BIOGRAPHY
Barbra Lica is a Juno-nominated artist singer-songwriter based in Toronto. A seasoned act on the North American club and festival circuits, Barbra has performed everywhere from New York City’s legendary Birdland to Toronto’s prestigious Koerner Hall. She has also headlined at festivals across the continent including Festival International de Jazz de Montréal, Vancouver International Jazz Festival and Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival, and opened for the likes of Christian McBride, Pat Metheny, Bob Dorough, and Terence Blanchard.
Barbra’s debut album That’s What I Do (Triplet / Universal Jazz Japan) was released to widespread acclaim in 2012, ranking her in Canada’s Top 5 Jazz singers on the CBC, as well Top 5 up-and-coming Toronto jazz artists on blogTO. Shortly after, her band made their Japanese debut live at the Tokyo International Jazz Festival in 2015 for over a thousand Japanese fans Her first album with Justin Time Records, I’m Still Learning, was released September 2016 and subsequently nominated for a 2017 Juno Award in the category of “Best Vocal Jazz Album”. Her subsequent project, You’re Fine (Justin Time Records) marked the introduction of Folk an Americana elements to her repertoire and has amassed over 4.9 million streams to date on Spotify.
In addition to writing for herself, Barbra has written cuts for such artists as jazz crooner Matt Dusk (Entertainment One/Universal), rising J-Pop singer Harumi (Sony Music Japan), and Taiwanese pop recording artist, Morrison Ma (Universal Music Group/X Entertainment).
She is currently promoting her first self-produced EP – Imposter Syndrome (released October 2022) – with generous support from FACTOR, as well as her new chamber orchestra project featuring all-original music arranged for 14 instruments plus voice.
PHOTOS
“Lica smiles when she sings. You can hear it. When you see her in concert, you’ll see it too. In a word, refreshing”
– Tim Tamashiro, Host, CBC Radio.
“Ella a tout pour réussir.”
– François Lemay, ICI Musique
“Barbra Lica’s voice is infectious.”
– Greg Wells, Music Producer
“It starts and ends with Lica’s voice. It’s a bright, vibrant contralto one minute, laconic and syrupy the next when she lets a phrase die on the vine and trail off”
– Frank De Blase, Journalist, City Newspaper
“With her upbeat lilt and vocal cuteness on covers and originals, Lica offers smiles and sympathy, not blues”
– Brad Wheeler, Journalist, The Globe and Mail
IN THE NEWS
Campbellford’s Westben celebrates its 23rd season with a summer festival of live performance – Jun 21, 2022, Kawarthanow.com
https://kawarthanow.com/2022/06/21/campbellfords-westben-celebrates-its-23rd-season-with-a-summer-festival-of-live-performance/
Flato Markham Theatre gets back in the swing of things with debut of Barbra Lica: Songs for Orchestra – Apr 6, 2022, Yorkregion.com
https://www.yorkregion.com/whatson-story/10602131-flato-markham-theatre-gets-back-in-the-swing-of-things-with-debut-of-barbra-lica-songs-for-orchestra/
Going Guilford: 5 things to do this weekend – Feb 14, 2020, Greensboro.com
https://www.greensboro.com/entertainment/going-guilford-things-to-do-this-weekend
Celebrate this Valentine’s Day with top Canadian jazz vocalist – Feb 9, 2020, CarolinaCoastOnline
http://www.carolinacoastonline.com/entertainment/music
Barbra Lica Quintet to play at High Point Theatre – Feb 6 2020, Greensboro.com
https://www.greensboro.com/entertainment/barbra-lica-quintet-to-play-at-high-point-theatre
Critiques CD de Noël – Dec 13, 2019, journalmetro.com
https://journalmetro.com/culture
“You Are My Sunshine” and Its Magic in Music Therapy – Oct 22, 2019, Countrythangdaily.com
https://www.countrythangdaily.com/you-are-my-sunshine-magic-music-therapy
