Barney Kessel - Plays for Lovers '2003

Tracks list

	       Playing complex bop changes at a fast tempo was never a problem for
Barney Kessel; few bop experts would disagree that his chops were impeccable,
and it was a sad day for jazz when, in 1992, a major stroke forced him to retire
from music. But when Kessel was still active, he was among bop's finest
guitarists -- and not just because of his ability to play fast. Kessel was also
a superb ballad player, and his romantic side is the focus of Barney Kessel
Plays for Lovers. Assembled in 2003, this ballad-oriented compilation spans
1953-1988. Most of the selections are from the '50s, which were a very
productive decade for the guitarist -- a fact that is illustrated by Kessel's
sensitive, lyrical performances of "Angel Eyes," "Laura," "Embraceable You," and
other standards. There's nothing superficial about Kessel's interpretations of
these songs; emotionally, he digs deep and makes certain that he has something
personal to say (much like Chet Baker on the trumpet or Stan Getz on the tenor
sax). Kessel, to his credit, knew that there was nothing wrong with jazz being
pretty; he realized that jazz could, at times, be pretty and still swing and one
didn't automatically cancel out the other. And that outlook is very much at work
throughout this CD, whether he is embracing "You Go to My Head" and "My Reverie"
in the '50s or "I'm Glad There Is You" in 1988 (which was only four years before
the stroke that ended Kessel's career). Barney Kessel Plays for Lovers isn't the
last word on his ballad playing; nonetheless, this fine CD paints a consistently
appealing picture of the guitarist's romantic side.

Tracks:

01. Embraceable You (3:25)
02. I'm Glad There Is You (5:36)
03. What Is There to Say (3:36)
04. Satin Doll (6:34)
05. My Funny Valentine (4:51)
06. This Guy's in Love with You (5:18)
07. Angel Eyes (4:43)
08. Just in Time (5:01)
09. My Reverie (2:34)
10. Love Is Here to Stay (3:27)
11. Tenderly (3:15)
12. It Could Happen to You (4:26)
13. My Old Flame (3:40)
14. Laura (3:26)
15. You Go to My Head (4:25)
16. I'm Through with Love (3:17) 

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