advertisement
FYI

Jazzist Jill Barber Strikes Gold With Chances

More than a decade after its release, the most successful album from the Vancouver-based jazz-pop singer/songwriter has reached a dazzling milestone.

Jazzist Jill Barber Strikes Gold With Chances

By FYI Staff

Unless your name is Diana Krall or Norah Jones, the chances of scoring a gold record for a jazz/pop album are rather remote. That makes Jill Barber's feat in achieving that for her 2008 Outside Music album Chances worthy of note.


It took over a decade, but Chances has just received a coveted gold sales certification from Music Canada. In a label press release, the Ontario-raised, Vancouver based singer/songwriter notes that "I'm beyond thrilled to receive the news that my record Chances has officially gone gold in Canada. Although the significance of this album is not measured in sales, it’s a reflection of the number of people for whom it holds a special place in their lives. It is also a testament to the creative vision that I, along with my producer Les Cooper always had for the album, which was to create a new collection of songs that embodied a sense of timelessness. I am honoured that it continues to resonate with so many people."

advertisement

To record Chances, Barber enlisted producer and long-time collaborators Les Cooper and Drew Jurecka, and they set up shop at The Glenn Gould Studio in Toronto. Their arrangements for an A-list backing band and a 10-piece string section were recorded live. Guest vocals by the Good Lovelies and The Sojourners and an appearance by Ron Sexsmith are featured on the album.

Along with ongoing word of mouth, the success of the album can in part be attributed to its exposure on television. Its songs have been heard on Orange Is The New Black, The L Word, and Riverdale, as well as in a Dodge Journey campaign. The video for the title track (below) has 745K YouTube views.

Barber has released seven solo albums, the most recent being 2018's Metaphora. Her duet record with brother Matthew Barber, The Family Album, won a Juno award for Contemporary Roots Album of the year in 2017.

advertisement

She has occasionally recorded in French, and her efforts have been earned her a sizeable following in Quebec now. She has six concerts in the province this month. Dates here:

March 13 - Théâtre Télébec - Salle Félix Leclerc – Val D’Or, QC

March 14 – Theatre des Eskers – Armos, QC

March 15 – Theatre du Cuivre – Royun-Norands. QC

March 21 – Theatre L’Etoile – Brossard, QC

March 22 – Valspec (Salle Albert-Dumouchel) – Salaberry de Valleyfield. QC

March 23 - Impérial Bell– Quebec City

advertisement
Ozzy Osbourne speaks onstage at iHeartRadio ICONS with Ozzy Osbourne: In Celebration of Ordinary Man at iHeartRadio Theater on February 24, 2020 in Burbank, California.
Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Ozzy Osbourne speaks onstage at iHeartRadio ICONS with Ozzy Osbourne: In Celebration of Ordinary Man at iHeartRadio Theater on February 24, 2020 in Burbank, California.

Music News

Metallica, Elton John & More Musicians Remember Ozzy Osbourne: ‘Greatest of All Time’

The Black Sabbath frontman died at the age of 76 on Tuesday (July 22).

The music world has been left stunned with the announcement of Ozzy Osbourne‘s death, with the Black Sabbath frontman passing away at the age of 76 Tuesday (July 22), just weeks after playing his final concert.

Without sharing his cause of death, Osbourne’s family delivered the news in a statement, writing that “our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning” and adding that the rock legend was “with his family and surrounded by love” in his final moments. In response, artists of all generations and genres have been flooding social media with words of shock and grief, as well as messages of support for Osbourne’s family, which includes his wife of more than 40 years, Sharon Osbourne, and his six children.

keep readingShow less
advertisement