La Solitude: The Songs of Barbara
Jessica Walker (voice)
Joseph Atkins (piano & accordion)
Megan Glover (soprano saxophone)
Solem Quartet
William Newell (violin)
Amy Tress (violin)
Stephen Upshaw (viola)
Stephanie Tress (cello)
Barbara, born Monique Serf in Paris in 1930, was one of twentieth century France’s most renowned singer- songwriters. Her most celebrated song, L’Aigle Noir, sold more than a million copies on the day of its release. Yet, despite huge fame during her lifetime, she is little known outside of her home country.
This album, with new English versions of her songs by Jessica Walker, has been created to bring the potency of her words and music to an English- speaking audience for the first time. The songs, grappling with dark and complex events from Barbara’s life, are an unclassifiable mix of cabaret and art song, here, lovingly brought to life by a superb lineup of musicians - vocalist and translator Jessica Walker is joined by pianist and arranger Joseph Atkins and the Solem Quartet.
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