Very Hot Stuff - Barbara Dennerlein on Hammond B3 Organ

Seeing is believing. It looks impossible, but it's true, Barbara Dennerlein plays bass lines with her left foot that I couldn't play with my left hand.

Unlike many organists, she did not begin with piano. When she was 11 years old she began playing organ, including the use of the foot pedals. She took lessons for a year and a half from a teacher who played jazz himself. By the time she was 13 she was completely on her own in regard to her musical development.

Charlie Parker was her musical hero and biggest influence. While she respects Jimmy Smith's musicianship and his enormous contribution to jazz organ, she did not model her playing, sound, technique or musical approach after his.

Like Jimmy, she developed her own personal style and unmistakable sound. Her artistic sensibilities are closer to Larry Young than Jimmy Smith, but they are still very much her own.

In the 80's Jimmy Smith briefly moved from Hammond B3 to another make of organ, experimented with synthesizers and even played electric piano. In the 80's Barbara also began to experiment, but she took a different approach.

She integrated midi technology into her B3 keyboard and sampled an upright bass to give her bass pedals a more realistic sound.

This video is one small glimpse into her musical world, I hope you'll view the other clips on my channel, and enjoy clips by other great B3 players. My hope is that music is enjoyed as a celebration, and not a competition - it's art not sport.

Barbara Dennerlein, Hammond B3 Organ. Dennis Chambers, Drums. (Not shown on clip: Andy Sheppard, Sax, Mitch Watkins, Guitar.) Vienna, 1992

PS If anyone knows Rick Rubin, he should see this clip.

Seeing is believing.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Hammond
• b3
• organ
• jazz
• Barbara
• Dennerlein
• keyboard
• Dennis
• Chambers
• blues
• bass
• pedals
• hot
• solo

[hjorthan]

That's what I call 'walking' bass

[Mxsmanic]

Why is someone drawing pictures of her foot?

[jjrjon1]

@Mxsmanic They would be drawing pictures of your foot if you could play like she plays the organ.  So sit back, listen and learn.

[nunroge]

Philyorganist; you must be a retard! she needs the other foot for the expression pedal which is very important in the type of music she plays, when she plays pipe organs in cathedrals then she uses both feet on bass pedals, and occasionally expression pedal,

This is not hard for her its her second nature to play that organ the way she does, She is

Awesome and Amazing at the same time,

I've seen Her in New York and in Munich,

[phillyorganist2010]

Not to be critical, but why doesn't she use both feet like most organists? Seems like it would be a lot easier.

[MsAlexander1953]

круто

[ego67]

I think I commented on this one already, but got again tears in my eyes from this performance.

[geoffreyefloyd]

@hjorthan Guitarists should start using that stuff...

[ghoneybuss]

@hjorthan Wow this is what I like

[gdaymatemusic]

YouTube should include a 'Not My Cup Of Tea' option instead of Dislike.

That might be a fairer response.

[matrox]

She is tap dancing on that thang!!

[herbseitzer]

Ya' know, there are a lot of B3 players around and among the "pros" people like Jack McDuff, Jimmy McGriff, Joey DeFrancesco, and many,many more, In my opinion they are all Jimmy Smith copycats including myself. But, Barbara has her own unique style just like J.O.S. had his. I haven't seen any Barbara copycats yet though. She kick ass on a B3.........