Two Darn Hot!
biographies

Britain's foremost chansonnier and cabarettist Barb Jungr enthrals audiences with her powerful performances fusing extraordinary singing, humour and passion. Born to Czech and German paretns in the Northwest of England, her performance background was the alternative cabaret circuit, and she has been at the cutting edge of European cabaret in Britain for the last decade. With Perrier award winning duo Jungr and Parker she performed internationally for 13 years, appearing regularly on television and radio. She has worked extensively with Julian Clary, created the sellout show Girl Talk with Claire Martin and Mari Wilson and Hell Bent Heaven Bound with Ian Shaw and Christine Collister, which was a Perrier Pick of The Fringe and subsequently toured Canada. Since 1991 she has been creating and touring original cabaret theatre to growing acclaim. She created and hosts the hugely successful European cabaret club Cafe Prague at Komedia in Brighton and her acclaimed CD of classic and contemporary chansons Chanson The Space In Between is internationally released on Linn records and was one of the Ten Best Jazz CDs of last year in The Sunday Times. Currently, as well as touring her show of Chanson The Space In Between (sellout shows at South Bank's Purcell Rooms, Pizza On The Park, and nationally) and appearing in cabaret (solo and with Mari Wilson and Girl Talk) she is working with Noel Greig on The Weight Of The Bag for 2001/2, with composer Jonathan Cooper on his new work and on her new show for autumn 2000 as part of London's Jewish Festival.

Claire Martin (performer)
Claire Martin came to the fore in 1992 winning instant recognition with her debut album "The Waiting Game which was chosen as one of 'The Times' Records Of The Year".

In 1994 she was named "Rising Star Of 1994" by The british Jazz Awards. She then joined forces with Shirley Horn's ex-manager and record producer, Joel Siegel, to record her third Linn album Old Boyfriends which reached number two on the virgin jazz charts. Made first tour of Australia and Hong Kong.

She made her American debut in 1995 at "The Nest" in Washington D.C. She becomes the only British artiste to be chosen to appear on the "Rising Stars" tour of europe, along with Diana Krall, Cyrus Chestnut and David Sanchez. The British Jazz Awards name her "Best Vocalist 1995". She records fourth CD, Offbeat, recorded live at london's legendary Ronnie Scotts.

In 1996 she was guest vocalist and lyricist on Martin Taylor's album Years Apart, recorded in Paris with legendary violinist Stephane Grappelli. She appeared on Good Morning America and returned to New York to record her fifth album for Linn Records with all-star american line-up and embarked on her second tour of Australasia.

In 1997/98: Claire's fifth album, Make This City Ours, reached Number 1 in the US Gavin Charts and received great critical acclaim. Claire toured throughout europe appearing at the North Sea Jazz Festival, the Ottawa Jazz Festival, the New Morning in Paris, and festivals in Germany, Norway and Denmark. She was guest vocalist with the BBC Big Band and The Reis Big Band in berlin and performed concerts for the British Council in Pakistan. The British Jazz Awards named her "Best Vocalist 1997".

1999: Claire recorded Take My Heart, her sixth CD for Linn Records, which features Oasis songwriter Noel Gallagher and producer Paul Stacey. She toured Indonesia with her all-star band for the British Council.

In 2000, she recorded Perfect Alibi which featured legendary singer/songwriter John Martyn on vocals - her first venture into "pop". She won her third "Best Vocalist Award" at The British Jazz Awards 2000; she performed at London's South Bank Centre with John Wilson's 90 piece orchestra, paying tribute to the Great American Songbook, and toured Australia and New Zealand.

In 2001 she became a radio presenter on the BBC weekly magazine, Jazz Line Up, in which she interviewed (among others) jazz greats such as Michael Brecker, Tania Maria, Roy Hargrove, Joe Locke, and Marcus Roberts. She toured Thailand and appeared as the first jazz act at the Bangkok International Festival of Music and dance. She also appeared at the first ever jazz festival to take place in Vietnam. She also released her eighth album Every Now And Then - a 'best of' album combining a selection of stylish reworkings of popular standards and original songs.

In November 2002 Claire released Too Darn Hot - a return to 'straight ahead jazz' and her ninth CD for Linn Records - featuring string quartet arrangements by Sir Richard Rodney Bennett and guest appearances by pianist Geoff Keezer and vocalist Ian Shaw.

For the fourth time The British Jazz Awards name her as "Best Vocalist 2002" in a special presentation from british jazz legend Dame Cleo Laine.