A really legendary meeting between two young jazz giants – guitarist Kenny Burrell and tenor legend John Coltrane – the latter of whom plays here in a rare session with a guitar! The album was done at a time when Coltrane's star was really rising, and the Prestige label was letting him try things out in a variety of different settings – and Burrell himself was also willing to move past older standard jazz guitar modes, as on his Blue Note albums from the period – which makes for a perfect match for Coltrane in the frontline. Tracks are long and flow with qualities that are similar to other Coltrane Prestige sessions from the time – and backing is from a superb trio that features Tommy Flanagan on piano, Paul Chambers on bass, and Jimmy Cobb on drums. Titles include "Big Paul", "Lyresto", "Why Was I Born", "I Never Knew", and "Freight Trane". CD

A really legendary meeting between two young jazz giants – guitarist Kenny Burrell and tenor legend John Coltrane – the latter of whom plays here in a rare session with a guitar! The album was done at a time when Coltrane's star was really rising, and the Prestige label was letting him try things out in a variety of different settings – and Burrell himself was also willing to move past older standard jazz guitar modes, as on his Blue Note albums from the period – which makes for a perfect match for Coltrane in the frontline. Tracks are long and flow with qualities that are similar to other Coltrane Prestige sessions from the time – and backing is from a superb trio that features Tommy Flanagan on piano, Paul Chambers on bass, and Jimmy Cobb on drums. Titles include "Big Paul", "Lyresto", "Why Was I Born", "I Never Knew", and "Freight Trane". LP, Vinyl record album

A really legendary meeting between two young jazz giants – guitarist Kenny Burrell and tenor legend John Coltrane – the latter of whom plays here in a rare session with a guitar! The album was done at a time when Coltrane's star was really rising, and the Prestige label was letting him try things out in a variety of different settings – and Burrell himself was also willing to move past older standard jazz guitar modes, as on his Blue Note albums from the period – which makes for a perfect match for Coltrane in the frontline. Tracks are long and flow with qualities that are similar to other Coltrane Prestige sessions from the time – and backing is from a superb trio that features Tommy Flanagan on piano, Paul Chambers on bass, and Jimmy Cobb on drums. Titles include "Big Paul", "Lyresto", "Why Was I Born", "I Never Knew", and "Freight Trane". CD

A well-named LP, as this hard-grooving blowing session is one of Kenny Burrell's earthiest performances – a no-nonsense, stripped-down batch of hardbop tunes that really lets him let loose! The format here is in the best late 50s Prestige blowing session mode – with rhythm from the trio of Mal Waldron on piano, Teddy Kotick on bass, and Ed Thigpen on drums – plus added solo work from Art Farmer on trumpet, Al Cohn on tenor, and Hal McKusick on alto – all nicely loosened up, and good company for Kenny! Tracks are all longish, and titles include "Earthy", "Dayee", "The Front Line", "I Wouldn't", and "What's Not". CD

After Hours jamming the way it should be – recorded in a very relaxed, open-ended setting! The album's a classic Prestige Records jam session from the late 50s – one that features Kenny Burrell on guitar, Thad Jones on trumpet, Frank Wess on tenor and flute, Mal Waldron on piano, Paul Chambers on bass, and Art Taylor on drums – all players who've got a great ear for material for this, and who really make the session their own when they get a chance! Though Burrell's name got top billing on subsequent issues of this album, and his playing is wonderful, Waldron's the great unsung hero of these sessions, as his playing's consistently remarkable, providing great accompaniment for the horn players. Four numbers: "Steamin", "Count One", "Empty Street", and "Blue Jelly". CD

Three albums' worth of material from the best 50s "blowing session" years at Prestige Records! All Night Long is sublime late 50s hardbop – a record with an incredibly open-ended feel, as you might probably guess from the track "All Night Long", which runs for all of side one, and gives all the players included plenty of room to work out their best solo moments! Members of the group here include Kenny Burrell on guitar, Hank Mobley on tenor, Jerome Richardson on flute and tenor, Donald Byrd on trumpet, and Mal Waldron on piano – really holding the whole thing together with his dark lines on the keys! The groove is laidback, but never sloppy – and the spaciousness of side one is matched by 3 shorter tracks – "Boo Lu", "Flickers", and "Little Hankie". All Day Long is an equally open-ended set – with players that include Kenny Burrell on guitar, Donald Byrd on trumpet, Frank Foster on tenor, Tommy Flanagan on piano, Doug Watkins on bass, and Art Taylor on drums. As with its predecessor, side one features a great long track called "All Day Long" – with loads of space and plenty of great soloing – a cut that is quite possibly THE blowing session tune from Prestige – as it's a perfect example of the label's work in that style, and one of the longest ever recorded in that format! Side two features shorter cuts "Slim Jim", "Say Listen", and "AT" – all a bit tighter, and still very nice! The set's completed by the album Two Guitars – billed under the leadership of Kenny Burrell and Jimmy Raney – a wonderful album by these two jazz guitarists, and one that features them playing in a much harder mode than usual! The rest of the group includes Donald Byrd on trumpet, Jackie McLean on alto, Mal Waldron on piano, Doug Watkins on bass, and Art Taylor on drums. Titles include "This Way", "Little Melonae", "Blue Duke", and "Pivot" – and Raney's tone is especially nice! CD

