Barbara Brussell

A DIVA WHO DARES

In his review of Brussell's recording, Lerner in Love, Rob Lester wrote: "What strikes me is that she is so present at each emotional point in the story of each song. Very much an actress, Barbara makes the most of each moment, making often unexpected choices in phrasing....Barbara is a fearless singer. She is more than willing to be revealing, fragile, even foolishly and naively romantic."

Brussell has created definitive cabaret with some best-in-genre original shows:

  • The Piano Bench of My Mind: Songs I've Been Sitting on for Too Long was debuted at Danny's Skylight Room in New York City, refined at The Gardenia in Los Angeles (receiving "Best Cabaret Performer of the Year Award, 2003" from the Beverly Hills Outlook). When BB moved the show to New York, Stephen Holden of the The New York Times, Rex Reed of The Observer and James Gavin for Time Out New York all gave it rave reviews.
  • Almost Like Being in Love: The Lyrics of Alan Jay Lerner debuted in the Oak Room at The Algonquin Hotel, before her long run with the show at Danny's where again, Holden, Reed, and many others gave it high praise. The CD version of the show, Lerner in Love, was recognized as one of the 10 BEST CDs of 2005 by Rob Lester, Talkin' Broadway. (Her first CD, Patterns, was chosen as one of the 10 BEST CDs of 1998 by In Theater Magazine.)