Press

Big Blue Sky In The Morning by Barbara Jo Kammer
There are artists who can breathe new life into songs by other writers—giving them a fresh and unique interpretation while still communicating the spirit of the original recording and its writer. Anyone that has loved the music of Eva Cassidy knows that. Barbara Jo Kammer is an artist of that feather. One would think these songs were hers. All of the tracks were carefully chosen by Kammer and her producer KC Groves (Uncle Earl), reflecting songs, writers, and styles that have made a home in her heart. The title track of the record, Big Blue Sky in the Morning, is Barbara Jo’s own song, and does indeed express her big, beautiful heart.

Barbara Jo’s encouraging attitude does not come from lofty optimism. She struggled with addiction for over 40 years. “I was able to give up ‘the fight’ as I say in my song ‘Winning Side’ (from her debut album). I surrendered to win!” she explains. Because of this depth of experience, she sings gospel without religiosity, songs of failure and loss with empathy, and songs of heartbreak with hope.

Producer KC Groves put together a stellar acoustic ensemble to support the album, including Greg Blake, Mollie O’Brien, Sally Van Meter, Darrell Scott, and Groves’ own backup vocals, amid a number of the region’s most accomplished musicians.

Barbara Jo is not a touring artist, but chooses to use her gift of music to encourage an often overlooked community. She is a music therapist to the elderly, delivering her services of musical inspiration to retirement homes and hospice facilities throughout Colorado’s Front Range and Wyoming.

Her debut album, One Song at a Time, took the Folk DJ chart by storm, debuting at #2 on the September Top Albums chart, and landing her on the Top Folk Artists list of 2017. Big Blue Sky in the Morning fulfills the promise of that album and more.

“Big blue sky in the morning . . . gave me some warning . . . of the joy I’d be feeling today . . . .” You’ve been warned!

Read More