Sundown Posted March 19, 2019 Share Posted March 19, 2019 Hey all, I've known who Barbara Dennerlein was for years. I can remember a feature Keyboard did on her in the eighties or early nineties. It particularly stood out in my mind because she was using her Hammond as a part-time MIDI controller, which was unusual at the time. But I never listened to her until now. Holy cow... Not only is she incredible capable (I'm not sure I've ever seen someone kick bass like her), but I just really dig her tunes. I bought three albums today and I've had them on shuffle. I "discovered" her through a couple of YouTube clips. If you haven't ever checked out this artist, I highly recommend it. Maybe I'm the only one who was living under a rock, but she is an incredible jazz organist. And when she does use her Hammond as a controller, she blends synth and acoustic sounds in very effectively. Todd 1 Quote Sundown Finished: Gateway, The Jupiter Bluff, Condensation Working on: Driven Away, Eighties Crime Thriller Main axes: Kawai MP11 and Kurz PC361 DAW Platform: Cubase Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Lobo Posted March 20, 2019 Share Posted March 20, 2019 I've been a fan of hers for many years, from the first video I saw of her kicking the bass pedals with her shoeless feet. Foot fetishists should love that one. But it's also her playing and expressiveness on the keyboards. Quote These are only my opinions, not supported by any actual knowledge, experience, or expertise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hardware Posted March 20, 2019 Share Posted March 20, 2019 Yeah but the unorthodox footwork is pretty impressive. I was taught old school cornball Hammond stye where you rotated on your butt keeping your legs together. This was natural for me as I raced motocross where you squeeze the hell out the gas tank with thighs. I could never tap more than a couple pedals with my legs open. Having said that, I stand and play, always have, and with a K4 Ive got 3 Expression pedals a Sus and Footswitch that I nail with my deadly accurate feet. Thanks to old school study. So watching her feet still amazes me each time I see her. Quote Magnus C350 + FMR RNP + Realistic Unisphere Mic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ksoper Posted March 20, 2019 Share Posted March 20, 2019 I was taught old school cornball Hammond stye where you rotated on your butt keeping your legs together. I got through most of my organ training before being abused in college by the Gleason method of keeping your knees together and rotating on your butt. This made no sense to me and my previous organ teachers made no mention of this technique. When I ditched college I also ditched the method. Economy of motion dictated splayed legs and quiet torso. Barbara gets more out of one foot than most players get out of two. Mind boggling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoodyBluesKeys Posted March 20, 2019 Share Posted March 20, 2019 Most Hammond consoles have the 25 pedal layout where all of the pedals are in the same plane, as opposed to the AGO (American Guild of Organists) 32 pedal curved layout. The reason for the curved layout (which costs more to make) is so that the pedals will be closer to the same distance from the player's feet; and it is very common for players of this type organ to use both feet on the pedals. Shoes worn (if worn) are made specifically for the use, and are made so as to minimize their width to minimize chances of accidentally depressing two adjacent pedals at the same time. A good bit of the customary organ repertoire for larger pipe organs uses both feet by necessity, since there may well be places where two pedals a good bit apart are depressed at the same time. Chords aren't just for manuals. Sitting in one spot with knees together doesn't work well for AGO pedals, unless one is playing largely in the same range. 1 Quote Howard Grand|Hamm SK1-73|Kurz PC2|PC2X|PC3|PC3X|PC361; QSC K10's HP DAW|Epi Les Paul & LP 5-str bass|iPad mini2 "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RandyFF Posted March 20, 2019 Share Posted March 20, 2019 Hey all, I've known who Barbara Dennerlein was for years. I can remember a feature Keyboard did on her in the eighties or early nineties. It particularly stood out in my mind because she was using her Hammond as a part-time MIDI controller, which was unusual at the time. But I never listened to her until now. Holy cow... Not only is she incredible capable (I'm not sure I've ever seen someone kick bass like her), but I just really dig her tunes. I bought three albums today and I've had them on shuffle. I "discovered" her through a couple of YouTube clips. If you haven't ever checked out this artist, I highly recommend it. Maybe I'm the only one who was living under a rock, but she is an incredible jazz organist. And when she does use her Hammond as a controller, she blends synth and acoustic sounds in very effectively. Todd OK, with a build-up like that, where are the links to some of her performances you really like? Quote Numa Piano X73 /// Kawai ES920 Yamaha Melodica and Alto Recorder QSC K8.2 // JBL Eon One Compact // Soundcore Motion Boom Plus Win11 laptop // iPad Pro 9.7" 32GB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mate stubb Posted March 20, 2019 Share Posted March 20, 2019 Start with this one: [video:youtube] 1 Quote Moe --- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Threadslayer Posted March 20, 2019 Share Posted March 20, 2019 I was taught old school cornball Hammond stye where you rotated on your butt keeping your legs together. I got through most of my organ training before being abused in college by the Gleason method of keeping your knees together and rotating on your butt. How did that concept ever get started? I can't conceive of a rationale where that makes sense. Weird. Quote Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect. -Mark Twain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveMcM Posted March 20, 2019 Share Posted March 20, 2019 I saw Barbara Dennerlein in the early 1990's when I lived in Philadelphia, PA. A handful and people showed up for the concert since she was not known well in the US at that point. She came out, very graciously thanked those of us in the audience, and proceeded to blow us away. What a player. I am pretty good on bass pedals but she was just incredible. Quote Wm. David McMahan I Play, Therefore I Am Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sundown Posted March 20, 2019 Author Share Posted March 20, 2019 OK, with a build-up like that, where are the links to some of her performances you really like? Moe nailed it with the "Very Hot Stuff" clip. For an upbeat tune, that's a good example. Here are a couple of others I liked: [video:youtube] [video:youtube] [video:youtube] [video:youtube] Quote Sundown Finished: Gateway, The Jupiter Bluff, Condensation Working on: Driven Away, Eighties Crime Thriller Main axes: Kawai MP11 and Kurz PC361 DAW Platform: Cubase Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Quinn Posted March 21, 2019 Share Posted March 21, 2019 Yeah, I've been a fan for several years. She's fantastic! Quote https://alquinn.