Barb Jungr returns to New York from London for her ninth Metropolitan Room engagement. From October 18 to 29, in ten prime-time shows, Jungr presents the New York premiere of "Man in the Long Black Coat," her first live show in New York devoted entirely to Bob Dylan.
Widely regarded as "the foremost interpreter of
Bob Dylan's back catalogue" (The Independent), Jungr began making Dylan waves when she released her first Dylan compilation, "Every Grain of Sand," with Linn Records in 2002. As she added other American rockers to her repertoire, Jungr became a major draw in New York and internationally for credibly adding new names to the Great American Songbook. Sparking what Stephen Holden of The NY Times called "a small revolution" and getting picked by Time Out NY as the #1 & 2 top live cabaret acts in New York, in 2008 and 2009 respectively, Jungr championed the likes of
Bruce Springsteen,
Leonard Cohen,
David Byrne,
Neil Diamond,
Hank Williams and
Elvis Presley, to name a few. Time Out's
Adam Feldman called her innovations "passionate reworkings."
Throughout this run of groundbreaking shows, which included a survey of
Nina Simone and frequent dalliances with Brel and Piaf, critics continued to marvel at the remarkable, eye-opening symbiosis between Jungr and Dylan.
Her second coming with Dylan is a brand new compilation CD (also from Linn Records, released in the UK to great acclaim earlier this year and by Naxos in the U.S. on September 27) of songs recorded post-"Every Grain of Sand," with four newly recorded tracks. Celebrating the release of "Man in the Long Black Coat" Jungr's live show begins a U.S. tour at The Rrazz room in San Francisco on October 10 before coming to New York. Accompanying Jungr on piano for her U.S. tour is the New York-based
Tracy Stark.
A 2008 Nightlife Award-winner (outstanding cabaret vocalist), Jungr was a fixture in London's alternative cabaret scene in the late 70's (when she was a member of the cult vocal group The Three Courgettes, and half of Jungr and Parker). She launched her solo career in 1997, and her solo recordings date back "Durga Rising" (1997) and "Bare" (1999). She picked up a 2003 Back Stage Bistro Award, appearing occasionally in New York. But it was her Metropolitan Room debut in January 2007 and subsequent appearances there that began to galvanize her American following. She also appeared at the Café Carlyle in 2009 and 2010. Her last Metropolitan Room engagement was the premiere of "River" (in May of 2010) which celebrated the release of "The Men I Love," and which Time Out picked as the top cabaret recording of the year.
"Man in the Long Black Coat" performs from October 18 to 29, on two consecutive Tuesdays through Saturdays, for a total of ten shows. Performances are October 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29. All shows are at 7pm. Jungr's music charge is $25. The Nightlife and Bistro Award-winning Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd Street, celebrated its fifth anniversary in May. For reservations call 212/206-0440 or to order online visit
www.metropolitanroom.com.