RE-UPLOAD FROM 2014: The Concert Series Ep04 – Barbra Lica – Aug 15, 2019, VisionTV
https://www.visiontv.ca/videos/concert-series-ep04-barbra-lica
High Point Theatre Announces 2019-2020 “Passport to Entertainment” Lineup – Aug 13, 2019, Yes! Weekly
https://yesweekly.com/high-point-theatre-announces-2019-2020-passport-to-entertainment-lineup
Barbra Lica | Before I Do: Exclusive Video Premiere – May 27, 2019, Tinnitist
https://tinnitist.com/2019/05/27/barbra-lica-before-i-do-exclusive-video-premiere
Barbra Lica returns for a special Live to Air concert– May 4, 2019, Jazz.fm
https://jazz.fm/barbra-lica-returns-for-a-very-special-live-to-air-concert
Jaymz Bee’s Caravan of Music Boosts Unison – Mar 29, 2019, FYI Music News
https://www.fyimusicnews.ca/articles
Barbra Lica releases fifth studio album ‘You’re Fine’ – Feb 4, 2019, Global News
https://globalnews.ca/video/4922178/barbra-lica-releases-fifth-studio-album-youre-fine
Youre Fine – Barbra Lica – Jan 29, 2019, theWholeNote
https://www.thewholenote.com/you-re-fine-barbra-lica
Wie Nahrung die Psyche beeinflusst – Jan 28, 2019, deutschelandfunkkultur.de
https://www.deutschlandfunkkultur.de/essen-als-trost-wie-nahrung-die-psyche-beeinflusst
PapJazz 2019: la bonne ambiance toujours au rendez-vous sur la scène Barbanocurt – Jan 23, 2019, Le Nouvelliste
https://lenouvelliste.com/article/197384/papjazz-2019-la-bonne-ambiance-toujours-au-rendez-vous-sur-la-scene-barbancourt
Deuxième Soirée du Papjazz: un moment d’apothéose – Jan 21 2019, Le Nouvelliste
https://lenouvelliste.com/article/197275/deuxieme-soiree-du-papjazz-un-moment-dapotheose
Barbra Lica: Yardbird Suite Edmonton, Nov 10, 2018, Live Music Magazine
http://www.livemusicmagazine.ca/BarbraLica.html (ARCHIVED)
Music Notes: How do you pronounce Korpiklaani – Nov 7, 2018, thestarphoenix.com
https://thestarphoenix.com/entertainment/music/music-notes-how-do-you-pronounce-korpiklaani
Five to see: Canadian Jazz Festival – Nov 6, 2018, Calgary Herald
https://calgaryherald.com/entertainment/music/five-to-see-canadian-jazz-festival
IN PHOTOS – Barbra Lica in Toronto, ON – Nov 6, 2018, Canadian Beats
https://canadianbeats.ca/2018/11/06/in-photos-barbra-lica-record-release-at-hughs-room-live
Clinton Square chillaxes with Northeast Jazz & Wine Fest – Jul 25, 2018, Syracuse New Times
https://www.syracusenewtimes.com/northeast-jazz-wine-2018
Lakefield Jazz Festival returns with another season of summer music – Jun 13, 2018, The Peterborough Examiner
https://www.thepeterboroughexaminer.com/lakefield-jazz-festival-returns-with-another-season-of-summer-music
Songs of the City brings together musicians with people who have stories of recovery – May 30, 2018, The Standard
https://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/whatson-story/8640809-lives-celebrated-in-words-and-song
Saving the best for last: Barbra Lica and band put on the show of the series – Apr 18, 2018, The Dryden Observer
https://thedrydenobserver.ca/2018/04/18/saving-the-best-for-last-barbra-lica-and-band-put-on-the-show-of-the-series/ (ARCHIVED)
Hottest tickets in Canada: Five Things to do across the country – Jan 30, 2018, Globe and Mail
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/hottest-tickets-in-canada-five-things-to-do-across-the-country
Barbra Lica shows Burlington I’m Still Learning Oct. 14 – Aug 25, 2017, Burlington Post
https://www.insidehalton.com/barbra-lica-shows-burlington-i-m-still-learning-oct-14
Barbra Lica’s Bubbly Take on Life – July 12, 2017, thegatewayonline.ca
https://thegatewayonline.ca/2017/07/barbra-licas-bubbly-take-on-life
Singer Barbra Lica on performing at the Jazz Festival – Jul 5, 2017, Global Morning News Montreal
https://globalnews.ca/video/3576068/singer-barbra-lica-on-performing-at-the-jazz-festival
Trois clubs de jazz, trois programmations – Jun 28, 2017, lapresse.ca
