Barbara Kessler

She delicately weaves a forceful spell with just a guitar and that remarkable voice---not an easy accomplishment. Kessler establishes herself as one of today's great unsung talents. Surely she won't go unrecognized much longer.
--- CMJ New Music Report

Breaking out of Boston's vital folk music scene, Kessler is a triple threat. She possesses a strong , supple voice, is a skillful guitarist and composes thought-provoking songs with striking melodies.
--- CMJ-AAA Music Review

Best new artist of the year.
--- Christine Lavin, for World Cafe, American Public Radio

Contents

About Barbara Kessler

Professional and biographical information about Barbara from her Press Kit.

Discography

A list of Barbara's recordings, both solo and on compilations, including selected lyrics and sound bites from her solo recordings, and ordering information.

Current Itinerary

Barbara's current tour schedule.

Critical Acclaim

Excerpts from reviews of Barbara's recordings and performances.

Interviews

Excerpts from printed interviews with Barbara.

Selected Appearances

Some of the venues where Barbara has performed.

Appearances With...

Some of the artists with whom Barbara has appeared as an opening act or sharing a bill.

Correspondence

Where to call or write to book Barbara for a performance, for personal correspondence, or for ordering her recordings (including E-mail addresses).

About Barbara Kessler

After graduating from Cornell University in New York, Barbara travelled extensively throughout the U.S., the South Pacific, New Zealand and Australia, settling for a period in the Seattle area where she began to write and perform in that region's rich music scene. Her various "day jobs" have included counseling and sex education with teenagers, and these experiences have enhanced and informed her writing with a unique sensitivity. Since settling in New England, she has been garnering critical and popular acclaim in the area's circuit of clubs and coffeehouses.

A cut from Barbara Kessler Live, Kessler's self-released 10 song cassette, was featured on the American Public Radio program World Cafe. Barbara Kessler can also be heard on radio stations throughout the Northeast where several of her songs are among the most requested.

--- From Kessler's Press Kit

Discography

Solo Projects

• Reckless World (Demo, 1990; out of print)

• Barbara Kessler Live (cassette, 1992)
  (Sound bites are available here for songs from this recording.)

• Stranger To This Land (live CD/Cassette, 1994)
  (Lyrics and sound bites are available here for songs from this recording.)

Tracks on Compilations

"Mary Tyler Moore"

Studio recording with guitar, bass and percussion. On Acoustic Underground 1992 Compilation (1992).

"Digging"

On Fast Folk: Boston Revisited (one of Fast Folk Magazine's monthly CD collections).

"Happy With You"

Live recording. On Honey Hide the Banjo: It's the Folk Next Door Again (1993 WWUH Hartford, CT compilation).

"The Date (Making Mountains Out of Molehills)"

Live recording. On Big Times in a Small Town: The Vineyard Tapes (1993).

"Happy With You"

Studio recording with guitar, keyboard and percussion. On Acoustic Alliance Volume 1 (1994). Available by mail order from Johnny Brock Management.

"Deep Country"

Live recording with Johnathan Edwards accompanying on vocals and harmonica and Mark Avnet on bass. On Follow That Road (1994).

Ordering Information

You can order CDs of all of the compilations listed above (except for the Fast Folk compilation) by sending a check or money order for $15 for each CD ($30 for the double-CD, Follow That Road), plus $1.50 shipping and handling for each item, to Johnny Brock Management. Please allow 2 to 3 weeks delivery.

Critical Acclaim

The delicate production on this tape is a perfect match for her high, clear and strong vocals. Kessler's songs are interesting glimpses of coming-of-age in these confusing times, showing a genuine understanding of the human condition. She's been opening for some big names (Bill Morrissey, Patty Larkin, Arlo Guthrie) in the New England area to rave reviews, as well.