Piano giant Ray Bryant joins the ranks of the Music Minus One series – working with a quartet that includes Kenny Burrell on guitar, George Duvivier on bass, and Art Taylor on drums – almost grooving in a late 50s Prestige mode, save for the fact that the tunes have a bit of extra space to accommodate the "guest" performer. Tracks are all Cole Porter tunes – and titles include "Night & Day", "Let's Do It", "Love For Sale", "You Do Something To Me", "Begin The Beguine", and "Anything Goes". LP, Vinyl record album

A really sweet little album from guitarist Kenny Burrell – one in which he takes older tunes ("a generation ago"), and updates them with a sweetly compressed Verve 60s groove ("today"!) The record features 2 small groups – one with Ron Carter on bass, Grady Tate on drums, and Phil Woods on some mighty nice alto sax – and another with Carter, Tate, and the great Richard Wyands on piano. The style is light, laidback, and recorded with a warm tone overall – in a mode that's almost a precursor to the CTI sound of the late 60s. Mike Maineri joins on vibes on one track – and titles include "Wholly Cats", "Rose Room", "As Long As I Live", and "A Smooth One" LP, Vinyl record album

A standout session from guitar giant Kenny Burrell – and a set that's maybe one of his most modern albums of the 60s! The record features backings from arranger Gil Evans – most famous for his work with Miles Davis, and working here in a style that's nicely different with Kenny – less overwhelming in his approach to the charts, with a mode that still really lets Burrell dominate, and maybe even sets him free from the role of rhythm, so that he can really show off some of the more sophisticated sides of his playing! The album's one of a handful that have Burrell working this way from the time – and as on the others, there's sometimes a quality that's even more soulful than some of his records with smaller groups – a real surprise, but a great one too. The group features an excellent array of top-shelf musicians – including Johnny Coles on trumpet, Lee Konitz on alto, Steve Lacy on soprano, and Richie Kamuca on tenor – and titles include "Lotus Land", "Downstairs", "Moon & Sand", "Terrace Theme", "Greensleeves", and "Loie". CD

One of the first albums from guitarist Kenny Burrell as a leader – a date that has him working with players from his hometown scene in Detroit – in case you couldn't guess from the title! Kenny's style here is a bit different than on the Blue Note dates of the time – almost a bit more personal, and leaner – which is a surprise, given the usual heavier feel of a Savoy session. Other players include Pepper Adams on baritone, Tommy Flanagan on piano, Paul Chambers on bass, and Kenny Clarke on drums – and before you complain, we know that not all of these guys are from Detroit – but that's the way they titled the thing, so you'll have to write to the label! Adams is a bit down in the mix, so he never over-dominates Burrell's tone – but he still gets plenty of space to sparkle on his solos, working with those sharp edges that make his Savoy appearances so great. Titles include "Your Host", "Afternoon In Paris", "Apothegh", "Cottontail", and "Tom's Thumb". CD

A hip live date from Kenny Burrell – and a record that really showcases his amazing tone in a stripped-down trio setting! Burrell has a way of mixing chromatic chords with leaner lines that's simply breathtaking – qualities that really come out in the intimate space of the Village Vanguard, where Kenny is just working with accompaniment from the bass of Richard Davis and drums of the great Roy Haynes! The rhythms here are quite gentle, almost spare at times – and always touched with Haynes' great sense of lyricism – and Kenny's guitar lines are right out front, really dominating the set and freely flowing with plenty of warm chromatic hues, and styles that echo a bit more modernism than we've heard in other work of his from the late 50s! Titles include "Well You Needn't", "Trio", "All Night Long", and "Soft Winds". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the more legendary albums on Blue Note from the label's classic run – and for many folks, the quintessential album from guitarist Kenny Burrell! Burrell had been playing for a number of years, and had been already recorded by Blue Note on some other excellent records – yet here, there's really something different going on – a bit more of a groove, and a harder edge from Kenny's guitar – augmented with superb work from a group that features Stanley Turrentine on tenor, Major Holly on bass, Bill English on drums, and the great Ray Barretto on congas! The vibe is fantastic, and Turrentine's horn has a raspy edge that's beautiful – while the whole record moves with a very rhythmic groove – thanks to Ray's extra percussion contribution on the bottom! Titles include the classic groover "Chittlins Con Carne", an early jazz dance classic – plus "Soul Lament", "Wavy Gravy", and "Mule". CD

A great little album by Burrell – one that has Ray Barretto on most cuts, giving the album a similar Latiny feel to his classic Midnight Blue album on Blue Note. The best part, though, is Coleman Hawkins, who plays tenor on 4 of the album's 7 tracks – 2 of which are bossa-tinged ditties, which sound like they're lifted right off of Ike Quebec's Soul Samba album. Rhythm is by Tommy Flanagan, Major Jolley, and Eddie Locke – and titles include "Tres Talbras", "Montono Blues", "Guilty", "No More", and "It's Getting Dark". Also issued as the album Bluesy Burrell. LP, Vinyl record album

