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NEWS AND EVENTS
Happy New Year, 2025! It was an amazingly busy year being in New York and also playing a lot in Ohio with a new group called: Jack Schantz and His Jazz Unit; Featuring ME! It’s an octet with players from The Cleveland Jazz Orchestra with whom I’ve played many times. The musicians include my beloved pianist Rock Wehrmann and good friend Bassist Aidan Plank. In December of 2024 I was at The Red Dot Art Fair at Art Basel, Miami, with The George Billis Gallery and sold a large piece. Super pumped about that. I played a few times at Spike Wilner’s perfect jazz club, Mezzrow, and will again in the spring of 2025. In New York I can be found with my buddy, Jon Davis on piano or my dear old friend Ray Macchiarolla on guitar, at many different venues. I will continue to tour with The Harry James Orchestra, which is the most fortunate gig a vocalist could ever have. In September I will play again at The Rubber City Jazz Festival in Akron, Ohio with some of the finest players I’ve ever been with. I’m also hoping to paint a mural on a wall in downtown Akron, Ohio! In March of 2025, I will be at The Scottsdale Art Festival with The George Billis Gallery! I also just got the word that I will be back in France at Jazz Amarinois with Conal Fowkes, in October of 2025. So stay tuned for more performances and art. Thank you for your support and interest. Oops and I just discovered this cool article about me and my paintings! https://syncopatedtimes.com/barbara-rosene-a-portait-of-the-musician-as-an-artist/
And this Cool Cleveland article from last year: https://coolcleveland.com/2024/03/jack-schantz-jazz-unit-singer-barbara-rosene-do-the-great-american-songbook-at-bop-stop/
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Barbara brings so much deeply-felt music to a record date that it’s a wonder it can all be captured on a little silver disc. But it can. She has a beautiful voice, an understated delivery, and a fine dramatic sense, which enables her to bring more out of a song than the lyrics and notes would suggest. When the material requires it, she can be warmly affectionate, coy, witty, low-down, heartbreakingly wistful, and a thousand shadings in between. Unlike some singers who attempt to go boldly back into the past, Barbara doesn’t approach her songs at an ironic distance. Rather, she has worked hard to become one with her material. Every song she chooses has an emotional connection to her life, and each one becomes a finely-crafted playlet.
Barbara’s romantic hopefulness is balanced by a clear-eyed view of modern life, so IF YOU WANT THE RAINBOW is a statement of belief to her. She can also enact deep sadness without overacting. When she begins, the room becomes quiet, as audiences feel the deep yearning she creates. To me, her understanding of musical pathos is as deep as Connee Boswell’s — and I do not write those words casually.
For these sessions, Barbara chose four multi-talented musicians who are long-time friends, and their pleasure comes through. Their collective associations include work with Vince Giordano’s Nighthawks, with Woody Allen, Eddy Davis, Kevin Dorn, the EarRegulars, Meredith Axelrod, and the ferry to Alcatraz. The result is both polished and informal, as if we are eavesdropping on the musicians having a good time in someone’s living room — Sister Barbara has brought home a new song from the music store and gathered Brothers Pete, Andy, Conal, and Craig around to try it out. There might be cookies later. Or perhaps some home brew.
Michael Steinman
JAZZ LIVES
http://www.jazzlives.wordpress.com
Listen to Barbara interviewed by Judy Carmichael on NPR’s Jazz Inspired program.
It’s 2025 and here is what is going on!
Barbara Rosene continues her long term association with The Harry James Orchestra,led by Fred Radke. Together, they have performed all over America and Canada including The Montreal Jazz Festival. Barbara also works with the wonderful pianists Conal Fowkes, Jon Davis, Theron Brown, Rock Wehrmann, guitar masters James Chirillo, John Merrill, and Ray Macchiarola, legendary violinist Andy Stein and many other world class musicians regularly.
2025 will bring more performances at the much revered Mezzrow Jazz Club in NYC, and at the fabulous club BLU Jazz in Akron, Ohio. 2024 continues a collaboration with Jack Schantz and His Jazz Unit in North East Ohio. Another memorable event for Barbara will be The Rubber City Jazz Festival in September, organized by Akron University faculty members Theron Brown and Chris Coles.
Barbara’s painting career will be taking her to Miami for Art Basel, in December and before that to Scottsdale, Arizona March 20 to 23, with her New York Gallery; George Billis. Barbara is in plans with her long time friend and mentor, Vince Giordano for a special recording. Stay tuned for details about all performances, and Art events.
Thank you for caring and for supporting this great American Art form.