Guitarist Kenneth Earl Burrell was born on July 31, 1931, in Detroit, Michigan. His early exposure to music came through his family, particularly his mother, who played piano and sang in the church choir. Burrell began playing guitar at a young age and quickly showed promise, immersing himself in the rich jazz scene of Detroit.
In the 1950s, Burrell emerged as a prominent figure in the jazz world, known for his smooth, sophisticated style and impeccable technique. He gained recognition for his work with prominent musicians such as Dizzy Gillespie, Oscar Peterson, and John Coltrane. In the late 1950s and early 60s Burrell recorded several seminal albums showcasing his distinctive blend of bebop, blues, and soul for numerous legendary jazz labels including Prestige, Blue Note, Verve, CTI, Muse, and Concord.
Throughout his career, Burrell continued to push the boundaries of jazz guitar, exploring various styles and collaborating with a diverse array of artists. He also ventured into education, serving as a professor at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he established the jazz studies program.
Burrell‘s contributions to jazz have earned him widespread acclaim and numerous accolades, including a Grammy nomination for his album “Ellington Is Forever” in 1975. He has been honoured with induction into the Jazz Hall of Fame and the National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Masters Fellowship, among other prestigious awards.
Despite facing health challenges in recent years, Kenny Burrell‘s legacy as one of the most influential guitarists in jazz history remains firmly intact. His timeless recordings and enduring influence continue to inspire musicians and jazz enthusiasts around the world.
Recorded and released in 1957 Burrell’s self-titled album on Prestige is a timeless gem. Backed by a stellar lineup including Tommy Flanagan on piano and Paul Chambers on bass, Burrell crafts an album that is both sophisticated and accessible; Burrell’s fluid guitar voicings and Cecil Payne‘s robust baritone make nice partners, while Tommy Flanagan adds his usual sparkling piano riffs and solos, while bassist Doug Watkins teams up with Elvin Jones, who shows he can drive a date without dominating things on drums.
Cut all valve on our 1965 Lyrec system in True Mono* directly from the original dedicated mono master tapes. No equalisation, compression or any other processing was added during the cutting process.
Sleeve made by hand with artwork authentically letter-pressed on a 1963 Heidelberg SB.
This edition of 345 copies is priced at £395.00 UK pounds. Order here.
*Where everything in the chain from the tape head, the tape pre-amplifier, the cutting amplifier and the dedicated mono cutter head is a single channel pathway: This early technology avoids phase issues (smearing of the sound) that is frequently encountered when cutting with todays dual” or “pseudo” mono cutting systems
Original master tapes.
ERC sleeve.
ERC sleeve (back).
ERC sleeve (back detail).
