Musicians: Kenny Burrell, acoustic and electric guitars, leader, vocals on tracks 4,5,8,10. Tom Ranier, piano and keyboards. Gerald Wiggins, piano on tracks 2,8. Herman Riley, saxophone on tracks 9,12 and flute on tracks 3,4,7. Roberto Miranda on bass. Sherman Ferguson on drums.
Review: Throughout his career, Kenny Burrell has amassed 96 of his own recordings as a leader, not to mention hundreds on which he was a backup musician. That career kicked into high gear when he released Midnight Blue 40 years ago. However, only within the past few years, with the release of Lucky So and So--and with a hint during “Dear Ella” on Live at the Blue Note)-- has Burrell’s interest in singing become apparent. His latest release, Blue Muse, combines Burrell’s distinctive voicings, from both his voice and his guitar, for further enjoyment of the highest level of musical quality that he attains in all of his work.
In addition to his assured pitch and warm tone on the guitar, one of the most effective elements that make Burrell’s sound Burrell’s is its melodic nature. And this singing quality, implicit in his guitar work, leads to the outgrowth into his vocal interpretations. Moreover, Burrell seems to sing those tunes with a special emotional relevance, such as his paean to his wife, Katherine, on “Then I Met You,” or the melancholy nature of Duke Ellington’s “Solitude.” Like his guitar playing, Burrell’s voice has a calming effect as he burnished Kenny Dorham’s “Blue Bossa” with a warm glow.
As always, though, Burrell’s legendary guitar style is the primary reason to Blue Muse, which proceeds as if from a song list during an actual nightclub gig. Accompanied by skillful musicians who understand the function of effective accompaniment, Burrell plays with a relaxation that invites leisurely, rather than active, listening, the music insinuating its way into one’s consciousness rather than demanding continuous critical analysis. Pianists Tom Ranier and Gerald Wiggins embellish Burrell’s statements with light accents and cushioning chords. Tunes like “Blue Muse” or “Blue in Green” attain controlled delicacy in unhurried low-key fashion, and yet make a suggestive, elaborate statement from an identifiable emotional perspective, such as wistfulness.
Through understatement and the straightforward regard for the harmonic possibilities of each tune, Burrell continues to infuse listeners with the qualifies of grace and clarity that have distinguished his playing throughout almost 50 years of landmark recordings.
Tracks: "Blue Guitar Blues" is a showcase song for Kenny Burrell and reveals his great stylings.
JazzReview.com