Kenny Burrell gets the soul call from Prestige Records – the result is one of his grooviest albums of the 60s! The vibe here is nicely mellow – pretty laidback, and almost in the late nite style of some of the Moodsville label dates – with Kenny's guitar ringing out in these beautifully-formed tones – over light rhythms from Will Davis on piano, Martin Rivera on bass, and Bill English on drums – plus just a little bit of conga from Ray Barretto, which creeps into the groove nicely when it's used. Titles include "Soul Call", "Kenny's Theme", "Here's That Rainy Day", "Kenny's Theme", and "Mark One". LP, Vinyl record album

Rare material from Gil Evans' short-lived time on Verve Records – recorded in the early 60s, but not issued until this 70s issue! The set features Evans at his sharpest and most modern for the time – right up their with his best Impulse Records dates too – and key soloists include Kenny Burrell on guitar, Phil Woods on alto sax, Johnny Coles on trumpet, and Wayne Shorter on tenor! LP, Vinyl record album

A stunner from Kenny Burrell – one of his most sophisticated and soulful sessions of the 60s! Kenny's working here with the ultra-cool arranger Johnny Pate – best known for his work with Curtis Mayfield, and his 70s soundtrack fame – but a heck of a creative talent when it comes to a jazz session like this! For the record, Pate's created these spare little backdrops – not nearly as full as those penned by Don Sebesky or Claus Ogerman – and with a gentle sort of grooving quality that really pushes Kenny along nicely. Burrell's guitar is very strongly upfront in the mix – working chromatic magic at a level hardly ever matched again on record! Side one features the extended "Asphalt Canyon Suite" – a magnificent tune that's simply sublime – and side two features 5 shorter tracks, "Things Ain't What They Used To Be", "Put A Little Love In Your Heart", "Please Send Me Someone To Love", "Going To Jim & Andy's", and "Sugar Hill". LP, Vinyl record album

A rare treasure – material that Kenny Burrell recorded for Columbia in the early 60s, but which wasn't ever issued until an early 80s LP! Ostensibly, the sides were recorded around the same time as Kenny's Weaver Of Dreams album for Columbia (an obscure enough session in itself!) – and laid in the can for years, possibly because his use of vocals on that album was a bit of a failure. Fortunately, Kenny's just playing guitar on this album – and doing a mighty fine job, in small group settings that make the material some of his strongest since his late 50s sides for Blue Note. The album features 4 different groups – with players that include Jack McDuff on Hammond, Leo Wright on alto, Illinois Jacquet on tenor, Hank Jones on piano, and either Louis Hayes or Joe Dukes on drums. Titles include "The Switch", "Mambo Twist", "The Squeeze", "Bye & Bye", and "One Mint Julep". LP, Vinyl record album

Includes the songs "Moten Swing", "Weaver Of Dreams", "Delilah", "Fugue 'N Blues", "But Not For Me", "K.B. Blues", "Nica's Dream", "My Heart Stood Still", and "Blues For Skeeter". CD

An obscure little session from Kenny Burrell – recorded at the end of the 70s, and with a very laidback feel! The set was produced by Helen Keane, who'd done some of Bill Evans' greatest sets – and who had a real ear for the mellower side of the jazz spectrum. And for the record, she's got Kenny playing in a trio format that's very spacious – with only gentle accompaniment from Reggie Johnson on bass and Sherman Ferguson on drums, and most of the sound on the set coming from the strings of Kenny's guitar. Following in the gentle spirit of the set, Kenny even plays an acoustic guitar on 2 numbers – making for a very different sound than usual. Some tracks are quite long, really letting Kenny open up on his solos – and titles include "So Little Time", "All Blues", "I'm Glad There Is You", and "You & The Night & The Music". LP, Vinyl record album

Arguably one of the greatest Kenny Burrell albums ever! Unlike some of Kenny's other sessions, which hide his guitar in arrangements that are a bit too complicated – this one's a nicely stripped-down album that sets his hollow electric in a group with Tommy Flanagan on piano, Paul Chambers on bass, Kenny Clarke on drums, and Candido on conga. The tracks are nicely laidback, and Kenny hits some nice deep grooves on cuts like "Fugue N Blues", "Takeela", and "Delilah". Plus, the album also includes a totally cool percussion-only track – "Rhythmorama", which is a duet between Kenny Clarke and Candido! Older Japanese pressing – with the bonus tracks "Get Happy" and "But Not For Me". CD

Early genius from Kenny Burrell – a set that features the guitarist sounding beautiful in a variety of settings, all of them great! The format really mixes things up nicely – almost showing a more diverse Kenny than in later years – as one track is solo, and the others feature quartet, quintet, and sextet lineups – with players who include JR Monterose or Frank Foster on tenor, Tommy Flanagan or Bobby Timons on piano, Oscar Pettiford or Sam Jones on bass, Kenny Dorham on trumpet, and Kenny Clarke or Shadow Wilson on drums. The solo track is a great version of "But Not For Me" – and other titles include "Mexico City", "Cheeta", "Phinupi", and "Now See How You Are". CD

