Jill Barber's New Adventure

Jill Barber could have lived in another era.

Her latest release, Chances, is chockfull of old world romanticism and sweeping orchestral arrangements provided by a 10-piece string section.

"We had a number of reference points going into record this album," says Barber, calling from her newly found Vancouver home. "Certainly Etta James, Patsy Cline and Ella Fitzgerald were influences — all of the old divas, really.

"I looked to the old classic romantic songs. They were delivered with such soul and sass."

Barber fled to the Rocky Mountains in January 2008 and spent the majority of the month at the Banff Centre writing furiously with few distractions.

"It's easy for me to forget what is most important," she says. "I needed extreme measures and the opportunity came my way.

"I lived and breathed music. I shut out everything in my life and went deep into my own creative world. I went into it with the ambition to write an album. The program supervisor warned me about setting any sort of intention, but I didn't listen. I really just put my mind and heart into it."

At the peak of Barber's artistic seclusion, she invited producer Les Cooper and singer/songwriter Ron Sexsmith to collaborate — a first in a musical career that included two albums and an EP. Barber toured extensively in the past with Sexsmith, who helped pen the title track and "One More Time," and also leant his vocals to "Old Flame."

A month after her stint in Banff, Barber premiered some of what would later become the essence of Chances with the Symphony Nova Scotia for the Maritime Pop Series.

"It was a turning point for me, both professionally and personally," says Barber. "To have my songs lifted up on the wings of the symphony of Nova Scotia was something I only ever dreamed of. I don't think I would have had that kind opportunity anywhere else."

Catch Barber here:

Feb. 12 Belleville, ON @ Empire Theatre
Feb. 13 Peterborough, ON @ The Showplace Theatre
Feb. 14 Kingston, ON @ Grand Theatre
Feb. 15 Montreal, QC @ Le Petit Campus
Feb. 18 Toronto, ON @ First Canadian Place (free lunchtime show)
Feb. 19-20 Wakefield, QC @ The Black Sheep Inn
Feb. 21 Toronto, ON @ The Mod Club
Feb. 22 London, ON @ Aeolian Hall (3 p.m.)
Feb. 23 Guelph, ON @ Dublin United Church
Feb. 26 Kitchener, ON @ Centre In The Square
Feb. 27 Hamilton, ON @ Studio Theatre at Hamilton Place