Barney Kessel
One of the finest guitarists to emerge after the death of Charlie Christian, Barney Kessel was a reliable bop soloist throughout his career. He played with a big band fronted by Chico Marx (1943), was fortunate enough to appear in the classic jazz short Jammin' the Blues (1944), and then worked with the big bands of Charlie Barnet (1944-1945) and Artie Shaw (1945); he also recorded with Shaw's Gramercy Five. Kessel became a busy studio musician in Los Angeles, but was always in demand for jazz records. He toured with the Oscar Peterson Trio for one year (1952-1953) and then, starting in 1953, led an impressive series of records for Contemporary that lasted until 1961 (including several with Ray Brown and Shelly Manne in a trio accurately called the Poll Winners). After touring Europe with George Wein's Newport All-Stars (1968), Kessel lived in London for a time (1969-1970). In 1973, he began touring and recording with the Great Guitars, a group also including Herb Ellis and Charlie Byrd. A serious stroke in 1992 put Barney Kessel permanently out of action, but many of his records (which include dates for Onyx, Black Lion, Sonet, and Concord, in addition to many of the Contemporaries) are available, along with several video collections put out by Vestapol. Kessel was diagnosed with inoperable cancer in 2001, which eventually took his life in May of 2004. He was 80 years old.
© Scott Yanow /TiVo
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Contemporary Latin Rhythms! + Breakfast at Tiffany's (Bonus Track Version)
Jazz - Released by Classic Standard on Nov. 3, 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
El Tigre (Bonus Track Version)
Jazz - Released by New Jazz Society on May 2, 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Greatest Hits Collection
Jazz - Released by Music Manager on Apr. 23, 2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Kessel Plays Carmen (Remastered)
Jazz - Released by Harrison James Music on Jan. 1, 1986
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Barney Kessel Play Standards
Jazz - Released by Supreme Media on Oct. 1, 2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Easy Like (Remastered 2020)
Jazz - Released by jjjedizionimusicali on Jun. 22, 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Lullaby Of Birdland
Jazz - Released by Jazz Room on Jan. 11, 2007
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Exquisit Tastes
Jazz - Released by classics & more on Feb. 18, 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Music to Listen to Barney Kessel By
Jazz - Released by Supreme Media on Oct. 1, 2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
You Came a Long Way from St. Louis
Pop - Released by Digable Classics on Oct. 1, 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Some Like It Hot
Jazz - Released by Original Jazz Classics on Jan. 1, 1959
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Music To Listen To Barney Kessel By
Jazz - Released by Original Jazz Classics on Jan. 1, 1956
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
JazzOmatic, Vol. 1
Jazz - Released by JazzOmatic on Sep. 19, 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Barney Kessel's Swingin' Party at Contemporary
Cool Jazz - Released by Blue Pie Records USA on Jan. 1, 1963
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
North of the Border
Pop - Released by Rare Vintage Records on Jul. 1, 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo