With her opening night show at the Metropolitan Room, Barb Jungr turned this reviewer into a Bob Dylan fan. Or perhaps more accurately, into a Barb Jungr fan, as she took a dozen of Dylan's songs and turned them into Barb Jungr property.

Some Dylan lyrics, such as the opener, "High Water (Rising)," still have the ability to bewilder one on first listening, but Jungr's affecting and impassioned treatments of "If Not for You," "I'll be Your Baby Tonight" and "I Want You" need no deep intellectual contemplation to appreciate. The songs vary from sentimental to dramatic and highly emotional.

In spite of remaining firmly anchored to a stool while she performed, Jungr is always in motion -- head, arms and body continually in motion, moving with the music, swaying, gesturing. Her patter is topical, relevant and witty, and responsible in no small way for the success of her show. She's funny, she's tough, she's unpredictable, she's irreverent. And can she sing!

A special word is also due the arrangements and accompaniment of Charles Giordano. His instrumental support, on piano and accordion, is spare, extraordinarily effective in its minimalist backing to Jungr's vocalizing. There is another side in reserve, however. With "Forever Young," Giordano takes off his figurative gloves and, with Jungr, lets it rip. It is an impressive show of force for both of them.

Barb Jungr Sings Bob Dylan will be at the Metropolitan Room Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays though February 3rd.

Peter Leavy
Cabaret Scenes
January 25, 2007
www.cabaretscenes.org