Berkeley’s Barbara Higbie is a master of piano and violin who combines technical brilliance with the pure joy of playing. Her unique compositions weave together elements of jazz, folk, and classical with the music of Ghana and Brazil. Oh, and she also sings like a dream. She has been nominated for a Grammy award, won Bammy awards, performed on more than 65 albums, including one with Santana, one with Linda Tillery and Laurie Lewis, and three with Montreux, the band she co-founded with Darol Anger.

Her latest album, Scenes From Life, is an all-instrumental collection featuring 13 new originals, that Singout! calls “highly recommended” and critic Andrew Gilbert describes as “gorgeously cinematic.” In the words of the Los Angeles Times, Barbara is a “jolt of bright sunlight” – and everyone in the audience feels her warmth.