Kenny Burrell Midnight Blue ( 180g vinyl LP) (Blue Note Classic Vinyl Series )

Release date: 20-08-2021 (originally released in 1963)

2021 Blue Note reissue Classic Vinyl Series 180g vinyl LP

1963’s Midnight Blue is considered one of the most exciting recordings of Kenny Burrell’s long career. It was a magical occasion that teamed Burrell with the passionate tenor-saxophonist Stanley Turrentine in a pianoless quintet that also includes Ray Barretto on congas. With Turrentine (who is immediately recognizable within two sounds) infusing each note with an excess of soul and Barretto giving the blues-oriented music a Latin tinge, Burrell raises the heat and is heard at his most exhilarating and extroverted.

His soulful playing on such songs as “Chitlins Con Carne,” “Saturday Night Blues” and “Gee Baby Ain’t I Good To You” is so greasy and emotional that it reminds one that both B.B. King and Duke Ellington often cited Kenny Burrell as their favorite guitarist. While Kenny Burrell has recorded scores of albums since this time, Midnight Blue cannot be topped and will always be one of the key recordings that he will be remembered for. This superbly recorded classic needs to be in every jazz collection.

Major Holley Jr., Ray Barretto, Bill English, Kenny Burrell & Stanley Turrentine play on this classic Rudy Van Gelder session!

Tracks:
A1 Chitlins Con Carne
A2 Mule
A3 Soul Lament
A4 Midnight Blue

B1 Wavy Gravy
B2 Gee Baby Ain't I Good To You
B3 Saturday Night Blues

Credits:
Kenny Burrell – guitar
Stanley Turrentine – tenor saxophone (except #3, 4, 6, 9)
Major Holley – bass (except #3)
Bill English – drums (except #3)
Ray Barretto – conga (except #3, 6)