(West Coast Jazz, Guitar Jazz) [CD] Barney Kessel Trio - Live in Los Angeles at PJ's Club - 2006, FLAC (tracks), lossless

Artist Biography by Scott Yanow --
One of the finest guitarists to emerge after the death of Charlie Christian, Barney Kessel was a reliable bop soloist throughout his career. He played with a big band fronted by Chico Marx (1943), was fortunate enough to appear in the classic jazz short Jammin' the Blues (1944), and then worked with the big bands of Charlie Barnet (1944-1945) and Artie Shaw (1945); he also recorded with Shaw's Gramercy Five. Kessel became a busy studio musician in Los Angeles, but was always in demand for jazz records. He toured with the Oscar Peterson Trio for one year (1952-1953) and then, starting in 1953, led an impressive series of records for Contemporary that lasted until 1961 (including several with Ray Brown and Shelly Manne in a trio accurately called the Poll Winners). After touring Europe with George Wein's Newport All-Stars (1968), Kessel lived in London for a time (1969-1970). In 1973, he began touring and recording with the Great Guitars, a group also including Herb Ellis and Charlie Byrd. A serious stroke in 1992 put Barney Kessel permanently out of action, but many of his records (which include dates for Onyx, Black Lion, Sonet, and Concord, in addition to many of the Contemporaries) are available, along with several video collections put out by Vestapol. Kessel was diagnosed with inoperable cancer in 2001, which eventually took his life in May of 2004. He was 80 years old.

Includes the complete 1965 album "On Fire" as well as five bonus tracks from 1969 and 1973 performances, featuring, among others, bassist Larry Ridley, drummer Don Lamond and guest stars Kenny Burrell and Grant Green (recorded at Ronnie Scott's Club in London, 1969).
This new release offers you the chance to hear the first time that Barney Kessel was recorded live in a nightclub setting; really 'stretching out' and improvising solos without the confines of a recording studio. A must for collectors!
"Barney Kessel is incredible. He's just amazing... Nobody can play guitar like that." - John Lennon

Personnel
[# 1-7] On Fire
Barney Kessel - guitar
Jerry Scheff - bass
Frank Capp - drums
Recorded live at P.J.'s, Los Angeles, summer 1965
[# 8]
Barney Kessel - guitar
Larry Ridley - bass
Don Lamond - drums
Recorded Denmark, 1969
[# 9-11]
Barney Kessel - guitar
Others unknow
Recorded Swedish TV, 1973
[# 12]
Kenny Burrell - guitar
Grant Green - guitar
Barney Kessel - guitar
Others unknow
Recorded at Ronnie Scott's club, London, 1969