Barney Songs

Barney Kessel - Easy Like (1953) {Contemporary Japan VICJ-41688 Mini LP rel 2006}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 141 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 92 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (jpg) -> 110 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 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 - Live At The Jazz Mill 1954 (2016) {Modern Harmonic MHCD-007}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 175 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 106 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (jpg) -> 83 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1954, 2016 Modern Harmonic / Sundazed Music | MHCD-007
Jazz / Bop / Cool / Guitar

A fantastic addition to the Barney Kessel catalog of the 50s – a never-heard live set that has the guitarist in form that's every bit as strong as his famous albums for Contemporary Records! In fact, the strength of the recording may well capture Kessel at a level that beats those sessions – as Barney's playing live, with a bit more bite – and really grabs us with the strong tone on his solos – and the sense of energy he gets in a quartet that also includes a young Pete Jolly on piano! The recording quality is excellent – crystal-clear, and very focused – and the set isn't one of those lost tapes that should have stayed "lost" – but instead a real lost chapter in Barney's tremendous career.

Barney Bentall and the Legendary Hearts are a Canadian rock band, based out of Vancouver, British Columbia that formed in 1980. The band's name was taken from the title of Lou Reed's 1983 album. Bentall's first group was Brandon Wolf. With songs written by Bentall and long-time childhood friend and songwriting partner Gary Fraser, as well as McFetridge and Swain, they self-released "Excerpt from the Montmartre Letters", a 4-track 45 rpm EP in 1979. This record was followed by "Not Guilty", a 5-track EP released in 1980 on A&M Records. In 1982, Brandon Wolf recorded and released Losing Control, a 13-song LP, on their own label, Possible Worlds Records. In 1988, Bentall, Guppy, Nairne, Muir and Bowman, by then known as Barney Bentall & The Legendary Hearts, had a breakthrough when they landed a recording contract with Epic/CBS Records…

Fresh from the incredible success of Rick Wakeman’s early concept LPs (he drummed with Wakeman’s band) Barney and his ex-bandmates Warhorse made this sensational lost heavy prog LP as a promo acetate to get an official release. Barney wrote all the songs and sings. Musically complex, it begins with a spoken intro and tells the tale of Koneg Son Of Odin, as he quests to find meaning and death in battle. Keyboards and guitar interweave, with further spoken interludes, and culminating in an epic prog workout featuring fluid soloing electric leads as Koneg dies on the battlefield and is taken by Valkyries to Valhalla.