https://www.lapresse.ca/arts/festivals/festival-de-jazz
JazzFest 2017, Day 1: Frank reviews Barbra Lica, Joss Stone, and St. Paul and the Broken Bones – Jun 24, 2017, City Newspaper
https://www.rochestercitynewspaper.com/MusicBlog
35 best Canadian jazz artists under 35 – June 22, 2017, CBC Music
https://www.cbc.ca/music/read/35-best-canadian-jazz-artists-under-35
5 must-see acts at Victoria Jazz Fest – Jun 22, 2017, martlet.ca
https://www.martlet.ca/5-must-see-acts-at-victoria-jazz-fest
Featured Artist: Barbra Lica – Jun 14, 2017, City Newspaper
https://www.rochestercitynewspaper.com/rochester/featured-artist-barbra-lica
At JUNOFest Friday, Toronto jazz groups fill Live on Elgin with entrancing sounds – April 1, 2017, Ottawa Citizen
https://ottawacitizen.com/entertainment/jazzblog/at-junofest-friday-toronto-jazz-groups-fill-live-on-elgin-with-entrancing-sounds
Jazz Artists Barbra Lica Talks About Her New Pop Mash-Up, 2017 JUNO Nomination, Hamilton’s Loyalty, and MORE! – Mar 29, 2017, Greater Hamilton Musician
https://hamiltonmusician.com/jazz-artist-barbra-lica
Listen to this year’s Juno jazz nominees mash up Drake, The Weeknd, Alessia Cara and Shwn Mendes – Mar 22, 2017, Toronto Life
https://torontolife.com/culture/music
Juno Awards Nominees Hold Court – Feb 8, 2017, FYI Music News
https://www.fyimusicnews.ca/articles/2017/02/08/juno-awards-nominees-hold-court
Here are the 2017 Juno Nominees – Feb 7, 2017, exclaim.ca
https://exclaim.ca/music/article/here_are_the_2017_juno_nominees
Drake, Weeknd, Shawn Mendes get five Juno nominations each – Feb 7, 2017, Toronto Star
https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/music
Barbra Lica, jazz music’s Little Miss Sunshine – Dec 8, 2016, TheRecord.com
https://www.therecord.com/barbra-lica-jazz-music-s-little-miss-sunshine
Jazz singer Barbra Lica performs Friday as part of Ontario Contact in Peterborough – Nov 3, 2016, The Peterborough Examiner
https://www.thepeterboroughexaminer.com/whatson-story/8167159-jazz-singer-barbra-lica-performs
Five Questions with Barbra Lica – Oct 25, 2016, Canadian Beats
https://canadianbeats.ca/2016/10/25/five-questions-with-barbra-lica
Toronto jazz singer Barbra Lica offers smiles and sympathy – not blues – Sep 29, 2016, The Globe and Mail
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/music/toronto-jazz-singer-barbra-lica-offers-smiles-and-sympathy-not-blues
Review: Barbra Lica – Feb 8, 2016, brantfordjazzfestival.com
https://brantfordjazzfestival.com/review-barbra-lica-feb-8-2016
Barbra Lica, young Canadian jazz diva talks about “Love Songs” album – Oct 2015, Mikiki/Intoxicate
https://mikiki.tokyo.jp/articles
What’s your favorite music, manga, and cake that cheers , a Canadian Diva who first appears in “Tokyo Jazz”? – Sep 3, 2015, VOGUE JAPAN
https://www.vogue.co.jp/celebrity/risingstar
Jazz pioneer Bob James’ Japan-inspired concerto to premiere at the Tokyo Jazz Festival – Sep 3, 2015, Japan Times
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2015/09/03/music
Christian McBride Big Band/Barbra Lica – Jun 24, 2015, Exclaim.ca
http://exclaim.ca/music/article/christian_mcbride_big_band_barbra_lica
‘A good start’: Canadian jazz singer Barbra Lica headlines CNY Jazz Central cabaret finale – May 5, 2015, auburbpub.com
https://auburnpub.com/a-good-start-canadian-jazz-singer-barbra-lica
Kissing You – Barbra Lica – Feb 2, 2015, theWholeNote
https://www.thewholenote.com/kissing-you-barbra-lica
5 up and coming jazz artists in Toronto – Aug 21, 2014, blogTO
https://www.blogto.com/music/up_and_coming_jazz_artists_in_toronto
Barbra Lica sings heart out on new jazz record – Jan 16, 2013, thestar.com
https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/music/barbra_lica_sings_heart_out_on_new_jazz_record