Barbara Wiernik is a singer, but not only. The lyrics and melodies she creates flow
among different styles with astounding versatility. A vocalist for about twenty years,
she has been in constant search of new sounds, which give her vocal jazz a very
modern note. She uses her voice as an instrument, making melodies part of her own
language and universe. Numerous travels, above all to India, enriched her music with
various traditions she likes to juggle with. This has conferred her unique style a deep,
subtle and powerful touch.
Her vocal musical pathway was marked by the teaching of, among others, Norma
Winstone and David Linx in jazz and R.A. Ramamani in Indian singing. She also
attended classes by Diederik Wissels, Kenny Wheeler and Kris Defoort, with whom
she studied at the Antwerpen Jazz Studio and the Koninklijk Conservatorium van
Brussel, where she graduated. Her experience also includes various training
sessions throughout Europe, and in India for longer periods.
Barbara published a first CD, « Eclipse » (Mogno Music), in 2000, with the pianist
Jozef Dumoulin, and participated in the albums of Alexandre Furnelle (Mogno Music),
Manu Hermia (Igloo Mondo), Giacomo Lariccia (Travers), Marie-Sophie Talbot
(Skat), PiWiZ - Zurstrassen, Pirotton, Wiernik (Home Records). She gathered key
musicians of the Belgian jazz scene for her own album « Soul of Butterflies » (AZ
Productions).
With double bass player Jean-Louis Rassinfosse and guitarist Alain Pierre, she
founded a trio named « WRAP! », that published their first album, « Endless » (Igloo
Records). The project « Les 100 ciels de Barbara Wiernik » assembled 13 musicians
with jazz or classical background. Another project she is deeply involved in is her
duet with the guitarist Alain Pierre, called « Different Lines ».
Her latest project is called COMPLICITY, with the Italian pianist Nicola Andrioli. In
October 2016, they issued, on Spinach Pie Records, their first album, on which they
had invited fantastic musicians (Manu Hermia, Marco Bardoscia and Antoine Pierre),
and toured Europe and Asia.
Another facet of Barbara’s talent is her teaching activity, for jazz singing,
improvisation, vocal techniques and polyphony. She is now mainly a teacher of vocal
jazz at the Royal Conservatoire of Antwerpen, the international Summer Academy in
Libramont and the jazz camp in Jodoigne. She also taught at the Conservatoire in
Leuven, the Saint-Gilles Academy and in various training missions around the
world.
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