Customer Reviews

Kenny Burrell & John Coltrane

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Kenny Burrell's guitar-playing sounds a lot like Wes Montgomery, who didn't make a splash in the jazz world until two years after this recording date. That means this disc would be worth buying for his leading work alone. But when you add in support three of the seven artists who created the classic "Kind of Blue" record just a year or so later, you of course have a first-rank album on your hands. John Coltrane on tenor sax, Paul Chambers on bass and Jimmy Cobb on drums all were part of the later Miles Davis-led album which is one of the most popular jazz works of all time. The final master-stroke was adding Tommy Flanagan on piano, who always is a welcome member of an ensemble. I suspect many recent and future buyers of this will do so because of Coltrane's prominent contributions, but everyone playing here gets kudos, especially Burrell. This disc runs just under 38 minutes, but it is so cheerful and lovely you will play it twice in a row most the time. If you are a 'Trane fan, or a fan of jazz guitar, you need to own this one.

I have always been an avid Coltrane fan. As far as Kenny Burrell, I had only heard him on Jimmy Smith's "Back at the Chicken Shack". His playing is wonderfully reserved and tasteful with a soft, bluesy, mellow tone. Listening to this wonderful cd really makes me wonder why these two didn't work together more. They function wonderfully as the two main soloists and I really think they could have been great together. One thing that bothers me a bit is that Burrell does not seem to comp for any of Trane's solos except when they play the duet "Why was I born?" I don't know why Trane never worked with guitarists. They complement his style wonderfully. Burrell provides wonderful melodic thought as a counterpoint to Trane's streaking, arpeggio laced, vertical sololing. This is one of Trane's most overlooked albums, probably because it was one of those Prestige "jam session" type albums. It stands in interesting contrast to one of his best Prestige albums "Soultrane", which was recorded exactly one month earlier. Coltrane was the man, as was Burrell! Also worth noting is the wonderful rhythm section with Tommy Flanagan doing some nice piano work.

One thing that stinks about jazz is that many of the top players not only weren't guitarists, but they didn't often play with guitarists either. This cd is one notable exception to that rule. I don't think any of the great horn players did a duet with Wes Montgomery. It was Kenny Burrell who had that honor. He is a great guitarist, and this is a great cd.

Burrell (g) Coltrane (ts) Tommy Flanagan (p) Paul Chambers (b) Jimmy Cobb (d) 3/7/58.

Trane was in his "sheets of sound" period at this time, and he and Burrell make a good pair. FREIGHT TRAIN is an up-tempo blues that is excellent; another blues on the CD is BIG PAUL, which at 14-minutes is just a tad too long. NEVER KNEW and LYRESTO, both taken medium-up, are also very good. Flanagan is his usual impeccable self. Excellent early work by all the musicians involved.

When I got this album off of a used CD shelf one summer it got me hooked. It was one of the first two jazz albums I ever bought, and put me on the road to a life-long love affair with both Burrell and Coltrane. Recorded when both Burrell and Coltrane were on the rise, it is simply beautiful and gives some hint to the greatness to come from Coltrane (it was recorded when he was still playing with Miles Davis). In short, if you buy this album you will not regret it.

Probably the guy that gave just one and a half star -or perhaps 2?- to this record was kidding or he suffer a severe case of deafness. WHAT??? Yes, sir. In fact this is one of the greatest records by Coltraine, specially with "Freightrane", which is the very last piece of jazz I would like to hear in my death bed if I still keep my ears sound and a rest of good taste in such an unpleasant circunstance. Coltraine blows fantastic, absolutely beatiful lines with that mathematical precision of him -high maths, in fact- as if everything he plays was as unavoidable as a law of physics or the sound of God in a jam session. Burrel, Flanagan and all the company are worthy of him and the result is, I insist, a wonderful moment in the history of jazz.

Wonderful. kenny was indeed inspired on the set. must have! must have! for all jazz fans

Not much more needs to be added to the reviews here; it's nice to see that this great recording has been given its due credit. Of special noteworthiness are the originals, two of which are credited to Tommy Flanagan, who appears to have written them especially for Coltrane and Chambers, respectively. Of course, the Burrell / Coltrane duet of "Why Was I Born" is absolutely required listening. But the presence of even those two heavyweights doesn't overshadow the uncanny pairing of Chambers and Cobb. Flanagan is tasteful and brilliant.

Enjoy this one for its uniqueness and spontaneity. Enjoy it again because you're bound to have some friends who've never seen or heard it (you can pretend you've had it for years).

An interesting time with monster players. Approaching the heights of BeBop sophistication. Coltrane would move on to different approaches soon after. It's neat to hear Burrell trading BeBop licks with these guys. A fantastic pair of ears connected to a powerful brain.

A really good record.. definitely one of those that needs to be in your collection !