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Hi-Fi Archives: Patricia Barber


Patricia Barber--The Cole Porter Mix
"The Cole Porter Mix"
Patricia Barber
Blue Note, 2008




     (Review by Jeff Berkwits
     Covering a Cole Porter tune is a rite of passage for most serious singers, with everyone from Ella Fitzgerald and Bette Midler to Frank Sinatra and Rod Stewart having over the years interpreted his Great American Songbook standards. This celebrated Chicago-based chanteuse now joins their ranks, with her 13-song CD (which also includes three Porter-inspired originals) serving as a respectable though by no means remarkable showcase for her silky voice and estimable keyboard skills.
     Barber’s sultry reading of “I Get a Kick Out Of You” is an utter delight, with her nuanced vocals complemented by an alluring, smooth-jazz tenor sax. “You’re The Top” is another standout cut, as is her affecting performance of “Miss Otis Regrets.” Nonetheless, the self-penned works aren’t particularly impressive, and the remaining interpretations, while competent, are pedestrian. It’s a fun diversion for devoted Porter fans, but dilettantes should definitely seek out more traditional renditions.

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A long-time aficionado of retro music and movies, Jeff Berkwits has covered vintage sounds for numerous publications and websites including Bachelor Pad Magazine, Filmfax, Outré, and Amazing Stories. He can be reached at jeffberkwits@sbcglobal.net.
 
 



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