I’m rediscovering Patricia Barber having received recent suggestions. I listened a long time ago and forgot about her - none of my friends listened to her (actually most of the music I liked) so I thought she was somewhat esoteric.

Anyway I like one of her tracks called Like JT. I also like the theme song from Dead Like Me. Both are similar in my mind.

How do I find more tracks / artists who do this type of music? What genre is it?

I like the upbeat aspects. And the higher pitch piano bits from the theme song.

I'd call her jazz and I think most people do. But she sure puts a twist on it...modern jazz? Her second album is titled Modern Cool and that probably fits.

No one else comes to mind like her, but maybe Joni Mitchell from the Court and Spark album on...a bit. She got pretty jazzy on The Hissing of Summer Lawns and Hejira.

Wonder if some of Pat Metheny/Lyle Mays might fit?

ETA, my favorite song of Barbers would be Mourning Grace.

Thanks. Yea, I would consider Barber to be jazz vocals.

But I'm interested specifically in songs like "Like JT" or the theme from the show Dead Like Me - upbeat, cheerful-ish, up key piano, etc. Not sure how to characterize these songs and who might cater to them.

Tito Puente. Or Cuban jazz.



I gotta break out the Companion CD!

Listen to some Pancho Sanchez, Charlie Bryd and Cal Tjader for some latin type jazz in that vein. Female vocalists give Stacey Kent and Melody Gardot some time. Caro Emerald is also very entertaining, she's more in the Bossa Nova/Swing type groove.

quote:

Originally posted by konata88:
I also like the theme song from Dead Like Me.

That's great. I bought that Stewart Copeland soundtrack when they released it. It's gone out of print, and is going for over $100 bucks now. I miss that show.

In the "making of," Stewart Copeland said the producers contacted him to provide music for that show. He asked what the vibe was, and they said, "Happysad." He answered, "Aha, I know exactly what you want!"

Okay - I'm off to look for HappySad jazz.