A rare bossa session from Kenny Burrell – with Jerome Richardson on tenor and flute, and Clark Terry on trumpet! LP, Vinyl record album

A hip live date from Kenny Burrell – and a record that really showcases his amazing tone in a stripped-down trio setting! Burrell has a way of mixing chromatic chords with leaner lines that's simply breathtaking – qualities that really come out in the intimate space of the Village Vanguard, where Kenny is just working with accompaniment from the bass of Richard Davis and drums of the great Roy Haynes! The rhythms here are quite gentle, almost spare at times – and always touched with Haynes' great sense of lyricism – and Kenny's guitar lines are right out front, really dominating the set and freely flowing with plenty of warm chromatic hues, and styles that echo a bit more modernism than we've heard in other work of his from the late 50s! Titles include "Well You Needn't", "Trio", "All Night Long", and "Soft Winds". LP, Vinyl record album

Straight, strong, and soulful sounds from guitarist Kenny Burrell – quite possibly one of his best albums of the 60s, thanks to a really well-focused sound throughout! The groove here is nice and tight – a cooking little rhythm section that features Richard Wyands on piano, Martin Rivera on bass, and Oliver Jackson on drums – snapping away on the kit on some of the best tracks, and really helping Burrell to hit this groove that's mighty nice! Kenny seems to have a bit more bite than usual too – and even the laidback tunes have plenty going on to keep our ears happy. Titles include "La Petite Mambo", "Suzy", "The Tender Gender", "Girl Talk", "Isabella", "If Someone Had Told Me", and "Hot Bossa". LP, Vinyl record album

Also features guitars from Bobby Broom, Rodney Jones, and Dave Jackson – plus drums from Kenny Washington! CD

A great little album from Kenny Burrell – one that has Ray Barretto's congas on most cuts, giving the album a similar Latiny feel to Kenny's classic Midnight Blue album on Blue Note! The Latin undercurrent hits both New York and bossa-styled modes – a great setting for Burrell's thin, snakey lines on guitar – and also a surprisingly great showcase for the tenor of Coleman Hawkins, which really opens up nicely in this setting – in ways that are a bit like his own bossa date for Impulse, or the sound of Ike Quebec's Soul Samba album! Rhythm is by Tommy Flanagan on piano, Major Holley on bass, and Eddie Locke on drums – and titles include "Tres Talbras", "Montono Blues", "Guilty", "No More", and "It's Getting Dark". CD

Two Shirley Scott classics – back to back on a single CD! First up is Travelin Light. Kenny Burrell joins the trio of organist Shirley Scott for this sweet little album – a set that seems to burn a bit more than usual for Shirley, probably because of the cool-toned guitar lines from Kenny! The album's got the same laid back feel as other Scott albums of the time, but Burrell really digs in during his solos – adding a bit more bite, and inspiring Shirley to do the same on her own Hammond lines. Bass is by Eddie Khan and drums are by Otis Finch – and titles include "Solar", "The Kerry Dance", "They Call It Stormy Monday", "Nice N Easy", and "Baby It's Cold Outside". Next up is Soul Sister – a record that has Shirley Scott getting some mighty cool help from vibist Lem Winchester – a player whose tones always make a session worth checking out! Lem's got a nicely punctuated feel to his vibes on the record – a tight, short punch that works beautifully alongside Scott's fluid Hammond lines – almost enough on their own, even without the rhythm help of George Duvivier on bass and Art Edgehill on drums. Tracks include "Blues For Tyrone", "The More I See You", "On Green Dolphin Street", "Like Young", and "Sonnymoon For Two". Also includes the bonus track "Now's The Time", recorded at the same session. CD

With Rufus Reid on bass. CD

A second volume of Duke Ellington material from Kenny Burrell – and like the first, an extremely fresh look at the tunes – given the way things change up throughout the sessions! The presentation here is nicely varied – not just a big band take on the Duke, nor some small combo musings – but instead a mixture of both, all with Burrell's guitar at the center, but also moving the spotlight to a host of other players along the way – including trombonist Quentin Jackson, trumpeters Snooky Young and Thad Jones, organist Jimmy Smith, and tenorists Joe Henderson and Jerome Richardson – all of whom add some surprisingly soulful currents to the set. Titles include "Jeep Is Jumpin", "Solitude", "In A Sentimental Mood", "Azure", "Just Squeeze Me", "Come Sunday", "Prelude To A Kiss", "I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart", and "Orson". CD

A really sweet little album from guitarist Kenny Burrell – one in which he takes older tunes ("a generation ago"), and updates them with a sweetly compressed Verve 60s groove ("today"!) The record features 2 small groups – one with Ron Carter on bass, Grady Tate on drums, and Phil Woods on some mighty nice alto sax – and another with Carter, Tate, and the great Richard Wyands on piano. The style is light, laidback, and recorded with a warm tone overall – in a mode that's almost a precursor to the CTI sound of the late 60s. Mike Maineri joins on vibes on one track – and titles include "Wholly Cats", "Rose Room", "As Long As I Live", and "A Smooth One". CD

