It’s the middle of 2024, and I am finally updating my webpages. It’s been 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. I’ve played at Spike Wilner’s perfect jazz club, Mezzrow a couple of times already and will again in October. 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 continue to tour with The Harry James Orchestra, which is the most fortunate gig a vocalist could ever have. In September I played at The Rubber City Jazz Festival in Akron, Ohio with some of the finest players I’ve ever been with. I also just got the word that I will be back in France at Jazz Amarinois in October of 2025. So stay tuned for more performances and art. Thank you for your support and interest.
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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.

Listen to Barbara interviewed by Judy Carmichael on NPR’s Jazz Inspired program.

• Listen to Part 1
• Listen to Part 2
• Listen to Part 3

It’s the middle of 2024 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.

2024 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 has been The Rubber City Jazz Festival organized by Akron University faculty members Theron Brown and Chris Coles.

Barbara’s painting career will be taking her to Miami for Art Basel, and her gallery Hudson Fine Art, in Hudson, Ohio will host an exhibition for her in October. 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.