One of the first guitarists to take the baton from pioneer Charlie Christian, Barney Kessel (1923-2004) set the standard for bebop guitar during his long and productive career. MVD has put together 8 of his best albums, serving as a fantastic introduction, since Kessel is also one of the most overlooked of guitarists these days.
His 1953 debut has Kessel setting the pace with a pair of quintes with either Bud Shank or Buddy Collette on alto sax or flute supported by the likes of Red Mitchell/b, Shelly Manne/dr and Claude Williamson-Arnold Ross/p. The material includes a salute to Kessel’s inspiration during “Salute To Charlie Christian” and the team bounces with delight on “Lullaby of Birdland”. Next up is a 1955 Two Swing… with Harry “Sweets” Edison/tp, Georgie Auld/Bill Perkins/ts, Jimmy Rowles/p, Red Mitchell-Al Hendrickson/b and Shelly Manne-Irv Cotler/dr mixing and for some mainstream beauties like “Louisiana”, “Indiana” and “Twelfth Street Rag”. Next year, Kessel is with Andre Previn/p, Manne/dr, Rowles/b and Buddy Clark along with five woodwinds including the famous Buddy Collette on flute for sublime and breezy tunes such as “My Reverie” and a sublime “Gone With The Wind”.
After that, Kessel cooks with LA studs Manne, Leroy Vinnegar/b, Hampton Haws/p and Victor Feldman/vibes for a simmering blues jam on “Let’s Cook” for the first half of the album. For part two, foggy toned tenor Ben Webster and bold brass’d Frank Rosolino join in for some hard swinging pieces slouch as “Jersey Bounce” and a wild “Tiger Rag”, with Kessel making these chestnuts roast by the open fire.
Real clever is a 1959 tribute to Billy Wilder’s famous Some Like It Hot with rhythm guitarist Jack Marshall, Art Pepper on various reeds, bassist Monty Budwig, Manne and Rowles. No one is dragging around here, as the team sears through ”Runnin’ Wild” and oozes out “I Wanna Be Loved By You”. Even more creative is a reworking of Bizet’s Carmen with the famed opera
being performed by Kessel, a handful of woodwinds including Herb Geller/as, Victor Feldman/vib and Ray Linn/tp for some attention drawing takes like “Swingin’ The Toreador” and “Carmen’s Cool”.
In 1960, Kessel is recorded “live” in studio at a label party with Gary Peacock/b, Marvin Jenkins/p and Ron Lundberg. Jenkins adds flute to a wonderful “Lover Man” while Kessel hits all the right blues hues on “Bluesology”. Last but not least is one of his albums with his famed Poll Winners trio, teamed with bassist Ray Brown and drummer Shelly Manne. Brown digs in deep for a grooving take of “So What” and Kessel floats on “Misty” while the team bops the gospel beat on “Doodlin’”. Timeless and classy. You could do yourself a service by surrounding yourself with these sounds.