A stone classic from Kenny Burrell – a record that brought the guitarist to a whole new audience, with a wonderful sound that's a perfect summation of CTI at its best! The vibe here is perfect – spare, airy guitar lines from Burrell – playing with a freer style than usual, although with all of the deep soul of before – in ways that are a bit like the early Wes Montgomery material for CTI, but taken to the next level with a more sophisticated set of backdrops too! Don Sebesky handled arrangements, Freddie Hubbard solos alongside Kenny, and many track shave some mighty nice electric piano, too. Titles include funky track "Love Is The Answer", and mellower tunes "Child Is Born", "Do What You Gotta Do", and "Be Yourself". CD also includes the bonus tracks "A Child Is Born (alternate)", "Lost In The Stars (new mix)", and "Ballad Of The Sad Young Men (new mix)". CD

A standout session from guitar giant Kenny Burrell – and a set that's maybe one of his most modern albums of the 60s! The record features backings from arranger Gil Evans – most famous for his work with Miles Davis, and working here in a style that's nicely different with Kenny – less overwhelming in his approach to the charts, with a mode that still really lets Burrell dominate, and maybe even sets him free from the role of rhythm, so that he can really show off some of the more sophisticated sides of his playing! The album's one of a handful that have Burrell working this way from the time – and as on the others, there's sometimes a quality that's even more soulful than some of his records with smaller groups – a real surprise, but a great one too. The group features an excellent array of top-shelf musicians – including Johnny Coles on trumpet, Lee Konitz on alto, Steve Lacy on soprano, and Richie Kamuca on tenor – and titles include "Lotus Land", "Downstairs", "Moon & Sand", "Terrace Theme", "Greensleeves", and "Loie". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the first albums from guitarist Kenny Burrell as a leader – a date that has him working with players from his hometown scene in Detroit – in case you couldn't guess from the title! Kenny's style here is a bit different than on the Blue Note dates of the time – almost a bit more personal, and leaner – which is a surprise, given the usual heavier feel of a Savoy session. Other players include Pepper Adams on baritone, Tommy Flanagan on piano, Paul Chambers on bass, and Kenny Clarke on drums – and before you complain, we know that not all of these guys are from Detroit – but that's the way they titled the thing, so you'll have to write to the label! Adams is a bit down in the mix, so he never over-dominates Burrell's tone – but he still gets plenty of space to sparkle on his solos, working with those sharp edges that make his Savoy appearances so great. Titles include "Your Host", "Afternoon In Paris", "Apothegh", "Cottontail", and "Tom's Thumb". CD

Kenny Burrell at his best – lean, mean, playing in a stripped down session that he rarely matched in later years! The record's got an open-ended jam session feel – Kenny listed as the leader, but playing in a laidback setting with Cecil Payne on baritone, Tommy Flanagan on piano, Doug Watkins on bass, and Elvin Jones on drums. The album's long tracks move along at a soulful pace, letting in a lot of room for solo work – especially from Burrell and Payne, who never sounded better! Titles include "Drum Boogie", "Perception", "Strictly Confidential", and "Don't Cry Baby". CD

One of our favorite albums ever from the great guitarist Kenny Burrell – a smoking live session, and one that's got a bit more of an edge than some of his other records from the time! Kenny's guitar still has that impeccable tone throughout – but it's also matched by some wonderful tenor from the great Tina Brooks – making one of his few key Blue Note appearances here – in a massively cooking group that also features some piano from Bobby Timmons on three of the album's five tracks (Roland Hanna plays on the two others) – plus drums from Art Blakey, and bass from Ben Tucker – a pair wo work together wonderfully to create some really great grooves. Kenny himself seems to pick up great energy in the setting – and titles include "Lady Be Good", "Birk's Works", "36-23-36", and "Hallelujah". CD

One of the more legendary albums on Blue Note from the label's classic run – and for many folks, the quintessential album from guitarist Kenny Burrell! Burrell had been playing for a number of years, and had been already recorded by Blue Note on some other excellent records – yet here, there's really something different going on – a bit more of a groove, and a harder edge from Kenny's guitar – augmented with superb work from a group that features Stanley Turrentine on tenor, Major Holly on bass, Bill English on drums, and the great Ray Barretto on congas! The vibe is fantastic, and Turrentine's horn has a raspy edge that's beautiful – while the whole record moves with a very rhythmic groove – thanks to Ray's extra percussion contribution on the bottom! Titles include the classic groover "Chittlins Con Carne", an early jazz dance classic – plus "Soul Lament", "Wavy Gravy", and "Mule". LP, Vinyl record album

A great title for this one – as the album's got a cool, laidback groove that's very much in a "night song" mode! Arrangements are by Don Sebesky – in that warm and fluid mode he was bringing to some of his best CTI sides at the time – and they push guitarist Kenny Burrell a bit more than usual, as he stretches out over the larger arrangements with some really great solo work that dips, turns, and rolls with incredibly warm hues of sound! Kenny plays solo on 2 tracks, and with a smaller quartet on a few more – and titles include "Night Song", "Love You Madly", "The Shadow Of Your Smile", "Brother Where Are You?", "Nighthawk", and "Teach Me Tonight". CD

