Hot Stuff (Barbara Dennerlein album)

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Hot Stuff
Hot Stuff (Barbara Dennerlein album).jpg
Studio album by
Barbara Dennerlein
Released1991
RecordedJune 1990
Genre Jazz
Label Enja
Producer Barbara Dennerlein
Barbara Dennerlein chronology
Live on Tour!
(1989)		Hot Stuff
(1991)		(Friedrich Gulda) Mozart No End
(1991)

Hot Stuff is an album by the German keyboardist Barbara Dennerlein, released in 1991. [1] [2] It peaked in the top five on Radio & Records' Contemporary Jazz Albums chart. [3] Dennerlein supported the album with a European tour. [4]

Contents

Production

Produced by Dennerlein, the album was recorded in June 1990. [5] [6] She played Hammond organ, synthesizers, and foot pedal bass. [7] She was backed by Mark Mondesir on drums, Andy Sheppard on tenor saxophone, and Mitch Watkins on guitar. [8] Dennerlein wrote seven of the album's songs; she was influenced primarily by Larry Young. [9] [10] "Killer Joe" is a version of the song composed by Benny Golson. [11] "Seven Steps to Heaven" was written by Miles Davis and Victor Feldman. [12]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
All Music Guide to Jazz Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [13]
Calgary Herald C [14]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [4]
MusicHound Jazz: The Essential Album Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [5]
Omaha World-Herald Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [15]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [6]
The Windsor Star A [7]

The Salt Lake Tribune stated, "Synthesizer is also Dennerlein's province, creating an airy ambience to highlight not only the driving organ lines but also the Pat Metheny-like guitar touches, some hard-bop sax work and crackling drum rhythms." [12] The Calgary Herald opined that Dennerlein "has speed and energy to burn, which makes for a certain excitement in her playing... But the overall effect is one of restless boredom." [14] The Edmonton Journal noted that the music "is more apt to remind you of Jan Hammer's work with John Abercrombie and others than anything from organ great Jimmy Smith, though the straight-forward approach elicits some swinging steps". [11]

The Windsor Star said that the musicians "contribute equal shares of finesse and excitement, with a European flavor at times similar to ECM recording quality and style." [7] The Globe and Mail concluded that "Dennerlein's compositions tend to be rather convoluted and awkward in their structuring —the Keith Emerson syndrome, perhaps—but they get her away from the old B-3 grind." [16] Of the title track, the Los Angeles Times said that Dennerlein "pumps out extraordinary effects, achieving a new level of dynamic and tonal variety." [10]

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."Hot Stuff" 
2."Wow!" 
3."Top Secret" 
4."Birthday Blues" 
5."Polar Lights" 
6."Killer Joe" 
7."My Invitation" 
8."Seven Steps to Heaven" 
9."Toscanian Sunset" 

References

  1. ↑ Grogan, David (17 June 1991). "Song — Hot Stuff by Barbara Dennerlein". People. Vol. 35, no. 23. p. 22.
  2. ↑ Gourse, Leslie (1996). Madame Jazz: Contemporary Women Instrumentalists. Oxford University Press. p. 223.
  3. ↑ "Weekender Hit List". Asheville Citizen-Times. Knight Ridder. 1 March 1991. p. 8W.
  4. 1 2 Larkin, Colin (1998). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. II. Macmillan. p. 1481.
  5. 1 2 MusicHound Jazz: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1998. p. 321.
  6. 1 2 The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD. Penguin Books. 2004. p. 426.
  7. 1 2 3 Jones, Owen (1 June 1991). "Record Review". The Windsor Star. p. C2.
  8. ↑ Fordham, John (1995). The Essential Guide to Jazz on CD. Greenwich Editions. p. 340.
  9. ↑ Chapman, Geoff (1 June 1991). "Barbara Dennerlein Hot Stuff". Toronto Star. p. G10.
  10. 1 2 Feather, Leonard (1 September 1991). "Barbara Dennerlein: German Organist Pumps You Up". Calendar. Los Angeles Times. p. 56.
  11. 1 2 Levesque, Roger (19 May 1991). "Hanging originals". Edmonton Journal. p. D7.
  12. 1 2 Brophy, John Paul (10 May 1991). "Barbara Dennerlein, 'Hot Stuff'". The Salt Lake Tribune. p. C7.
  13. ↑ "Barbara Dennerlein". All Music Guide to Jazz (3rd ed.). Backbeat Books. 1998. p. 292.
  14. 1 2 Brennan, Brian (18 May 1991). "Dizzy displays world of musical influences". Calgary Herald. p. E4.
  15. ↑ Smith, Will (3 March 1991). "Jazz Sounds". Omaha World-Herald. Entertainment. p. 16.
  16. ↑ Miller, Mark (29 July 1991). "Recordings of Note". The Globe and Mail. p. C2.
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