Barbara Leah Meyer has been a dynamic member of the Canadian and European music scenes for many years. A native of Edmonton, Canada she has entertained a variety of audiences across Canada and throughout Europe, Scandinavia, Japan and the Middle East, as a solo artist, with jazz ensembles, big bands and symphony orchestras.

Barbara's musical background is diverse. She studied classical piano and music theory from an early age, going on to graduate from Grant MacEwan Community College in Edmonton with a diploma in jazz vocal performance and piano. She then co-founded the popular jazz vocal trio Alley Scatz. Performances at the Festival International de Jazz de Montreal, the Edmonton Jazz City Festival, Expo 86, Canadian and international touring, a United Nations Entertainment Tour to Cyprus and Israel and numerous television and radio appearances were but a few of the highlights.

In 1989 Barbara began a long touring career throughout Europe, eventually settling in Frankfurt, Germany in 1997. Based in the centre of a bustling European music scene she toured extensively and enjoyed enormous success with various projects. She has performed as a solo vocalist/ pianist at many of Europe and Scandinavia’s top luxury hotels and was the Music Director at the Hotel Intercontinental in Frankfurt am Main from 1998 until 2005.

Barbara has been a guest vocalist with symphony orchestras, big bands, jazz ensembles, and various music groups. Highlights were performances with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, the Baden-Badener Philharmonie, the Krimm Orchestra in Yalta, the Philharmonie Suedwestfalen and the European Philharmonia Baden Baden as well as invitations to perform at the Baku Jazz Festival (Azerbaijan), at Canada Day celebrations in Istanbul and Ankara and recent solo engagements in Fuerteventura, Spain. As a member of the renowned female vocal group Ladies Nyght she appeared at numerous jazz festivals and on club and concert stages across Europe.

As a recording artist Barbara has been very prolific. 1989 marked the release of her first compact disc Out On A Limb. The album reached the Top 10 in several European countries, was #12 on Canada's Country Music Hit Chart and was the first Canadian production to be chosen as the Independent Record of the Month by a leading music publication in London, England. Barbara was honored to have been selected as Female Vocalist of the Year at the 1992 ARIA (Alberta Recording Industry Association) Awards.

In 1997 Barbara released her first jazz CD “Comes Love”. Described as "sultry, stunning and impeccable" this album showcases her lush vocals and the superb playing of some of Western Canada's top jazz musicians. “Winter Child” (Laika Records - DE) was recorded in February 2001 in Frankfurt am Main. It features Barbara’s work as a jazz lyricist as well as the masterful musicianship of some of the top names in the German jazz scene.

Subsequent releases include CD recordings with the Baden-Baden Philharmonie, the German vocal trio Ladies Nyght (“How to Fly”) and an innovative and charming English/ German children’s’ CD entitled Maple Surple – “Sing Together!”

Barbara Leah Meyer is very active as a vocalist, pianist, accompanist, arranger, music director, voice and piano teacher and repertoire coach. She has taught at the prestigious Frankfurt Musikhochschule (Frankfurt University of Performing Arts) and at the Scream Factory (Frankfurt). She also offers workshops on jazz/pop vocal technique, interpretation, improvisation and performance.

After enjoying many fulfilling years living in Germany Barbara is happy to have returned “home” to Alberta in 2010. She now resides in St. Albert with her two young children Carmen and Evan.

Quotes

"sultry...stunning...impeccable..."
Jazztimes

" ...eine der besten Jazzsangerinnen der internationalen Szene."
Lippische Landeszeitung

"Barbara is one of the great talents of now - no question"
Vienna Connection

"Barbara Leah Meyer verfugt uber ein sensationelles Timbre, das jedem Song quasi neues Leben einhaucht... mit ihrer dunklen, wandlungsfahigen und ausdrucksvollen Stimme und Ausstrahlung."
Badisches Tagesblatt