A great title for this one – as the album's got a cool, laidback groove that's very much in a "night song" mode! Arrangements are by Don Sebesky – in that warm and fluid mode he was bringing to some of his best CTI sides at the time – and they push guitarist Kenny Burrell a bit more than usual, as he stretches out over the larger arrangements with some really great solo work that dips, turns, and rolls with incredibly warm hues of sound! Kenny plays solo on 2 tracks, and with a smaller quartet on a few more – and titles include "Night Song", "Love You Madly", "The Shadow Of Your Smile", "Brother Where Are You?", "Nighthawk", and "Teach Me Tonight". LP, Vinyl record album

A great selection of tracks that Kenny recorded for the Argo/Cadet label in the mid 60s – some of his grooviest work from the decade, with a lean sound that has him soloing brilliantly in rhythmic settings that bring out the best of his soulful side! A number of tracks were arranged with larger backings by Richard Evans - who gives the tracks the same swing as his work for Ramsey Lewis – and other sides feature a quartet with Richard Wyands on piano. Titles include "Hot Bossa", "La Petite Mambo", "The Tender Gender", "I Want My Baby Back", "Con Alma", "Soulero", "Blues Fuse", and "Isabella". Includes the 10 tracks that make up The Tender Gender LP, 5 more from Ode To 52nd Street, and 1 more – "My Favorite Things" – from Have Yourself A Soulful Christmas. CD

Kenny Burrell on guitar, John Heard and Reggie Johnson on bass, Carl Burnett and Roy McCurdy on drums, and Kenneth Nash on percussion. CD

One of the rarest Kenny Burrell albums – and one of the most unusual, too! Unlike other records, on which Kenny just plays guitar – this set has the jazzman also doing a bit of singing, sweetly crooning alongside his instrument with a surprising amount of charm! Burrell's got the feel of some backroom singer in the bebop years – deep-toned and mellow, but still pretty swinging – and the album's a great illustration of this overlooked side of his talents. The group features Tommy Flanagan on piano, and Bobby Jaspar plays a bit of tenor sax at times – on titles that include "Hootchie Koo", "A Fine Romance", "The Blues Is Awful Mean", "The More I See You", "I'll Buy You A Star", "Afternoon In Paris", and "Weaver Of Dreams". LP, Vinyl record album

A surprisingly great meeting between Kenny Burrell and Jimmy Smith – and a set that's one of Jimmy's standout small combo sessions for Verve! The feel here is much more Jimmy Smith at Blue Note than some of the bigger group Verve dates of the 60s – and Kenny Burrell's sensitive guitar lines provide wonderful company for Smith on the date – shading in his Hammond lines with a nice sense of color, in ways that really fit the late nite setting of the record. Other players on the date include either Bill English or Mel Lewis on drums, George Duvivier or Milt Hinton on bass, Vince Gambella on guitar, and Art Marotti on percussion – and titles include "Kenny's Sound", "Blues For Del", "Blue Bash", "Travelin", and "Soft Winds". CD

A really legendary meeting between two young jazz giants – guitarist Kenny Burrell and tenor legend John Coltrane – the latter of whom plays here in a rare session with a guitar! The album was done at a time when Coltrane's star was really rising, and the Prestige label was letting him try things out in a variety of different settings – and Burrell himself was also willing to move past older standard jazz guitar modes, as on his Blue Note albums from the period – which makes for a perfect match for Coltrane in the frontline. Tracks are long and flow with qualities that are similar to other Coltrane Prestige sessions from the time – and backing is from a superb trio that features Tommy Flanagan on piano, Paul Chambers on bass, and Jimmy Cobb on drums. Titles include "Big Paul", "Lyresto", "Why Was I Born", "I Never Knew", and "Freight Trane". CD

A really legendary meeting between two young jazz giants – guitarist Kenny Burrell and tenor legend John Coltrane – the latter of whom plays here in a rare session with a guitar! The album was done at a time when Coltrane's star was really rising, and the Prestige label was letting him try things out in a variety of different settings – and Burrell himself was also willing to move past older standard jazz guitar modes, as on his Blue Note albums from the period – which makes for a perfect match for Coltrane in the frontline. Tracks are long and flow with qualities that are similar to other Coltrane Prestige sessions from the time – and backing is from a superb trio that features Tommy Flanagan on piano, Paul Chambers on bass, and Jimmy Cobb on drums. Titles include "Big Paul", "Lyresto", "Why Was I Born", "I Never Knew", and "Freight Trane". LP, Vinyl record album

