Barbara Dennerlein - Plays Classics (1988)

Perhaps once or twice in a generation a young musician appears out of the blue, breathing spectacular new life into an old musical genre long regarded as passé. So, it was with Barbara Dennerlein who was largely responsible for the rebirth of interest in the almost-forgotten Hammond B-3. This album, “Barbara Dennerlein Plays Classics”, was recorded when Barbara was only 24 years old, long before worldwide fame that followed. It shows a mastery of the instrument far beyond her years, and stunning bass pedal work that is the envy of other jazz organists. Already by this time, this Munich native had reached the pinnacle of the German and European jazz scene, with far greater fame soon to come. "Barbara Dennerlein Plays Classics" captures that moment in time as a star of the European jazz scene was on the verge of worldwide recognition. Here, with dazzling Dennerlein style, the Barbara Dennerlein Trio pays homage to some of the unforgettable songs of the 50s and 60s. Classics that recall names like Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn, Count Basie, Cole Porter, Hoagy Carmichel, Antônio Carlos Jobim, and later, the Beatles. Barbara leads her trio effortlessly through swing, bop, ballads, blues, and even a tasty bossa, then tops it all off with two of her own compositions. Through it all, it’s all too easy to forget there is no bassist playing that tight bass, it’s just Barbara’s lightning-fast left foot. This is a truly delightful album, bound to become a favorite. In listening, one can easily see why this young 24-year-old was already on the road to achieving recognition worldwide. ~ from cdbaby. 

Bebab Records, BEBAB 250967, 1988
Recorded 28th & 29th November, 1988 at Tonstudio Bauer, Ludwigsburg, Germany 

Musicians:
Barbara Dennerlein - Organ [Hammond + Footbass]
Christoph Widmoser - Guitar
Andreas Witte - Drums 

Tracks:
1. Blues For Rudi {Barbara Dennerlein} (3:45)
2. Night And Day {Cole Porter} (3:17)
3. Georgia On My Mind {Hoagy Carmichael, Stuart Gorrell} (8:00)
4. Meditation {Antônio Carlos Jobim} (3:35)
5. How High The Moon {Nancy Hamilton, Morgan Lewis} (3:00)
6. Satin Doll {Duke Ellington} (6:51)
7. Take The "A" Train {Billy Strayhorn} (4:58)
8. Yesterday {John Lennon, Paul McCartney} (4:34)
9. This Old Fairy-Tale {Barbara Dennerlein} (4:11) 

Total Time: 42:11 

Credits:
Producer - Barbara Dennerlein
Engineer, Mixing - Johannes Wohlleben 

Barbara Dennerlein was (with Joey DeFrancesco) the most interesting jazz organist to emerge during the 1980's. She recorded several early albums for her German Bebap label before hooking up with Enja and later on Verve, and the hard-to-find recordings are all worth acquiring. This particular LP is one of her better ones, featuring the organist in a trio on seven standards and two of her originals. The liner notes are in German but the music certainly communicates, as Dennerlein swings hard on such tunes as "How High The Moon," "Take The "A" Train" and even the Beatles' "Yesterday." ~ by Scott Yanow, AMG.