The Barney Kessel Sound

Barney Kessel - On Fire +5 (1965) {Emerald-Interplay Japan XQAM-1639 Mini LP DSD rel 2015}
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© 1962, 1965, 2015 Emerald / Interplay / SSJ Japan | XQAM-1639 | Mini LP | DSD mastering
Jazz / Bop / Hard Bop / Guitar

Cardboard sleeve reissue with DSD mastering. Five bonus tracks. Rare and groovy work by Barney Kessel – originally recorded for a strange subsidiary of Phil Spector's record label! The album's quite different than some of Kessel's other albums of the earlier years – recorded live with a gritty feel that's really nice – a bit more edge on the strings of the guitar, and a rumbling tone that's a far cry from his lighter work for Contemporary in the 50s. Kessel still retains much of his ability to produce a bell-like tone on the guitar – but he rings out with a tremendous amount of force – spurred on by the crackling club rhythm section of Jerry Scheff on bass and Frank Capp on drums. Titles include 2 great originals – "Slow Burn" and "Sweet Baby" – plus an excellent version of "Recado Bossa Nova", and the tunes "The Shadow Of Your Smile", "Just In Time", and "One Mint Julep". CD features five bonus tracks – including 'Fly Me To The Moon", "The Gypsy In My Soul", and "April In Paris".

Barney Kessel - Easy Like (1953) {Contemporary Japan VICJ-41688 Mini LP rel 2006}
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© 1953, 1956, 2006 Contemporary / Victor Japan | VICJ-41688 | Mini LP | 20bit K2
Jazz / Bop / Cool / Guitar

The first album in a brilliant run of work that Barney Kessel did for Contemporary Records in the 1950s – material that forever went onto shape the sound of jazz guitar, and which stands right up there with some of the best of his generation! In a way, the Kessel heard here is even fresher than in later years – as he's playing in a small group mode that breaks down new territory for his instrument – often with reeds from Bud Shank or Buddy Collette – in styles that have some of the slight spaciousness of the Chico Hamilton group, but a bit more straight swing overall. Other players include Arnold Ross or Claude Williamson on piano, Harry Babasin or Red Mitchell on bass, and Shelly Manne on drums – and the full length album compiles material from earlier 10" LP releases on Contemporary, plus a few more tracks – to make a full set of 12 songs that include "Easy Like", "Bernardo", "Vicky's Dream", "Salute To Charlie Christian", and "North Of The Border".

Barney Kessel - Contemporary Latin Rhythms! (1961) {2013 Japan Jazz Best Collection 1000 Series, WPCR-27277}
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© 1961, 2013 Reprise / Warner Japan / WEA / Rhino | WPCR-27277
Jazz / Cool / West Coast Jazz / Bossa Nova / Latin Jazz / Bop / Guitar

Features 24 bit remastering and comes with a mini-description. A wonderful set from Barney Kessel – bossa-inflected jazz, and a wonderful setting for Barney to hit some very groovy lines on electric guitar ! The group on the date is part of the strength of the record – with Conte Candoli on trumpet, Emil Richards on vibes, Paul Horn on flute, and Victor Feldman on piano – with loads of great percussion and guitar interplay on the set, plus some excellent use of flute and vibes – all of which makes for the sort of session that really translates the Brazilian groove into the best sort of sound the LA scene was cutting at the time ! Nice, light, and dancing rhythms – and titles that include "Love", "Days Of Wine & Roses", "Latin Dance #1", "Lady Byrd", and "One Note Samba".

Guitarist Barney Kessel recorded regularly for the Contemporary label during 1953-1961, one gem after another. In 1969 he returned to Lester Koenig's label for this lone effort, a quartet set with vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson, bassist Chuck Domanico, and drummer Elvin Jones. The music is fairly free, particularly Kessel's four originals (which include "Blues, Up, Down & All Around" and "Two Note Samba" ). ~ AllMusic

Barney Kessel - Let's Cook! (1957) {Contemporary OJCCD-1010-2 rel 1999}
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© 1957, 1999 Contemporary Records / Fantasy | OJCCD-1010-2
Jazz / Bop / Cool / West Coast Jazz / Guitar

Well, if you've ever heard Barney play guitar, you know that he doesn't always cook – or at least not as hotly as other players – but this album is a nice batch of tracks that goes way beyond Kessel's usual uptight sound. Most of the cuts are very long, and they feature open-ended jam session playing by 2 groups – one with Victor Feldman, Hamp Hawes, and Leroy Vinnegar; the other with Ben Webster, Frank Rosolino, and Jimmie Rowles.

Barney Kessel - Feeling Free (1969) {Contemporary OJCCD-1043-2 rel 2000}
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© 1969, 2000 Contemporary Records / Fantasy | OJCCD-1043-2
Jazz / Bop / Cool / Guitar

Guitarist Barney Kessel recorded regularly for the Contemporary label during 1953-1961, one gem after another. In 1969 he returned to Lester Koenig's label for this lone effort, a quartet set with vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson, bassist Chuck Domanico, and drummer Elvin Jones. The music is fairly free, particularly Kessel's four originals (which include "Blues, Up, Down & All Around" and "Two Note Samba"). Even Paul Simon's "The Sounds of Silence" and "This Guy's in Love With You" are turned into reasonably creative jazz by the all-star group. Although none of the musicians was associated exclusively with the avant-garde (Elvin Jones came the closest but never quite embraced free jazz), they show the influence of the explorations of the era, using aspects of the innovations as a logical way to stretch the jazz mainstream. Fascinating music.