Blues: The Common Ground Kenny Burrell Artist

When it comes to {|Kenny Burrell|}, a title like {|Blues -- The Common Ground|} speaks volumes. His approach always keeps in mind the connection of {|jazz|} to the {|blues|}, infusing his guitar with a soulful, {|hard bop|} edge. Recorded in 1967 and... Read more

When it comes to {|Kenny Burrell|}, a title like {|Blues -- The Common Ground|} speaks volumes. His approach always keeps in mind the connection of {|jazz|} to the {|blues|}, infusing his guitar with a soulful, {|hard bop|} edge. Recorded in 1967 and 1968, {|Blues -- The Common Ground|} finds {|Burrell|} backed by lots of brass and wind instruments for most of the album, hardly his usual setting. But his guitar successfully weaves in and out of songs like {|Every Day (I Have the Blues)|} and {|Burning Spear,|} blending with the band and creating a pleasant balance. Much of this works thanks to arranger {|Don Sebesky|}'s tasteful settings. {|Sebesky|} seems to have an instinctive grasp of when to sit on the band and when to let it fly loose. There's the late-night, gentle feel of {|Angel Eyes,|} and the more animated setup on the title cut. The only time this doesn't work is on pieces like {|The Preacher|} and {|See See Rider,|} where the upbeat horns and shrill flutes remind one of a groovy {|soundtrack|} from a bad '60s movie. It's also interesting to note that the album's unusual song choices, like {|Everydays|} by {|Stephen Stills|}, do find common ground in the {|blues|}. There's a beautiful, short solo piece, {|Were You There?,|} and two quartet pieces, {|Sausalito Nights|} and {|Soulful Brothers.|} {|Blues -- The Common Ground|} holds up well, and the 2001 reissue offers {|Burrell|} fans a cleaned-up version of this fine album. ~ Ronnie D. Lankford Jr. Less