Artist: Barney Kessel
Album: Vol. 1: Easy Like
Genre: Bop, Cool Jazz
Label: Contemporary/Original Jazz Classics
Released: 1953/1988
Quality: FLAC (tracks+.cue)
Tracklist:
01. Easy Like (Kessel) - 4:04
02. Easy Like (alternate take) (Kessel) - 4:07
03. Tenderly (Gross) - 3:16
04. Lullaby of Birdland (Shearing-Weiss) - 3:10
05. What Is There to Say? (Harburg-Duke) - 3:35
06. Bernardo (Kessel) - 2:37
07. Vicky's Dream (Kessel) - 2:53
08. Salute to Charlie Christian (Kessel) - 3:19
09. That's All (Haynes-Brandt) - 4:12
10. I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart (Ellington) - 3:41
11. Just Squeeze Me (Ellington) - 3:01
12. April in Paris (Harburg-Duke) - 2:47
13. North of the Border (Kessel) - 2:45
14. North of the Border (alternate take) (Kessel) - 2:45
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Personnel:
Barney Kessel - guitar
Bud Shank (#3-8,10,11), Buddy Collette (#1,2,9,12-14) - flute, alto saxophone
Arnold Ross (#3-8,10,11), Claude Williamson (#1,2,9,12-14) - piano
Harry Babasin (#3-8,10,11), Red Mitchell (#1,2,9,12-14) - bass
Shelly Manne - drums
Other than four songs apiece released by Onyx and Verve, the CD reissue of Easy Like, Vol. 1 has guitarist Barney Kessel's first sessions as a leader, performances which launched his longtime association with the Contemporary label. Augmented by two "new" alternate takes, the set features Kessel in boppish form with quintets in 1953 and 1956 featuring, either Bud Shank or Buddy Collette doubling on flute and alto. Kessel shows off the influence of Charlie Christian throughout the performances, with the highlights including "Easy Like," "Lullaby of Birdland," "North of the Border," and the accurately titled "Salute to Charlie Christian."
Review by Scott Yanow