Almost all rock guitarists of the 1960s cut their teeth listening to Barney Kessel, who’s bopping single note runs were the clarion tones for young Americans and Brits trying to figure out how to create a guitar solo. This two disc, 43 song anthology collects material form his highly influential years on the Contemporary label in Los Angeles, where he joined forces with other West Coast giants like Bob Cooper/ts-ob, Hampton Hawes-Claude Williamson-Jimmy Rowles/p, Red Mitchell-Monty Budwig-Ray Brown/b, Chuck Thompson-Shelly Manne/dr, Buddy Collette/as, George Smith/cl, Bud Shank/as among others.
Kessel’s clean and clear lines are evident throughout, glorious on pieces such as “How Long Has This Been Going On?” and “Midnight Sun” or bopping like he just took the baton from pioneer Charlie Christian on “Indiana”, “Jordu” and “You Stepped Out Of A Dream”. His touch on ballads is like an aria during “Laura” and “Speak Low”. And, as far as blues, he makes the strings go bel canto on “Barney’s Blues” and “Minor Mood”. The settings range from nifty trios with Brown and Manne to small big bands that have sophisticated textures. No matter the size of the brush, Kessel is a master painter.