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkiGuy777 Posted March 22, 2019 Share Posted March 22, 2019 Her YouTube videos are great, no doubt about that. She's incredibly gifted. On the studio recordings the drums are over played and loud. I tried listening to them and it sounded like a non stop drum solo after a while. The other thing she doesn't have is a jazz guitar comping. There's nothing wrong with it if the mix is good. For example, on the song, "Back Track" by Lonnie Smith, he's got 2 guitars playing, one in each speaker. It's interesting how this stuff works out when it comes to the mix. Some people get it perfect while others it's off a bit. That's why I believe her studio recordings didn't catch on. Quote Korg 01W/FD, Hammond XK-2, Neo Ventilator2, JBL Eon, Rhodes 88 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sundown Posted March 22, 2019 Author Share Posted March 22, 2019 On the studio recordings the drums are over played and loud. I tried listening to them and it sounded like a non stop drum solo after a while. I haven't noticed that. I have Love Letters, Outhipped, and Bebabaloo. I particularly like Love Letters. She'll do straight ahead jazz, but then she'll do tracks like "Pendel der Zeit" which have some jazz tones, but are really just great instrumentals. I also really like "A Summer Day", where she breaks into a totally different rhythm at the ~6:30 mark. Her music has really been a breath of fresh air for me. It's jazz organ, but she really makes the instrument sound modern. Quote Sundown Finished: Gateway, The Jupiter Bluff, Condensation Working on: Driven Away, Eighties Crime Thriller Main axes: Kawai MP11 and Kurz PC361 DAW Platform: Cubase Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Lobo Posted October 4, 2021 Share Posted October 4, 2021 reviving a zombie thread ... because I came across this 2020 Barbara Dennerlein video that I really liked. Quote These are only my opinions, not supported by any actual knowledge, experience, or expertise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Docbop Posted October 4, 2021 Share Posted October 4, 2021 I discovered Barbara Dennerlein in my guitar days when the late great Emily Remler played in Dennerlein's band. Didn't hear much about her for a long time great to see she's still groovin'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lsj Posted October 4, 2021 Share Posted October 4, 2021 great, great Hammond player and to me the way a Hammond should be played. kicking pedals. not this left hand bass crap with taping one bass pedal lightly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lightbg Posted October 4, 2021 Share Posted October 4, 2021 great, great Hammond player and to me the way a Hammond should be played. kicking pedals. not this left hand bass crap with taping one bass pedal lightly. If you like pedals, you"ll love this: Quote 1967 B-3 w/(2) 122's, Nord C1w/Leslie 2101 top, Nord PedalKeys 27, Nord Electro 4D, IK B3X, QSC K12.2, Yamaha reface YC+CS+CP "It needs a Hammond" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reezekeys Posted October 4, 2021 Share Posted October 4, 2021 great, great Hammond player and to me the way a Hammond should be played. kicking pedals. not this left hand bass crap with taping one bass pedal lightly. Yea, like those hacks Jimmy Smith, Larry Young, Goldings, etc. (BTW, nice video and great pedal playing!). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scameron Posted October 4, 2021 Share Posted October 4, 2021 Amazing pedal work. Under recognized in America. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill bosco Posted October 4, 2021 Share Posted October 4, 2021 she's been somewhat of a pioneer with that midi-fied hybrid hammond sound . i wonder what she thinks about the current clonewheels out there . i would what think she could capture that sound with a lot less equipment Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ABECK Posted October 4, 2021 Share Posted October 4, 2021 AKAI S2000 in the rig. Points for being 90s retro! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Synthaholic Posted April 22 Share Posted April 22 She doesn't start playing until around 3:25. She gets great tone. 2 2 1 Quote The fact there's a Highway To Hell and only a Stairway To Heaven says a lot about anticipated traffic numbers People only say "It's a free country" when they're doing something shitty-Demetri Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Lobo Posted April 23 Share Posted April 23 On 10/4/2021 at 7:37 AM, scameron said: Amazing pedal work. Under recognized in America. +1. I see that I already posted twice in this zombie thread, 5 years ago then again 3 years ago. I'd sell my soul to the devil in exchange for playing like she does. Quote These are only my opinions, not supported by any actual knowledge, experience, or expertise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Synthaholic Posted April 26 Share Posted April 26 Fairly pedestrian until the solo. After that we get a foot solo! Quote The fact there's a Highway To Hell and only a Stairway To Heaven says a lot about anticipated traffic numbers People only say "It's a free country" when they're doing something shitty-Demetri Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stoken6 Posted April 27 Share Posted April 27 On 4/23/2024 at 6:02 AM, El Lobo said: +1. I see that I already posted twice in this zombie thread, 5 years ago then again 3 years ago. I'd sell my soul to the devil in exchange for playing like she does. Paging @El Lobo. Your zombie thread has reopened in 2024, and you are invited to post again. That's @El Lobo to the Barbara Dennerlein thread please. 🙂 Cheers, Mike. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MathOfInsects Posted April 28 Share Posted April 28 On 4/26/2024 at 2:41 PM, Synthaholic said: Fairly pedestrian until the solo. After that we get a foot solo! Seems right. 4 Quote Now out! "Mind the Gap," a 24-song album of new material. www.joshweinstein.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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