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
-
The Poll Winners (Remastered)
Barney Kessel, Shelly Manne, Ray Brown
Jazz - Released by Avid Entertainment on 1 Jan 1957
The Qobuz Essential Discography16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Feliz Navidad y próspero Año Nuevo de Barney Kessel
Jazz - Released by Amamos la navidad on 3 Nov 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
-
The JAZZ Masters - Barney Kessel
Jazz - Released by Master Series on 2 Jun 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Live at the Jazz Mill
Jazz - Released by Sundazed Music, Inc. on 12 Aug 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Remastered Hits Vol. 3 (All Tracks Remastered)
Jazz - Released by jjjedizionimusicali on 19 May 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
To Swing or Not to Swing (Bonus Track Version)
Jazz - Released by Deeds & Reeds Records on 25 Apr 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Jazz Guitar Essentials
Bebop - Released by Stardust Records on 1 Jun 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Poll Winners
Barney Kessel, Shelly Manne, Ray Brown
Contemporary Jazz - Released by Music Manager on 1 Jan 1957
The Qobuz Essential Discography16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
Happy Feeling - Barney Kessel (49 Successes)
Jazz - Released by ISIS on 3 May 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Carmen (Original Opera by Bizet)
Jazz - Released by Music Today Records on 18 Dec 2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Poll Winners + the Poll Winners Ride Again (feat. Ray Brown and Shelly Manne)
Jazz - Released by Plenty Jazz Records on 15 Mar 2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Bossa Nova (Original Bossa Nova Album Plus Bonus Tracks 1961)
Pop - Released by Brazilian Classics on 1 Jan 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Plays Standard / The Poll Winners / Poll Winners Three!
Jazz - Released by Universe Remasterings on 30 Jul 2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Aquarius (Barney Kessel)
Jazz - Released by 1201 MUSIC on 31 Jan 1994
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
Seven Come Eleven (Live)
Louie Bellson, Barney Kessel, Hank Jones
Blues - Released by Delta Music on 30 Oct 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Jazz Guitar Artistry of
Jazz - Released by Music Manager on 31 Aug 2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Quartet & Quintet (with Shelly Manne)
Jazz - Released by Starlight Jazz on 25 Apr 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo