Barney Kessel - Barney Kessel Plays Carmen (1959)

  • 02 Jul, 00:05
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Artist:
Title: Barney Kessel Plays Carmen
Year Of Release: 1959
Label: OJC[OJCCD-269-2]
Genre: Jazz, Bop
Quality: FLAC (tracks + .cue,log,scans)
Total Time: 43:34
Total Size: 232 MB(+3%)
WebSite:

Tracklist

1 Swingin' the Toreador
2 Pad On the Edge of Town
3 If You Dig Me (after Bizet)
4 Free As a Bird (after Bizet)
5 Viva el Toro! (after Bizet)
6 Flowersville (after Bizet)
7 Carmen's Cool (after Bizet)
8 Like, There's No Place Like (after Bizet)
9 Gypsy's Hip, The (after Bizet)
Barney Kessel  - Barney Kessel Plays Carmen (1959)

personnel :

Barney Kessel - guitar
Justin Gordon - tenor saxophone, flute, alto flute
Chuck Gentry - baritone saxophone
Joe Mondragon - bass
Jules Jacob - clarinet, oboe
Ray Linn - trumpet
Bill Smith - clarinet, bass clarinet
Harry Betts - trombone
Pete Terry - bass clarinet, bassoon
Buddy Collette - flute, alto flute, clarinet
Justin Gordon - flute, alto flute, tenor saxophone
Herb Geller - alto saxophone
Andre Previn - piano
Victor Feldman - vibraphone
Shelly Manne - drums

All songs on KESSEL PLAYS CARMEN were adapted by Barney Kessel from the original score of "Carmen" by Georges Bizet. Digitally remastered by Phil De Lancie (1986, Fantasy Studios, Berkeley, California). This is an unusual set that has been reissued on CD. During an era when many Broadway and movie scores were recorded in jazz settings (thanks in part to the success of Shelly Manne's best-selling My Fair Lady album), guitarist Barney Kessel chose to interpret nine melodies from Bizet's opera Carmen. The guitarist is heard in three different settings: joined by five woodwinds and a rhythm section; with five jazz horns (including altoist Herb Geller and trumpeter Ray Linn) and a trio; and with vibraphonist Victor Feldman in a quintet. Kessel also wrote the arrangements, which pay tribute to the melodies while not being shy of swinging the themes. An interesting if not essential project. ~ Scott Yanow