Mary Barry: Rave Reviews

What the critics say about Mary Barry's Music

Click on the headings >> to read some of Mary Barry's great reviews.

Red Eye Tonight

Linear Reflections >>
"Wow! This disc blew me away right off the bat! Mary Barry delivers a sweet sound like a consummate New York jazz performer ... with an expressive voice that flows over you, so sultry and passionate, the music enfolding and gripping you with a velvet covered touch. Barry is that good of a writer, her music fits in wonderfully, carrying on the timeless quality of excellent jazz." -
Clinton News-record >>
"Barry's funked up musical stylings are reminiscent of Sade, Joni Mitchell and a smudge of west-coast native Diana Krall." -
Ejazznews >>
"This voice is not rural! This voice is urban!! Plus, the group and Mary perform their craft with a natural musical symbiosis that is second to none. As a jazz singer, Mary possesses a unique ability to deliver her art to us with discipline and frivolity without sensationalism and waste. ...a single, clear, and vibrant voice that is I feel is singular in its feeling, spontaneity, and emotion. Definitely a keeper!" -
Peterborough This Week >>
"This third independent CD release from two-time winner at the Music Newfoundland 2007 Awards provides more of what has made the singer/songwriter a favourite not only here in Canada but in the U.S. and France as well.... her backing musicians provide just the right mood for Barry's immense talent." -
The Intelligencer >>
"Barry's voice is sultry and expressive, and her band is outstanding … tastefully augmented with guitar, sax, flute, and vibes… " -
Ponoka News >>
"Barry's ability to write and interpret songs is a skill that is difficult to find in most of today's music artists. Barry's voice is smooth and sensational in every way…. Her art is truly original and her consistent style will continue to stand out among other artists." -
The Telegram >>
"The piano flows along freely and wonderfully; the drums do just as little as they need to, and the brass, wind and percussion instruments add that delicious extra flavour, allowing the room for innovation. The vocals effortlessly switch between English and French and it proves more than pleasant. The almost miraculous aspect of Red Eye Tonight is how the improvisational style often sounds intricately composed; this is how it succeeds as a masterful blend of countless different music and playing styles…so aside from the awards, the competitions, the press releases even, just know that Mary Barry is doing her thing and is doing it beautifully and astonishingly well." -

These Days

Robert Reid, The Kitchner-Waterloo Record >>
…"by now we all know that East Coast music encompasses more than traditional Celtic music. A case in point is St. John’s native Mary Barry, who writes songs in two languages spanning jazz, blues, roots, country, cabaret, chanson, and worldbeat…with a versatile, expressive voice that strikes to the heart of whatever style of song she is performing."
Kirk Newhook, The Measure >>
…" the arranging and instrumentation create perfect moods and scenery behind Mary’s words, drawing upon both European and South American influences…on top of honest lyric writing, beautifully sung melodies and flawless playing, the production is excellent….the lady can definitely sing the blues."
Joseph Blake, The Victoria Times Colonist >>
…"evocative narratives deliciously married to the recording’s moody soundscape… a very original, eclectic sound."
Shirley Newhook, The Evening Telegram >>
…"close your eyes and the soft, husky voice transports you to the small-club music of the 50’s…with a sound not unlike the legendary Julie London."
Stephanie Porter, The Express >>
…"it’s Barry’s deep, smooth voice and songwriting that takes centre stage on These Days, bringing in new sounds and playing up her bluesy side."
Marke Andrews, The Vancouver Sun >>
…"good original songs with first rate musicians."
Rick Bailey, The Sunday Independent >>
…"classy, yet filled with soulful wisdom, These Days is representative of Mary Barry’s incomparable skill in composing and emotive vocal quality; with songs that swing, charge en francais, drift light and airy, and above all, speak to you like a song should."
The M.U.S.E Memorial University, St.John's >>
"This steamy–voiced artist captured the audience from her first step on the stage and held them until the lights went up after her encore."
Newfoundland Herald >>
"She's a superb pianist, a fine vocalist and an intelligent songwriter: combine the three and you've got a masterful performer."
Ross MacLean, Broadcast Week >>
"I consider myself a tough judge of vocal jazz … I consider Mary Barry quite remarkable and want to hear much more from her."
Halifax Mail Star >>
"A glowing hint of torch in her voice."

