Kenny Burrell And John Coltrane Reviews

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The Kenny Burrell And John Coltrane session was recorded in March 1958. Coltrane was having a busy start to the year: two sets with Gene Ammons, one with Donald Byrd, recorded Milestones with Miles Davis and led the recording of Soultrane. He was indeed nearing the height of his exploratory powers, at this time developing his "sheets of sound" and about to rewrite music history exactly one year later, recording Kind of Blue. Much if this time was also spent working with Paul Chambers and Jimmy Cobb, also at this gig.

The sadly missed choice pianist Tommy Flanagan brought two compositions to the session. Two musical covers made up the numbers, with the last original contributed by guitarist Kenny Burrell.

Born in the early 30's and still busy touring worldwide, Kenny Burrell is one of those great supporting stars that make others look great too, and this explains his popularity in the trade, "overall the greatest guitarist in the world, and he's my favorite." - B.B. King, "the grand master of jazz guitar." - Dizzy Gillespie, "There is no finer guitarist" - George Benson, "that's the sound I'm looking for." - Jimi Hendrix, "a great musician, and his music has helped to make me what I am today." - Stevie Wonder, "one of my Favorite guitarists" - Pat Metheny.

What we get is a hot, on the whole hard-bop date with plenty of interesting dynamics flowing from Coltrane and Burrell as they bounce about each other, unsure how to pitch a fairly traditional guitar line with abstract nuances against a fiery on the edge sax, but generating an amazing chorus when in unison.

It might not be earth shattering, but what a treat to hear any time when Coltrane was honing his chops, developing that amazing technique. Now that's always worth a listen.