Kenny's Sound – Kenny Burrell

Kenny's Sound took a while to be heard. Kenny Burrell first recorded it around 1950 on an obscure 78 with his local band in Detroit, the Four Sharps—also the first recording of pianist Tommy Flanagan! Kenny recorded it again in 1957 at the session for his third Prestige album, "Blue Moods" (featuring Flanagan, Elvin Jones, Cecil Payne and Doug Watkins) but this track was never issued.

The version from the 1963 "Midnight Blue" session was unissued until the CD release in 1986. The first widely available recording of Kenny's Sound came later in 1963, when Kenny recorded it with Jimmy Smith on the Verve album "Blue Bash."

It's interesting to hear how Kenny Burrell translates his melody, which goes between fourths-based A sections and a simple, diatonic B section, onto the guitar in this otherwise chordless context. On the A sections, he sets an understated atmosphere, playing the melody entirely in unison with tenor saxophonist Stanley Turrentine (plus a few octaves at the end of each A) atop a sparse rhythm section. However, Burrell explodes into the B sections, transforming the melody into a chordal salvo alongside Turrentine.

Burrell's solo on this song, which has "rhythm changes" A sections and a simple, descending bridge, is a hallmark showcase of his characteristic tastefulness and rich tone, seamlessly weaving between bluesy stabs and bebop threading in a manner that reflects a mastery of both.

With no piano present, Burrell also lays down some grooving and driving comping behind Turrentine's solo, making frequent use of bluesy double stops and repeating rhythms to lock in the band beneath Turrentine's preaching.