Kenny Burrell - Midnight Blue

Kenny Burrell's 1963 masterpiece captures the essence of late-night jazz with understated elegance. This Rudy Van Gelder Edition features Burrell's spare, soulful guitar work alongside Stanley Turrentine's tenor saxophone, Major Holley Jr.'s bass, Bill English's drums, and Ray Barretto's congas. Recorded at the legendary Van Gelder Studio and digitally remastered using 24-bit technology, the album showcases Burrell's influential approach to blues-inflected jazz guitar. Includes comprehensive liner notes and essay. An essential addition to any serious jazz collection.

The Rudy Van Gelder Edition of MIDNIGHT BLUE includes an essay by Bob Blumenthal. Personnel: Kenny Burrell (guitar); Stanley Turrentine (tenor saxophone); Major Holley, Jr. (bass); Bill English (drums); Ray Barretto (congas). Producer: Alfred Lion. Reissue producer: Michael Cuscuna. Recorded at the Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey on April 21, 1967. Originally released on Blue Note (4123). Includes liner notes by Leonard Feather and Bob Blumenthal. Digitally remastered using 24-bit technology by Rudy Van Gelder (1998, Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey). This is part of the Blue Note Rudy Van Gelder Editions series. From the first sight of Reid Miles' brilliant typography on the cover you know what you are getting. Smooth smootchy jazz guitar played at the pace of a slow loris--quite magnificent in its sparing qualities. Mr. Burrell, together with Grant Green and Wes Montgomery, defined this style. "Chitlins Con Carne" is a late-night feast while "Midnight Blue" is smokey and soulful, and yes, Van Morrison did borrow the intro for "Moondance."