Kenny Burrell - Four Classic Albums - DOUBLE CD

AVID Jazz continues with its Four Classic Album series with a re-mastered 2CD third set release from Kenny Burrell, complete with original artwork, liner notes and personnel details.

"Ronnell Bright featuring Kenny Burrell: Bright Spot"; "Kenny Burrell & Jimmy Raney: 2 Guitars"; "Kenny Burrell (with The Prestige All Stars): All Day Long" and "John Jenkins & Kenny Burrell: John Jenkins with Kenny Burrell".

For our third exploration of the work of jazz guitarist supreme, Kenny Burrell we are back in the studio for all four of our classic albums. This time the big difference is that we have chosen four albums where Kenny is sharing the top billing with other great jazz musicians.

We kick off the set with an album made by a relatively unknown and little heard pianist called Ronnell Bright. Born in Chicago in 1930, Bright made only three albums as leader and was much better known as an accompanist to the likes of legendary female vocalists such as Sarah Vaughan, Lena Horne, Gloria Lynne and Nancy Wilson. He also composed songs performed by Cal Tjader, Horace Silver and Blue Mitchell amongst many others.

On hearing this album we knew we had to feature it on this third Burrell set. It's such a lovely album with beautiful performances by all three musicians but particularly the lovely tone of Ronnell's piano and the remarkably gentle and controlled sounds of Kenny's guitar. Next we have two of the jazz guitar masters of the era together, where Kenny joins the incredible Jimmy Raney for an amazing album of hard bop jazz. And what a band behind them! Donald Byrd, Jackie McLean, Mal Waldron (who wrote three of the songs) Doug Watkins and Art Taylor.

Our third set finds Kenny once again with his musical friends The Prestige All Stars on a follow up set to "All Night Long" (AMSC1133) recorded in December 1956 and featuring a 17 minute title track written by Kenny. The album, "All Day Long" recorded only a month later in January 1957 once again kicks off with a Burrell composed blues tour de force, the 18 minute title track! A slightly different bunch of All Stars but still another impressive line-up, Donald Byrd, Frank Foster, Tommy Flanagan, Doug Watkins and Art Taylor. Our final album arrives under the co-leadership with another under-rated and little heard jazzman, alto sax player John Jenkins, Here, Kenny joins Jenkins alongside Sonny Clark, Paul Chambers and Dannie Richmond for a fine set of bop orientated and stylish jazz playing.