Articles about Mary's Music

Newfoundland's Female Artist of the Year to Launch New Album in Vancouver -Celtic Connection

ST. JOHN'S, Newfoundland - Mary Barry, Newfoundland's Female Artist of the Year, will launch her new CD Red Eye Tonight in Vancouver.

The multiple award-winning singer/songwriter will be accompanied by the crème de la crème of the Vancouver jazz scene at the Cellar Jazz on Broadway on July 5.

Mary Barry has been thrilling audiences across Canada, the U.S. and France for over 20 years, moving easily from jazz to blues to "chanson."

Her third independent recording Red Eye Tonight, features musical giants Brian Way, Patrick Boyle, Bill Brennan, Gary Davis, Rick Hollett, Mark Peddle, and Gary Tilley.

A reviewer for the Cape Breton Post wrote, "I'm generally more at home with Celtic or traditional music but, I can certainly appreciate a good quality session of something else when it happens by.

"Something that "happened by" recently was another CD from Newfoundland, a lovely recording called Red Eye Tonight by Mary Barry.

"Mary has a style that's as smooth as glass and a sultry voice that hints of a good wine and a crackling fireplace. She also has the gift of words and languages, composing almost all of the 13 cuts herself and performing in both English and French with equal ease.

"The arrangements are intriguing, making use of the piano throughout but adding splashes of sax, flute, horns and vibes to fill out the usual guitar, bass and percussion. The recording was carefully produced, giving you a sound that could easily be live in a smoky bar. If you are a jazz fan, it certainly is worth getting your hands on."

Mary Barry continues to be recognized for her talent, recently winning both Female Artist of the Year and Jazz/Blues Artist of the Year at the 2007 Music Industry Awards of Newfoundland and Labrador.

She was a semi-finalist in the 2006 International Songwriting Competition, making her the only Canadian to make it that far in the Jazz category with her "one-take wonder" You're In My Skin.

In 2004, Barry's second CD These Days also won her Female Artist of the Year and was followed by an ECMA nomination for Jazz Recording of the Year in 2005. The album features three contest winning songs (January, Looking For A Genie, and Running Away).

Barry lives in St. John's where she regularly performs and also works as a writer/broadcaster, voice over artist, voice teacher and vocal coach. She is a graduate of Vancouver Community College's Jazz and Commercial Music Program

Don't miss her performance at the Cellar Jazz Club at 3611 Broadway in Vancouver on July 5. For more details, call (604) 738-1959, or visit: www.cellarjazz.com or www.marybarr.net.

Jazz fans would be wise to pick up Mary Barry's latest CD, -Dan MacDonlad, Cape Breton Post

I'm generally more at home with Celtic or traditional music, but as I have said before, my tastes are varied and I can certianly appreciate a good quality session of something else when it happens by. Something that "happened recently" was a new CD from Newfoundland, a lovely jazz recording called Red Eye Tonight by Mary Barry. Read the full orignal article >>

Writing ‘Barry’ Good Songs - These Days, Sunday Independent

Mary takes you along her journey … it is classy yet filled with soulful wisdom. Barry has put together a splendid album of torch-song jazz! I'm a huge fan of jazz, and I try to listen to many different styles. And St. John's native Mary Barry has plenty of style.

Her bio includes a hefty list of accomplishments in areas of French language, puppetry, music and teaching, and she's done her share of travel across Canada in search of those talents. Her new album These Days, is representative of her incomparable skill in composing and emotive vocal quality. Yeah, she wrote these - in a jazz world where most singers delve into the classic standards of Cole Porter and Billie Holiday, Barry writes her own memorable moments. Mary takes you along on her journey into smoky clubs with Le Chanteuse De Blues and more addictive blues in Looking For A Genie smooth and reflective in the title track, the steamy January, and the ‘in-love’ inevitability of the final number, If I Say Goodbye. The album tells of love lost and found in our short but ultimately sweet loves, and made complete with some superb piano and accordion work by Miles Black and Jesse Zubot's essential violin and mandolin.

These songs can swing, charged en francais, or drift light and airy, but above all they speak to you like a song should. It's classy, yet filled with soulful wisdom. Barry has put together a splendid album of torch-song jazz, and if you like to put your feet up with the sounds of a soothing chanteuse, you won't be disappointed with this choice. She's chosen her path well.