Little Lark of London

“What I’m doing is trawling through my life . . . Through song”

Barb Jungr, Singing Into My Seventies: Dylan, The River and The Blues is a cabaret performance in which Jungr quite literally sings her way into her seventies in a residency at Crazy Coqs in London. Joined by accomplished arranger and pianist Simon Wallace, this particular night was focused on Bob Dylan and other songs related to not only the genre of blues but also rivers, particularly the Mersey and its relationship with Stockport. I went in knowing a bit of Dylan’s work but looking forward to hearing more from the time period. 

We begin with a jazzy version of the Talking Heads song “Once In A Lifetime,” a delightful surprise, though it does make sense with its themes of water. From there, Jungr introduces herself and Wallace and begins telling her story with the city of Stockport where she comes from and where the Mersey beings. There is also a segment on folk music including Ewan MacColl’s “Sweet Thames Flow Softly.”

Throughout the show, Jungr intersperses the songs with stories from her seventy years, including a three-week residency at Cafe Carlyle in New York City with Elaine Stritch, how her life can be compared to The Sopranos with affairs and drugs, performing at a “Save the Vortex” event and how her time in Stockport shaped her life. While some of these stories are emotional and move the story of the show along, many are quite amusing and make for funnier moments in between the beautiful songs and bittersweet stories. 

In the beginning of the show, Jungr’s voice comes off as a bit weak, shaking on some of the higher notes when she goes softer for the more sweet and emotional songs. Luckily, however, this does not continue for the entirety of the show and Jungr truly comes alive in the second half, belting out beautiful notes with power and ease. I particularly loved her versions of Reverend Al Green’s “Take Me to the River” and Bob Dylan’s “Chimes of Freedom.”

Ultimately, Barb Jungr, Singing Into My Seventies: Dylan, The River and The Blues is a sweet hour of cabaret that serves as a celebration of not only the blues but Jungr herself, throwing a birthday party in the way she knows best. Jungr clearly loves what she is doing and it is a delight to witness her on stage, always smiling and singing her heart out. 

Barb Jungr, Singing Into My Seventies ran from 9 to 11 May at Crazy Coqs. More information on  Barb Jungr, Singing Into My Seventies: Dylan, The River and The Blues can be found here. More information on Jungr can be found here.

Photo Credit: Steve Ullathorne