I last mentioned Barbara Kessler about two years ago. Meanwhile she's been impressing New England audiences with her strong, clear vocals, supple guitar playing and heartfelt, well-crafted songs. Kessler's new live tape is an excellent glimpse of her ever-developing talents. She delicately weaves a forceful spell with just a guitar and that remarkable voice---not an easy accomplishment. With songs like "Ashes, Ashes," "Famous People" and "Circle Round The Front Line," Kessler establishes herself as one of today's great unsung talents. Surely she won't go unrecognized for too much longer.

Spotted at Cape Cod's New Alchemy Folk Fest this summer, Barbara Kessler was the only "newcomer" on a bill with Lui Collins, John Gorka, Patty Larkin, Rory Block and Bill Morrissey. So impressive was her performance before an audience of 1200 and so heartstoppingly beautiful was her voice that we just had to include her on tonight's bill. Barbara's cassette, Reckless World, was produced by Darleen Wilson who produced Bill Morrisey's latest Standing Eight album. Songs from this recording helped her to win the "New Faces in Folk" competition at the New England Festival of Folk Music!

Breaking out of Boston's vital folk music scene, Kessler is a triple threat. She possesses a strong , supple voice, is a skillful guitarist and composes thought-provoking songs with striking melodies.

Barbara's song "Mary Tyler Moore" has been the number 1 requested song on our program for the last few months!

Barbara is a solo guitarist with an extremely lyrical writing talent. She is quite adept at evoking specific moods in her songs. Barbara supports her voice well with guitar, but it is the voice that comes through with her message, a smooth timbre with good control. This lady will have no problem finding gigs.

Barbara Kessler is gaining ground on the solo acoustic scene with thoughtful vocals reminiscent of Shawn Colvin.

Interviews

• "With folk music, Kessler shares her journey through life," by Karissa S. Wang (1993)

• "Eclectic and unelectric, musicians find marketability in numbers," by Paul Jarvey (May 15, 1994)

• "`Acoustic Alliance'---Barbara Kessler celebrates CD release at Old Vienna Kaffehaus," by Craig Harris (May 22, 1994)

Selected Appearances

• Passim --- Cambridge, MA
• The Iron Horse --- Northampton, MA
• The Old Vienna Kaffehaus --- Westboro, MA
• The Nameless Coffeehouse --- Cambridge, MA
• CBGB's Gallery --- New York, NY
• Johnny D's --- Somerville, MA
• The Folkway --- Peterborough, NH
• The South Shore Folk Music Club --- Kingston, MA
• The Wintertide Coffehouse --- Martha's Vineyard, MA
• The Postcrypt Coffeehouse --- New York, NY
• Crossroads Coffehouse --- Andover, MA
• Roaring Brook Concert Series --- Canton, CT
• King of Prussia Folk Concert Series --- PA
• Godfrey Daniel's --- Bethlehem, PA
• Wisconsin Singer-Songwriter Series --- Cedarburg, WI
• Cincinnati Folk Society --- Cincinnati, OH
• Hartland Family Folk Festival --- E. Hartland, CT
• The Left Bank Cafe --- Blue Hill, ME
• CMJ Music Marathon 1991 & 1992 --- New York, NY
• Baystate Women's Folk Music Festival --- Lowell, MA
• The Somerville Theatre --- Somerville, MA
• Sanders Theatre --- Harvard University, MA
• Raoul's Roadside Attraction --- Portland, ME

Appearances With...

• Indigo Girls
• Greg Brown
• Jonathan Edwards
• John Gorka
• John Sebastian
• Christine Lavin
• Livingston Taylor
• Maura O'Connell
• Louden Wainwright III
• Aztec Two Step
• Arlo Guthrie
• The Story
• David Wilcox
• Bill Morrissey
• Patty Larkin
• David Bromberg
• Shawn Colvin
• Michael Johnson
• Cliff Eberhardt
• Cheryl Wheeler

Correspondence

For information regarding booking Barbara Kessler for a concert, contact:

Adam Lewis
Concert Ideas
(617) 254-2543

Phil Antoniades
Johnny Brock Management
31 Maxfield St.
West Roxbury, MA 02132
Voice or fax: (617) 327-6470
Internet: FolkWithJB@aol.com