Burrell, Kenny and John Coltrane
New Jazz, 2004, SACD
Instrument: GUITAR
Issue: 10.1
Jazz Ruler Type: Bebop
Performance: 4+
Sound: 4
Score: 
O’s Notes: This pairing features two jazz legends together during their prime in 1958. Guitarist Kenny Burrell was a disciple of Charlie Christian who plays here with a lot of swing and soul. This is the post-Davis era for Coltrane and perhaps the time of some of his best playing. He plays warm, mellow tenor sax trading leads with Burrell and exploding on his own. The top-notch rhythm section of Tommy Flanagan (p), Paul Chambers (b) and Jimmy Cobb (d) supports them. But this is more than just great musicians. The music is jovial; swinging with a groove that makes it palatable to many while remaining intriguing for jazz purists. If only some of our contemporary jazz musicians could capture this spell… It sounds good as a CD and even better on the SACD layer. Either way, you win.