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 attend music college from which she graduated in 1982 with a diploma in jazz vocals and piano. She then co-founded the jazz vocal trio Alley Scatz which, for seven years, enjoyed enormous success - 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 being but a few of the highlights.

In 1989 Barbara recorded her first compact disc Out On A Limb. The album reached the Top 10 in several European countries, was #12 on Canada's 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 second CD Comes Love. Described as "sultry, stunning and impeccable" this vocal jazz album showcases her lush vocals and the superb playing of some of Canada's top jazz musicians.

In April 2003 Barbara released her third CD Winter Child with Laika Records. Recorded in February 2001 in Frankfurt am Main it showcases some original jazz compositions and features some of Germany's finest instrumentalists as well as special guests Allen Jacobson (CAN) and Owen Howard (NYC-USA).

Barbara has been a guest vocalist with symphony orchestras, big bands, jazz ensembles, and various music groups. Recent 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 (with whom she is the featured vocalist), singing selections from her "Broadway and Beyond" program for orchestras.

Barbara performs with ensembles of various sizes - from jazz duo or trio to big band and orchestra. She also sings with the renowned female vocal jazz group Ladies Nyght. She is much in demand at music festivals and in concert halls and clubs throughout Europe. She also works as a pianist, accompanist, arranger and music director.

Barbara Leah Meyer is very active as a voice teacher and repertoire coach and is a member of the faculty of the Frankfurt Musikhochschule (Frankfurt University of Performing Arts). She also offers workshops on jazz/pop vocal technique, interpretation, improvisation and performance. She currently resides in Mainz, Germany with her husband, trombonist Allen Jacobson and their two children Carmen and Evan.

Current Project: www.maplesurple.net

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