Patricia Barber live at the Regattabar

Caught Patricia for TWO sets at the Regattabar in Cambridge last week. Her imposing height and older look surprised me.
She was visibly happy to see a real Steinway B set up for her in the club, and probably happy with the room EQ, although the piano was pretty hardened in the treble by use of only Shure SM58's for support. The standup bass player's grooves were REALLY great-sounding, as well that ethereal guitar. Her first set was fine, already-tight, and professional. The interplay with her longterm bandmates was impressive, portraying sensitivity, patience, and acute listening. Her cues to them were invisible, and seemingly purely musical. Nice!
The second set found her becoming hunched over the B, her long back arched heavily ala Quosimodo. She began to scat and hoot, and after frequent sips of scotch to gesticulate wildly between facial grimaces reminiscent of Joe Cocker at his best/worst!
Her playing became more insistent, creative, loose, and inspired, her bandmates listening intently so as to build upon her lead for their solos. Songs lengthened, as her composure merged towards a Tourette's Syndrome, all the while reciting a series of verses (hence the latest CD title).
So this evolution toward more eclecticism via her songwriting seemingly veers away from the reinvention of standards approach I had known her for. And it's more than cute literal invention. She's become a half-crazed poet!
Following the set I reminded her that she has a strong following among audiophiles (sorry, guys, just couldn't come up with a better line!). She placidly grunted "Yeah...that helps.)
I found myself with the bass player in the men's room, and related my use of Companion as a system reference. He remembered that that was his first recording with Patricia...as though it was eons ago (1992?).
Musicians as real people...changing...evermore human?
See ya. Ern