Miami | 08.27.09
I usually start my days listening to virtuoso jazz guitarist Kenny Burrell, one of my favorites, even if I don’t intend to.
It’s my daughter’s routine. A budding guitarist, she’s raided my music collection and claimed as her own a great Burrell compilation &mdash Kenny Burrell on Prestige Profiles, Vol 7. Not that I mind. I can think of few better suggestions for her to listen to, both as a study on the guitar and an introduction to jazz.
That album’s eight tracks cover Burrell’s time at Prestige from 1956-1963, during which he recorded several strong albums and collaborated with a number of great musicians, among them pianist Tommy Flanagan and saxophonist John Coltrane.
Born in 1931 in Detroit, Burrell grew up in a musical family and came of age when the city also was home to a number of other young jazz lions &mdash Flanagan, trumpeter Donald Byrd, drummer Elvin Jones, and vibraphonist Milt Jackson among them. With his motor city roots and classical training, Burrell played with a sophisticated bluesy swing that comes through clearly on the Prestige album.
He shines in a variety of sessions. On I’ll Close My Eyes, Burrell and a rhythm section play it straight. Montono Blues features saxophonist Coleman Hawkins on a blues solo and bassist Major Holley singing and bowing. On All of You, Burrell’s guitar playing is rich and sweet. I Never Knew (That Roses Grew) features Coltrane, Flanagan, bassist Paul Chambers and drummer Jimmy Cobb in a true jam session.
It’s a great musical ride, one that influenced generations of guitarists.
Burrell still does today. |♫|
1 comment:
yeah!!
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