German born Barbara Dennerlein is considered a master of the instrument and very highly regarded in Jazz circles, both for her interpretations of well known music and for her original compositions. Barbara was already performing concerts when she was 14 (in the late 70s), so she's been working on her craft for quite some time. Steeped in Jazz growing up, she fell in love with the genre--saying that Jazz is a synonym for "freedom". She draws influence and inspiration from a wide variety of sounds, though--Pop, Soul, Blues, Latin music, Swing, Funk, and more.
Barbara's latest is a Christmas album, "Christmas Soul". Overseas, "Christmas Soul" releases this coming Friday (November 6). That's also the date the digital version bows on Amazon. Hard copy (both CD and Vinyl) is expected at Amazon November 13.
Although I haven't found any full song audio from the album, the samples at Amazon are enough to more than pique my interest. I naturally headed straight for "B's Xmas Blues". I didn't even need the full 30 seconds to decide. Oh, yeah, baby, that's the stuff! I am all in on this one (honestly she had me in under 6 seconds).
In addition to Blues, there's plenty of variety on "Christmas Soul". Soul, Pop, Hard Bop, traditional Jazz, Latin, and I'd swear, listening to the clips earlier, I heard a bit of Exotica (but I can't seem to locate it now). Zara McFarlane spices the set with some vocals that are too wonderful for words (is that ironic--vocals too wonderful for words? Since that song from Alanis Morrissette, I've lost my handle on irony). As 30 second samples go, "Sleigh Ride" was absolutely captivating, with soulful organ, some George Benson-ish guitar, and flute. Told you, I love flute. I played that sample to death before discovering Barbara has a longer clip on her website (then I played the longer clip to death; its even more captivating).
The samples also provided one of my happiest surprises. How can I put this? You know that distant relative that everybody hates who is always loud and drinks too much and starts fighting with everyone (but they keep inviting him anyway because "he's family"...sort of)? And you know that close relative or friend who everybody loves but he or she never seems to be able to make the big family dinners? So let's say you've been dreading the first and wishing for the second and, just before you're all about to sit down to dinner, you learn that the bad relative isn't coming and the good relative is. Its a Christmas miracle, Charlie Brown! That's the feeling I got when I learned...the song titled "Blue Christmas" here is NOT that song I hate so much made popular by Elvis Presley. No. It is, in fact, Miles Davis' "Blue Xmas"...a song I absolutely adore. Sweet Jesus, joyous relief, hallelujah! We get both instrumental and vocal versions of the Miles classic.
Barbara isn't one for "music theory" and has found improvisation the best way to learn new things. But, admittedly, its hard to get much of a feel for that from a 30 second clip. Check those samples because, if you're stopping by Stubby's, I'm guessing Barbara Dennerlein's "Christmas Soul" is the kind of release you've been hoping to find under your tree and on your stereo.
1. Christmas Time (Is Here)
2. Let It Snow
3. Blue Christmas (instr)
4. B's Xmas Blues
5. We Three Kings
6. Little Drummer Boy
7. Sleigh Ride
8. Christmas Song
9. Oh Tannenbaum
10. Silent Night
11. Chim Chim Cheree
12. Blue Christmas (vocal)
13. White Christmas
**We Three Kings Alternate Version (bonus track version)