Kenny Burrell - Midnight Blue (Episode 199)

Story and review of Kenny Burrell's delicious 1963 jazz guitar classic, the bluesy Midnight Blue. 5 out of 5 stars.

[@albrown4589]

I used to have a cassette recording from a BBC Radio show where if I remember rightly Courtney Pine interviewed Kenny about the making of this album . Kenny said that soul Lament was recorded off the cuff as the other musicians had went for a smoke break . I wish I still had a copy of that tape.

[@TenMinuteRecordReviews]

Great story!

[@mymixture965]

Just found a OG mono version and boy does it sound great. My favourite Burrell album and one of the best Jazz guitar albums ever.

[@TenMinuteRecordReviews]

It really is excellent.

[@disrupt19]

Another great one. Can't wait for 200.

[@TenMinuteRecordReviews]

Cheers Mario.

[@mikewebber3693]

Was just spinning this earlier in the week, beautiful record start to finish. Another excellent review Alan, I always learn something from you even with records/artists I'm very familiar with.

[@TenMinuteRecordReviews]

Thanks Mike. It’s fun doing the research and I’m glad it’s appreciated.

[@wege_9398]

Great review, learn a lot…

[@TenMinuteRecordReviews]

Thank you.

[@djjoeykmusic]

Great LP! Awesome job with the review. I love when you do the jazz albums Awesome Have a great day! Cheers

[@TenMinuteRecordReviews]

Thanks Joey. 550 more jazz albums in my collection to go.

[@djjoeykmusic]

@@TenMinuteRecordReviews wonderful Look forward to hearing from you. Keep up the awesome job! Cheers mate

[@1999zrx1100]

I had read that Burrell started out playing the Blues and once he broke into the Jazz scene he had wanted to go back and do a more bluesy album. Maybe I read that on the jacket. Lol

[@vinylarchaeologist]

I appreciate you mentioning Rudy van Gelder’s hard panning (for those who might not know the recording), however the records he cut rarely sounded like that. Due to the weird way he used his limiters in mastering, and other factors too, his records mostly ended up having the channels at least 50% folded-in, i.e. closer to the centre. He knew that when he recorded and accounted for it. So you can‘t blame RVG for other engineers ignoring that.

[@TenMinuteRecordReviews]

Fair comment! And thanks for that.

[@garyrobinson8665]

Great record. Have you heard Blossom Dearies albums Plays Comden and Green and My Gentlemen Friend? I think these two records are phenomenol masterpiece 5 star vocal jazz records. Kenny Burrell plays on both.

[@TenMinuteRecordReviews]

I have not, though while I'm not the biggest fan of vocal jazz I do like Blossom Dearie. Will have to investigate.

[@garyrobinson8665]

@@TenMinuteRecordReviewswell the playing is phenomenol. Her voice is light and doesn't overwhelm everything. All the performers work well together. I think they worked together many times on the club scene. It's proper jazz music. I'm not heavily into vocal jazz but I do also like Beverley Kenney and Julie London.