A great little album from Kenny Burrell – one that has Ray Barretto's congas on most cuts, giving the album a similar Latiny feel to Kenny's classic Midnight Blue album on Blue Note! The Latin undercurrent hits both New York and bossa-styled modes – a great setting for Burrell's thin, snakey lines on guitar – and also a surprisingly great showcase for the tenor of Coleman Hawkins, which really opens up nicely in this setting – in ways that are a bit like his own bossa date for Impulse, or the sound of Ike Quebec's Soul Samba album! Rhythm is by Tommy Flanagan on piano, Major Holley on bass, and Eddie Locke on drums – and titles include "Tres Talbras", "Montono Blues", "Guilty", "No More", and "It's Getting Dark". LP, Vinyl record album

A collection of tunes pulled from various guitar-driven sessions at Prestige. 3 tracks – "Billie's Bounce", "Prelude to A Kiss", and "It Don't Mean A Thing" – feature Kenny Burrell and Barry Galbraith on guitars, with Leonard Gaskin and Bobby Donaldson on drums. One track ("It's Alvin Again") features Bill Jennings with Jack McDuff. And two more long ones – "Lost Weekend" and "Dood I Did" – feature Tiny Grims with Eddie Davis, JC Higginbottom, and Ray Bryant. LP, Vinyl record album

Featuring Tommy Flannigan, Paul Chambers, Kenny Clarke, Candido Camero, Art Blakey, Tina Brooks, Stanley Turrentine, Ray Barretto, Jimmy Smith, Herbie Hancock, and others. CD

The legendary Kenny Burrell played often at the Village Vanguard over the years – and this sweet set from later years has the guitarist really stretching out in the familiar setting – hitting some surprisingly deep, strong lines throughout – all with effortless ease! The record's a great reminder that Burrell kept on growing over the decades, and never seemed to lose his power as both a leader and a soloist – something we've been reminded of in his many records after this early 90s set – and the younger combo here really seems to bring out a fresh fire in Kenny, with work from James Williams on piano, Peter Washington on bass, and Sherman Ferguson on drums. Titles include the originals "Then Along Came You", "Good News Blues", and "Maya's Dance" – plus "Fungi Mama", "Lament", and "Black & Tan Fantasy". CD

A real hard-burner from Kenny Burrell – a set that was recorded for Blue Note in the guitarist's early career, but not issued by the label until the 70s – and even then only in Japan! Kenny's got the sharp edge and strong sense of leadership you'll hear on his classic Midnight Blue – and the lineup features strong tenor work from Hank Mobley, who seems to underscore the best elements in Burrell's tone – plus work from Horace Silver on piano – who plays with lots of soulful undercurrents, alongside Doug Watkins on bass, and Louis Hayes on drums! The record's got some slightly raspy edges, which may be why Blue Note originally held it back – but it's a real treasure for the deeper side of Kenny's tones – and titles include "Out For Blood", "Nica's Dream", "KB Blues", and "DB Blues". LP, Vinyl record album

Kenny Burrell on guitar, Jerome Richardson on saxophone and flute, Jimmy Owen on trumpet, Sir Roland Hanna on piano, Ray Drummond on bass, and Sherman Ferguson on drums – plus special guests Steve Turre on trombone and Vanessa Rubin on vocals. CD

Grover Washington Jr on Blue Note – but sounding really great here in the company of guitarist Kenny Burrell – very much back to the more basic reed work of his roots, and away from some of the smoother settings of his bigger dates from a few years before! Kenny's well-crafted guitar lines really direct the set – spinning out with energy and soul, and shaping the sound in tones that work especially well with Washington's soprano sax lines. The rest of the group features Ron Carter on bass, Jack DeJohnette on drums, and Ralph MacDonald on percussion – and titles include "Togethering", "Daydream", "Sails Of Your Soul", "Soulero", and "What Am I Here For". CD features the bonus tracks "Summertime" and "I'm Glad There Is You". CD

The great John Jenkins was one of the lesser-known sax stars to come out of the Chicago scene of the late 50s – but he was also one of the best! Jenkins played alto impeccably – with boppish agility, and a deep sense of soul that worked great on this one and only Blue Note session as a leader. The group features Kenny Burrell playing some of his best work on record – and the rhythm section features Sonny Clark on piano, Paul Chambers on bass, and Dannie Richmond on drums – playing in a rare non-Mingus appearance! Tracks include "Motif", "Sharon", "Blues For Two", and "Chalumeau" – and the session is a wonderful bit of lost Blue Note – great sharp edges from Jenkins' alto, and some warmer, rounder tones from Burrell on guitar. CD also features 2 bonus alternate takes. CD

The great John Jenkins was one of the lesser-known sax stars to come out of the Chicago scene of the late 50s – but he was also one of the best, as you can hear on this great two record set! First up is Jenkin's one and only Blue Note session as a leader, a record that features Jenkins on alto playing with boppish agility, and a deep sense of soul that workes great alongside Kenny Burrell, in some of his best work on record – and the rhythm section features Sonny Clark on piano, Paul Chambers on bass, and Dannie Richmond on drums – playing in a rare non-Mingus appearance! Tracks include "Motif", "Sharon", "Blues For Two", and "Chalumeau" – and the session is a wonderful bit of lost Blue Note! The album with Jordan and Timmons is about as hip as you can get for a hardbop session – a real cooker from the left end of the spectrum, filled with great work from all three players in the title! The pairing of Clifford Jordan's tenor and John Jenkins' alto is especially nice – as Jordan seems to bring out a bit of a deeper groove than Jenkins' gets on other records. And we're always big fans of Bobby Timmons' work on piano in just about any group setting – and here he's working with unique rhythm backing by Wilbur Ware on bass and Dannie Richmond on drums – making a rare non-Mingus appearance on the set!. The tracks are long, but extremely tight – in the manner that you'd expect from some of those modernist soul jazz sets on Riverside/Jazzland, particularly the work of Johnny Griffin and Wilbur Ware – with titles that include "Cliff's Edge", "Tenderly", "Princess", and "Soft Talk". CD

