRITIES OF THE YEAR: FROM THE MOST BORING TO THE MOST TALENTED] ] is a musical performer, composer and writer, of Czech and German parentage. She is perhaps best known as a chansonnier, or singer of chansons—in the sense of classic, lyric-driven French songs; in the broader sense of European songs in the cabaret style; and in the even broader sense of a diverse range of songs interpreted in this style. A song-stylist incorporating jazz and blues, her approach often includes radical re-readings of known writers as well as original material.

Biography

Barb Jungr was born in Rochdale, England; her father was Miroslav Jungr, a Czech scientist; her mother was Ingrid Jungr, a German nurse. She grew up in Stockport. She moved to London in the mid 1970s and became part of the early alternative cabaret circuit performing and recording with the cult vocal harmony group "The Three Courgettes" after which she formed a song writing and musical partnership with Michael Parker. Together they toured, recorded and released a number of albums, worked with comedians Julian Clary and Arnold Brown, supported Alexei Sayle on tour and appeared on radio and television [http://www.allaboutjazz.com/vocal/arti0902.htm Barb Jungr and the Benefits of an Open Mind] ] .

After going solo in the 1990s, Jungr created the harmony shows "Hell Bent Heaven Bound" with Parker, Christine Collister, Ian Shaw and Helen Watson. They toured the UK and played the Edinburgh Festival and were invited to the Vancouver and Winnipeg festivals, in Canada. She recorded a CD, "Durga Rising" with the Bhangra producer and percussionist Kuljit Bhamra. After creating a series of shows and releasing the album "Bare" on Irregular records she was invited to record for Glasgow based Linn Records, releasing ' in 2000, centred around a series of new English translations of classic French chansons. In 2002, she released ', an album of new arrangements of Bob Dylan’s songs, followed by "Waterloo Sunset" in 2003. In 2004 she recorded "Love Me Tender", an album of songs recorded by Elvis Presley for release in March 2005.

In 2002 The British Council supported Jungr’s three week run at New York’s Flea Theatre, for which she won the Backstage Award for Best International Artist [http://svhamstra.com/AWDAll/AwdBistro2003.shtml The winners of the 2003 Back Stage Bistro Awards] ] . Jungr has also worked with the Amici multi disciplinary dance troupe, directed and produced the work of other artists and collaborated with composer Jonathan Cooper on his "Moon Behind The Clouds" song cycle. She was featured in Simon Armitage's millennial poem Channel 4 film, directed by Brian Hill and she created the cabaret show "Girl Talk" with Mari Wilson and Claire Martin. She appeared at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival in 2006 and toured Australia in 2007 [http://www.rockian.com.au/news/news.htm Barb Jungr returned to Australia for an East Coast tour] ] .

Jungr was awarded a Nightlife Award in New York in 2008 for "Outstanding Cabaret Vocalist" [http://www.theatermania.com/content/news.cfm/story/12467 Douglas, Jungr, Maye, Pedi, et al. Win Nightlife Awards] ] . She appears regularly in New York [http://www.broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=29971 Jungr Sings Simone at Metropolitan Room 9/4] ] . In 2007 Jungr collaborated with British composer Mark Anthony Turnage, appearing with The London Sinfonietta in a commissioned piece About Water at Queen Elizabeth Hall to celebrate the reopening of The Festival Hallhttp://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/assets/press/releases/turnage_jungr.pdf MAJOR COMMISSION BY MARK­ANTHONY TURNAGE AND BARB JUNGR] ] . Her most recent releases for Glasgow based Linn Records include Walking In The Sun, 2006 featuring guitarist Eric Bibb, and Just Like a Woman - Hymn to Nina featuring the repertoire of Nina Simone in 2008.

Discography

olo albums

*"Bouquet of Barbs" (1985)
*"Bare" (1999) Irregular Records
*"Bare Again" re-release (2007) Permiere Jazz
*"" (2000) Linn Records
*"" (2002) Linn Records
*"Waterloo Sunset" (2003) Linn Records
*"Love Me Tender" (2005) Linn Records
*"Walking In The Sun" (2006) Linn Records
*"" (2007) Australia compilation ABC Jazz
*"Just Like A Woman" (2008) Linn Records

Albums with Michael Parker

*"Wicked" (1986)
*"Blue Devils" (1987)
*"Night and Day" (1988)
*"Off the Peg" (1988)
*"Canada" (1992)

Other albums

*"The Magic of Kisses" (2008) - Jonathan Cooper
*"Girl Talk" (2005) with Claire Martin and Mari Wilson
*"And They ALL Sang Rosselsongs" (2004) - Various artists
*"Uneasy Street" (2005) with Ian Shaw
*"" (2004) - Various artists
*"" (2003) - Des de Moor and Russell Churney
*"Nine Times Two" (2002) - Various artists
*"The Moon Behind the Clouds" (2002) - Jonathan Cooper
*"The Triumph of Hope Over Experience" (2002) - Robb Johnson
*"Article 14" (2001) - Various artists
*"" (1998) - Peggy Seeger
*"" (1998) Various artists
*Durga Rising" (1997) with Kuljit Bhamra and Russell Churney
*"" (1993) with Christine Collister, Michael Parker and Helen Watson
*"Ze Christmas Album" (1982) - Various artists

References

External links

* [http://www.barbjungr.co.uk Barb Jungr – Official website]
* [http://www.myspace.com/barbjungrchanson Barb Jungr's official myspace page]