Barbara Dennerlein videos have now passed the 1,000,000 views mark on KZfaq. This video is a thank you to all jazz, organ, and Barbara Dennerlein fans who have helped to spread the word.
As many of you know, this title was written by Barbara and dedicated to the late great Jimmy Smith. Although her playing was not influenced by Jimmy Smith, like all jazz lovers she is grateful to him for his contribution to organ jazz - his approach to soloing made modern jazz organ possible - during her concerts she often mentions this fact and praises Jimmy Smith.
Barbara and Jimmy first met when she was only 15 years old. She took part in an organ competition and Jimmy Smith was one of the judges. In an interview she described their first meeting:
BD: "I sat down and played something different, "On the Sunny Side of the Street" and suddenly I noticed someone came from behind me and he took my hair, I had very long hair, much longer than now, and he put it to the side, and then he sat down and he played with me. [laughs] So really, it was great.
AAJ: And you weren't expecting it at all?
BD: No, it was incredible of course, wonderful. And then people were so shocked about their decision-he played with me, the second place finalist. The third place finalist didn't even play again after that! [laughs] It was really funny, and afterwards we stayed in contact. And it was really nice, until he started to see me as a competitor."
Barbara still has great respect for Jimmy Smith's contribution to jazz and the Hammond organ as this composition demonstrates.