A landmark late 50s album on Prestige Records – one of the label's key efforts to bring together some of the best talents in the hardbop business, and really let them loose on the kind of extended passages that weren't being recorded a few years before! The Cats here are all quite hip ones – an all-star sextet effort that features Tommy Flanagan on piano, John Coltrane on tenor, Idrees Sulieman on trumpet, Kenny Burrell on guitar, Doug Watkins on bass, and Louis Hayes on drums. Tracks are long, and open – and although each player is really at their best on their solos, there's still a sense of group unity that makes the record stand out from other efforts of its type – enough so that it's often cited as a key early entry in the Coltrane catalog. Titles include "Eclypso", "Solacium", "Tommy's Tune", and "Minor Mishap". CD

A landmark late 50s album on Prestige Records – one of the label's key efforts to bring together some of the best talents in the hardbop business, and really let them loose on the kind of extended passages that weren't being recorded a few years before! The Cats here are all quite hip ones – an all-star sextet effort that features Tommy Flanagan on piano, John Coltrane on tenor, Idrees Sulieman on trumpet, Kenny Burrell on guitar, Doug Watkins on bass, and Louis Hayes on drums. Tracks are long, and open – and although each player is really at their best on their solos, there's still a sense of group unity that makes the record stand out from other efforts of its type – enough so that it's often cited as a key early entry in the Coltrane catalog. Titles include "Eclypso", "Solacium", "Tommy's Tune", and "Minor Mishap". CD

With John Coltrane, Milt Jackson, Kenny Burrell, JJ Johnson, Art Blakey, Joe Carroll, and others. LP, Vinyl record album

A really unusual trio outing from Jim Hall – almost overlooked, and with a really unique feel overall – quite airy at times, but with a bluesy undercurrent too! There's a bit more bite here than on some of Jim's other records – a harder-edged, bluesier way of hitting the guitar that's almost much more Kenny Burrell than the usual sound from Hall – although Jim still manages a nice nimble touch at times too. The group features Red Mitchell on piano and Red Kelly on bass – which keeps things very open and intimate – almost improvisatory at times. Titles include "Bill Not Phil", "When I Have You", "Willow Weep For Me", and "Good Friday Blues". LP, Vinyl record album

A beautiful album of dark-hued vocals – sung by Johnny Hartman with a quality that's as smokey as the image of him with a cigarette on the cover! The album set a whole new standard for male vocal jazz in the 60s – and is a distillation and refinement of earlier ideas in music by Billy Eckstine, taken down to more personal and fluid levels by Hartman – and recorded here with great small group baking that includes Illinois Jacquet on tenor, Kenny Burrell on guitar, Milt Hinton on bass, and Elvin Jones on drums. The vibe is very mellow, but never sloppy or sleepy – and titles include "Charade", "In The Wee Small Hours", "Stairway To the Stars", "Kiss & Run", "Our Time", "Don't You Know I Care", "If I'm Lucky", and "Don't Call It Love". CD

A beautiful album of dark-hued vocals – sung by Johnny Hartman with a quality that's as smokey as the image of him with a cigarette on the cover! The album set a whole new standard for male vocal jazz in the 60s – and is a distillation and refinement of earlier ideas in music by Billy Eckstine, taken down to more personal and fluid levels by Hartman – and recorded here with great small group baking that includes Illinois Jacquet on tenor, Kenny Burrell on guitar, Milt Hinton on bass, and Elvin Jones on drums. The vibe is very mellow, but never sloppy or sleepy – and titles include "Charade", "In The Wee Small Hours", "Stairway To the Stars", "Kiss & Run", "Our Time", "Don't You Know I Care", "If I'm Lucky", and "Don't Call It Love". CD

A beautiful album of dark-hued vocals – sung by Johnny Hartman with a quality that's as smokey as the image of him with a cigarette on the cover! The album set a whole new standard for male vocal jazz in the 60s – and is a distillation and refinement of earlier ideas in music by Billy Eckstine, taken down to more personal and fluid levels by Hartman – and recorded here with great small group baking that includes Illinois Jacquet on tenor, Kenny Burrell on guitar, Milt Hinton on bass, and Elvin Jones on drums. The vibe is very mellow, but never sloppy or sleepy – and titles include "Charade", "In The Wee Small Hours", "Stairway To the Stars", "Kiss & Run", "Our Time", "Don't You Know I Care", "If I'm Lucky", and "Don't Call It Love". LP, Vinyl record album