To paraphrase a classic song, Thursday night was a wonderful night to fall in love — with a beautiful girl singing pretty melodies.
Toronto singer-songwriter Jill Barber and her band enraptured a  good sized crowd of approximately 250 paid ticketholders at the Southminster Church, Dec. 2 who were gathered to raise money for Womanspace.

“The numbers were very good. We definitely broke even and made some money for Womanspace,” said organizer Mike Spencer of the Geomatic Attic who sponsored this show — the third such event they have held over the past years to raise money and awareness for community  groups in need.

“But more importantly, we were able to create awareness about that organization,” he continued adding Womanspace has held several fundraisers over the past few months, so he was glad to help out.

“They were aware their federal financing was cut, so this awareness will help them get back on the list for the next budget when they see all of the community support behind them. So this will do nothing but good for them,” Spencer said.

Barber was cute and cuddly and joked Geomatic Attic organizer Mike Spencer wanted to call her “Canada’s sweetheart.”  Or she wanted to be called Canada’s Sweetheart — I missed the initial exchange.

Either way she’s got my vote. She combined elements of a cuter and more innocent Madonna, Marilyn Monroe and Peggy Lee while singing a solid set of breathy ballads, lots of lovely lullabies and mesmerizing melodies, which had me nodding off in places, but no less impressed with her gorgeous voice.

 She chatted engagingly with the appreciative audience about being able to spend time with them and told stories about following her heart after various men  from Halifax to Toronto and marrying one she met home in Toronto, which broke the hearts of many of the guys in the audience falling in love with her.

Then she asked the audience if she would mind playing them a set of love songs.

Her angelic, whispery voice was immediately captivating as she switched between just singing and guitar.  She was capably backed by a crack band including a pianist/ keyboardist, violinist/clarinetist, stand up bassist, guitarist and a drummer, who took a brief break so Barber could play a couple solo songs, then rejoined her midway through the second, song, which she dedicated to her grandmother “Ashes To Ashes.”

 

“Grandma always  wanted me to be a paleontologist, but I think she’s be happy to see me  here, in a church,” she giggled to the crowd.

She also spoke briefly about her baby board book, based on her song “Lay Down,” which she played, saying she doesn’t usually play it at night as she usually plays it during the day during book signings.

“The book comes with a free download of the song, so I hope parents will sing it to their children like my parents sang to me,” she said.

 Another highlight featured the guys in her band singing harmony on the upbeat “Fast Talking Man.”
 She ended her set by conducting the crowd  singing along with another upbeat number “Oh My My,” which she introduced with a poetic explanation about how the song came to her in a dream. After the crowd sang along, they called her back for an encore.

Spencer said community organizations and the arts community are both closely related to each other, so it is important for them to support each other.
“The larger arts community is very strong. And (like organizations liek Womanspace) the arts community is in a constant battle  to find funding for their endeavours. So there is a need to support other organizations  in the same position,” Spencer said.