This early version of soul jazz gets a superior vinyl upgrade.
Kenny Burrell – Kenny Burrell – Prestige Records (1957)/Craft Recordings CR00861 ([2025) 180-gram vinyl, 36:47 ****1/2:
(Kenny Burrell – guitar; Cecil Payne – baritone saxophone; Tommy Flanagan – piano; Doug Watkins – double bass; Elvin Jones – drums)
Kenny Burrell is regarded as an elite jazz guitarist. The Detroit native’s influences include Charlie Christian, Django Reinhardt, Muddy Waters, and T-Bone Walker. He has worked with many jazz luminaries, Dizzy Gillespie, Oscar Peterson, Tommy Flanagan, Bille Holiday, Jimmy Smith, Gene Ammons, Stanley Turrentine, Gil Evans and Kenny Dorham to name a few. As a session player and band leader, Burrell’s prolific career spanned over 60 years, recording at Fantasy, Prestige, Concord Jazz and Blue Note. Additionally, he is renowned as a music educator and jazz industry. Burrell has served as Director Of Jazz Studies at U.C.L.A.
Craft Recordings (as part of the Original Jazz Classics series) has released a 180-gram vinyl of Burrell’s 1957 Prestige self-titled album. At 25 years old, this launched the guitarist as a bona fide band leader. His quintet includes Cecil Payne (baritone saxophone), Tommy Flanagan – piano, Doug Watkins (double bass) and Elvin Jones (drums). Side A opens with a slow blues groove arrangement (“Don’t Cry Baby”). Burrell’s guitar lead is soulful, relaxed but with precise articulation. Payne follows on baritone gracefully, and his tonality is restrained and mellifluous. The rhtyhm section is flawless. Flanagan is very expressive with gentle chords and notation. Watkins’ run fits into the musical tapestry of the quintet. Burrell returns for the final verse with saxophone counterpoint. “Drum Boogie” is another extended track, but with a muscular harmonic intro on guitar and saxophone. This one swings (it was first done by Gene Krupa) and Payne’s solo is hypnotic with impeccable phrasing and intonation. Elvin Jones’ cymbal play is subtle, but impactful and he has a riveting solo. Burrell amps up the intensity with fluid and crisp play. Flanagan enters seamlessly with his trademark articulate understated delivery.
While there is a “laid-back” vibe, the music is lively and accessible. Bud Powell’s “Strictly Confidential” has an engaging medium-swing tempo. After a gliding opening with Burrell and Payne harmonizing, Flanagan executes a nimble, perky solo. Payne’s baritone (with a slight vibrato) exudes a dynamic fulsome resonance. Burrell’s improvisational approach (with a nod to “The Story Of Love”) is masterful. In a change of pace, Cole Porter’s “All Of You” is performed as a lyrical melancholic ballad. Burrell starts off with delicate touch and elocution. At the 2:08 mark, the rhtyhm section increases the tempo and Burrell responds. Flanagan shares the up-swing transition and the jam eventually returns to ethereal mode. The finale, “Perception” (the lone original composition) returns to the swing aesthetics with Payne, Burrell and Flanagan keeping a brisk pace throughout the track.
Kenny Burrell is another vibrant addition to Craft Recording’s Original Jazz Classics. This is a highly representative album of soul jazz. The (AAA) lacquers were cut from the master tapes by Kevin Gray (Cohearent Audio) and sound great. There is excellent tonal detail and the pressing (RTI) has little surface noise, no hisses or pops.
Hoghly recommended!
—Robbie Gerson
Kenny Burrell
TrackList:
Side A: Don’t Cry Baby; Drum Boogie
Side B: Strictly Confidential; All Of You; Perception
