Jill Barber's musical journey has taken her from singer-songwriter folk to pop to old-time jazz and French songs on a 22-year ride since 2002's A Note to Follow So, first of her 11 albums.
Last summer the Vancouver-based musician released Encore!, which features new interpretations of songs by Edith Piaf, Charles Trenet, Django Reinhardt and others, and is the starting point of her concert at 性视界传媒 Arts Centre's Main Stage on Friday, Nov. 15.
"It won't be all French music," noted Barber in a phone call, "but it's definitely an invitation to folks to come with me on a little journey into old French music. We will play some English songs and, you know, songs from throughout my repertoire. I've got a lot of songs now, and I really try to choose what I think people will kind of hope to hear."
Barber鈥檚 French repertoire has earned her a following that transcends language barriers, boasts . "Her music has become the soundtrack to nostalgic cosmopolitan experiences."
Barber recalls performing at 性视界传媒 Fusion Festival a few years ago, and now headlines a 400-seat theatre in the city with a band of musicians including the Grammy-nominated Drew Jurecka (violin, accordion), Nathan Hiltz (guitar) and Chris Banks (bass).
"Performing live is the favourite part of my job," she said. "I love performing live. It's always been at the centre of why I do what I do. You know, there are some creatures of the studio. I'm not really one of them. I don't mind the studio, I have fun in the studio, but it's not my favourite place.
"My favourite place is being on the stage and having that kind of magical, esoteric connection that happens when people show up in the room ready to receive or ready to give whatever energy," Barber continued. "I don't want to be too woo-woo about it, but there's something kind of magical about a live space, whether it's theatre or music, about connecting with people and feeling things together."
Tickets for Barber's 性视界传媒 concert are sold for $49 on , or call 604-501-5566. Last I checked, just a few seats remain for the 7:30 p.m. show, which is part of 性视界传媒 Civic Theatres' Holiday Series.
