Barbara Dennerlein releases Christmas album

Message Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic Printable Version Translate Topic

Here an excerpt from this month's newsletter:

Bari, Italy, end of July, 2015. 35 degrees Celsius, blue
sky, the Adriatic Sea is inviting for a swim. In short:
vacation feeling. Long summer nights under the stars, ice
cream, summer dresses. This suggests itself that it's the
best time to go into the studio and record a Christmas
album. Come again? Yes, indeed. During the great summer
heat Barbara Dennerlein flew to south Italy to record her
album "Christmas Soul". Christian Kellersmann from the
Edel company had the idea to this album. It will be
released November 6 on the legendary label MPS both as CD
and as LP. Notable musicians accompanied Barbara
Dennerlein in the recording sessions.

Magnus Lindgren is an awarded saxophone, flute and
clarinet player and arranger. He played together with
Herbie Hancock at age 18, was band member of Nils
Landgren's Funk Unit and the Till Brönner Band. He has
arranged the songs for the album. Barbara attached great
importance to a selection of great songs, not only the
well known but also titles that are less frequently
played. And, she composed the "B's X-Max Blues" especially
for this album.

Barbara chose a Hammond organ for these recordings that
she had played in several concerts in Italy before. It is
a wonderful B3, owned by a true fan of Barbara, who
equipped the instrument with a Midi pedal and other
special features. It's certainly the best B3 available for
concerts and studio recordings in Italy, and this
instrument had been carried the long way from north Italy
to Bari especially for Barbara's recording sessions. 

Of
course, Barbara plays the pedal bass with the Hammond, but
also double and fender bass can be heard on several tracks
played by Luca Alemanno. Drummer Robert Mehmet Ikiz, who
is also a regular band member in Nils Landgren's Funk
unit, came from Sweden. He wrote on Facebook on August 1:
"Just recorded a X-mas album for Barbara Dennerlein with
producer Nicola Conte in Italy. July, 35 degrees and X-mas
at the same time was a new but great experience. Merry
X-mas from the drum-room! Album will be out in November on
the legendary MPS label!" Abdissa Assefa completed the
rhythm section playing the congas and percussion. Born in
Ethiopia, he lives in Finland and is one of the best
percussionists in Europe. Zara McFarlane from London has
been awarded best female jazz singer at the 2014 Mobo
Awards. She sings  "Christmas Time", "Christmas Song" and
"Blue Christmas" on the album. Nicola Conte played guitar
on two tracks but mainly was responsible as producer. This
was Barbara's first collaboration with him, and it turned
out to be great. Conte is internationally reckoned for his
unique sound concept, and this was the reason why the
musicians met at Sorriso Studio in Bari where Barbara's
and his ideas for the album sound could be realised
perfectly.

Now, how does this album sound? The
music is soft like trickling snow, cheery-swinging
like dancing snow flakes, romantic and cosy like a
crackling fire in the fireside. The Christmas
songs remind of jazz standards, grooves that go
under one's skin, ballads, soul, blues, hot jazz
rhythms - it is an album not only for Christmas
time but also perfectly for the whole year. 

The LP contains a bonus track, a second version of
"We Three Kings". On the other hand, other pieces
are only on the CD, due to the longer playing
time. For instance "Let It Snow" (no, not that one
that assumedly comes to you mind now) or "Chim
Chim Cheree". As we said - it is not the standard
set of Christmas songs that can be awaited.

For all those who don't know Barbara:

Edited by BaldFriede - November 03 2015 at 08:46

Author	Message Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic Printable Version Translate Topic
BaldFriede Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Prog Reviewer Joined: June 02 2005 Location: Germany Status: Offline Points: 10261	Topic: Barbara Dennerlein releases Christmas album Posted: November 03 2015 at 04:32
	Here an excerpt from this month's newsletter: Bari, Italy, end of July, 2015. 35 degrees Celsius, blue sky, the Adriatic Sea is inviting for a swim. In short: vacation feeling. Long summer nights under the stars, ice cream, summer dresses. This suggests itself that it's the best time to go into the studio and record a Christmas album. Come again? Yes, indeed. During the great summer heat Barbara Dennerlein flew to south Italy to record her album "Christmas Soul". Christian Kellersmann from the Edel company had the idea to this album. It will be released November 6 on the legendary label MPS both as CD and as LP. Notable musicians accompanied Barbara Dennerlein in the recording sessions. Magnus Lindgren is an awarded saxophone, flute and clarinet player and arranger. He played together with Herbie Hancock at age 18, was band member of Nils Landgren's Funk Unit and the Till Brönner Band. He has arranged the songs for the album. Barbara attached great importance to a selection of great songs, not only the well known but also titles that are less frequently played. And, she composed the "B's X-Max Blues" especially for this album. Barbara chose a Hammond organ for these recordings that she had played in several concerts in Italy before. It is a wonderful B3, owned by a true fan of Barbara, who equipped the instrument with a Midi pedal and other special features. It's certainly the best B3 available for concerts and studio recordings in Italy, and this instrument had been carried the long way from north Italy to Bari especially for Barbara's recording sessions. Of course, Barbara plays the pedal bass with the Hammond, but also double and fender bass can be heard on several tracks played by Luca Alemanno. Drummer Robert Mehmet Ikiz, who is also a regular band member in Nils Landgren's Funk unit, came from Sweden. He wrote on Facebook on August 1: "Just recorded a X-mas album for Barbara Dennerlein with producer Nicola Conte in Italy. July, 35 degrees and X-mas at the same time was a new but great experience. Merry X-mas from the drum-room! Album will be out in November on the legendary MPS label!" Abdissa Assefa completed the rhythm section playing the congas and percussion. Born in Ethiopia, he lives in Finland and is one of the best percussionists in Europe. Zara McFarlane from London has been awarded best female jazz singer at the 2014 Mobo Awards. She sings "Christmas Time", "Christmas Song" and "Blue Christmas" on the album. Nicola Conte played guitar on two tracks but mainly was responsible as producer. This was Barbara's first collaboration with him, and it turned out to be great. Conte is internationally reckoned for his unique sound concept, and this was the reason why the musicians met at Sorriso Studio in Bari where Barbara's and his ideas for the album sound could be realised perfectly. Now, how does this album sound? The music is soft like trickling snow, cheery-swinging like dancing snow flakes, romantic and cosy like a crackling fire in the fireside. The Christmas songs remind of jazz standards, grooves that go under one's skin, ballads, soul, blues, hot jazz rhythms - it is an album not only for Christmas time but also perfectly for the whole year. The LP contains a bonus track, a second version of "We Three Kings". On the other hand, other pieces are only on the CD, due to the longer playing time. For instance "Let It Snow" (no, not that one that assumedly comes to you mind now) or "Chim Chim Cheree". As we said - it is not the standard set of Christmas songs that can be awaited. For all those who don't know Barbara: Edited by BaldFriede - November 03 2015 at 08:46
	BaldJean and I; I am the one in blue.