At the Five Spot Cafe [Live]

Kenny Burrell | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 3, 1989)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Live
• Label: Blue Note Records
• ASIN: B000005H5D
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #143,498 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #43 in Music > Indie Music > Jazz > Boogaloo

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars great music that rivals Blue Lights, March 19, 2000

By 

CJ Shearn (New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: At the Five Spot Cafe (Audio CD)

I strongly disagree with Mr. Berndt that this live 1959 session is an average album, because it is in a totally different style. If one is only familiar with the guitarist thru the low down, greasy, after hours style of "Midnight Blue" then it is not hard to see why "At the Five Spot" would be dissapointing. Kenny Burrell can play it all whether it be ballads, gutbucket soul- jazz with either Jimmy Smith or Stanley Turrentine, or blistering hard bop. This record is proof of the latter that rivals KB's previous Blue Note affair "Blue Lights". While Burrell is on fire, it features some very strong performances from the underappreciated tenor sax genius Tina Brooks, especially his fine solo on "Swingin'". Bobby Timmons gives his all on the 4 cuts he's featured, and his solo on "Birk's Works" is one of the most exciting of his that I've heard. Sir Roland Hanna the other pianist on this date alternating with Soulful Mr. Timmons, offers interesting contrast to Timmons sanctified musings with his fast fluid lines, and percussive attack, highlighted well on "Hallelujah". Art Blakey on drums(as he was on Blue Lights as well) plays wonderfully offering a great solo with mallets on skins also on "Hallelujah". A very worthwhile album, which I heard is about to go out of print, get while you can. Coincedentally this was recorded 2 years to the day after Kenny appeared on Jimmy Smith's classic "Houseparty" which featured him doing some spirited wailing on "Cherokee".

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars At the Five Spot, April 21, 2005

By 

Bomojaz (South Central PA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: At the Five Spot Cafe (Audio CD)

Burrell (g) Tina Brooks (ts) Bobby Timmons or Roland Hanna (p) Ben Tucker (b) Art Blakey (d) 8/25/59.

This is a great live set with a lot of the tracks lengthy enough to give everybody a decent taste. There is so little of Tina Brooks available (he died young) that anything (4 tracks here) is welcome. Burrell loved the blues, but only 3 tunes are blues; one, BIRK'S WORKS, is a 10-minute workout on the form and very good. SWINGIN' is a nice original by Clifford Brown, where Blakey is front-and-center. Hanna is best on the blues waltz BEEF STEW BLUES. One of Kenny Burrell's best albums. Recommended.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A classic recording in the traditional Burrel mode., August 5, 1999

By 

Brian Kelly (Music City, TN USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: At the Five Spot Cafe (Audio CD)

This is a classic Kenny Burrel recording with the traditional bluesey Burrel touch added to every note. This is the kind of recording every fan of hard-bop will love. The sidemen on this CD include Art Blakey, Bobby Timmons, Roland Hanna, Tina Brooks and Ben Tucker. All first class.