Kenny Burrell - Blue Lights Vol. I

This live date broken into two volumes has never sounded better. Upon its original release, critics and fans alike marveled at the recording quality and the moderate amount of audience noise that can distract from crucial moments of music. Recorded just two years after he moved to New York, leader Burrell decided to eschew a small ensemble and super-size the bandstand. During this period, between contributions for Blue Note and Prestige, he may have been the most recorded name guitarist in jazz and definitely had his pick of east cost players to choose from. His personnel choices for this show were inspired. After asking label-mate Louis Smith to bring his trumpet, he made an interesting choice in going with twin tenors in Tina Brooks and Junior Cook. Duke Jordan and Bobby Timmons split time behind the piano for the two different sets, while Sam Jones and Art Blakey handled bass and drums, respectively, straight through. Mastered and cut from the original two-track master tapes using all-tube tape electronics and cutting system, allowing Bernie Grundman to extract every nuance from the tapes which adds to the magic of this Rudy Van Gelder recording.