Reigniting tradition is what Barbara King is all about. This Brooklyn, New York native is lighting the path for a new generation of fans by advancing the confluence of jazz and inspirational music. Barbara’s noteworthy performances of popular standards and a selection of original compositions have earned her critical acclaim. This acclaim has led her to an aptly named debut CD, Perfect Timing. One song on the recording was nominated for a Grammy in the first round.
Barbara sang with the noted Vassar College Choir and toured the U.S., which gave her an opportunity to tinker with melodies and lyrics of classic and popular tunes. After graduating from Vassar, she enrolled in Brooklyn Music School, got herself a vocal coach, and kicked her career into high gear.
Bio
Barbara segued smoothly into appearances and engagements with legends Rufus Reid, Kirk Whalum, Akira Tana, Onaje Alan Gumbs, pop legend Patti Labelle, and gospel icon, Kirk Franklin. Barbara was also a featured vocalist on Tana Reid’s CD, Back to Front, and on Hiro Takada’s piano paean, Portrait in NYC.
On her debut release, Perfect Timing, Barbara presents splendid interpretations of some standards and four life-affirming original tracks: Miracles, Overtaken, Perfect Timing, and Your Smile. The CD includes such well-known tunes as Ribbon in the Sky, Forever Young, I Say A Little Prayer, and Let It Be. Barbara is joined by several jazz luminaries – Cecil Bridgewater, Arturo O’Farrill, Carl Allen, Rodney Jones, and the late Dave Valentin. Perfect Timing is pure musical elegance and well worth a listen.
Barbara has captivated audiences in Greece; Japan; Dubai; Eastern Europe; Cuba’s Havana International Jazz Festival; Jamaica, West Indies, and of course right here in New York City. Notable venues where she has performed include Birdland, The Iridium, The Water Club, Sweet Rhythm, Tavern on the Green, Minton’s, Jazz Standard, The Kitano, Philadelphia’s Chris’ Jazz Café, and was a regular at The Lenox Lounge, a legendary venue in Harlem. Barbara was also co-owner and musical director for The Sound Bite, a former hotspot in Hell’s Kitchen.
Television appearances include WNBC Weekend Today In New York, TBN with pianist Dino Kartsonakis, Fox & Friends Weekend, and BCAT, to name a few. She has also been invited twice to perform at the Smithsonian Institute’s Anacostia Museum – with a “Tribute to Sarah Vaughan” and a presentation on “The Ladies of Jazz”. While Barbara has often been compared to the legendary Sarah Vaughan, she definitely has a style all her own.
“Barbara King is the total body experience: the eyes close to allow your imagination to flow, the head bobs, the feet tap, the mind journeys over the notes, and the soul is cradled deep in the arms of contentment. She is the single-person orchestra and must be experienced.”
Cold Spring Harbor Jazz Festival