Patricia Barber is a wildly talented singer, pianist and jazz artist, and Cafe Blue is an early recording of mostly original songs. Famous Blue Raincoat is a beautiful album of Leonard Cohen songs, sung by Jennifer Warnes, who has a stunning alto voice. She, along with Bonnie Raitt, k.d.Lang, Jackson Browne and J.D. Souther provided background vocals on Roy Orbison's A Black And White Night. They both happen to be well recorded, and have become audiophile demonstration records. That just enhances the artistry evident on both albums.
Patricia Barber - Cafe Blue is an effects album
Drives me a little nuts how many still praise this album as the end all Jazz album for audiophiles.
Mind you, I really like Miss Barber's music, and some tracks on Cafe Blue, but Cafe Blue, the darling of many an audiophile, isn't even close to her best album. At best its Audiophile bait. At worst it's preternaturally sterile and lab grown.
Live at the Green Mill for instance is just such a better album to listen to.