Barb Jungr - Love Me Tender - Bloomberg News

Barb Jungr defies categorization. Does she sing jazz, chansons, art songs or rock? Yes, all four - and more. Jungr is not some classical diva slumming it in pop territory. This U.K. singer is a genuinely no-barriers artist. Her last album, a surprising collection of Bob Dylan covers, won rave reviews on both sides of the Atlantic as well as New York's Backstage award for Best International Artist. Her new recording, ``Love Me Tender'' is a deliciously dark reimagining of songs originally sung by Elvis Presley. Together with musicians Adrian York and Jonathan Cooper, Jungr strips away Presley's late king-size excess. Gone are the standard rock'n'roll arrangements from songs such as ``Always on My Mind,'' ``Heartbreak Hotel'' and ``I Shall Be Released.'' The arrangements for cello, viola, celeste, harp, piano and synthesizers reclaim Elvis songs as strange testaments to love, loneliness, obsession and faith. If you've ever wondered how an artist can transform your view of a song, catch Jungr in concert.