The Barney KESSEL Story, 1954-1962 – Honey Rock

In the 1950s BARNEY KESSEL was acknowledged as the premier Jazz guitarist in the US, routinely voted #1 in Esquire, Downbeat and Playboy magazine polls.

Famous for his knowledge of chords, inversions and chord-based melodies, he recorded at least one solo LP per year, plus endless sessions and guest appearances.

This compilation is drawn from his seventeen solo albums recorded between 1954 and 1962, largely for the specialist Contemporary label.

Two 'bonus cuts' are included; Julie London's sumptuous 'Cry Me A River' from 1955, which is in essence a Barney Kessel guitar master-tutorial with vocal accompaniment, plus his own unlikely R&R hit, 'Honey Rock', which appeared on the flip of Ricky Nelson's million-selling 'You're My One And Only Love' in 1957.

Kessel would go on to become one of the leading lights in LA's legendary Wrecking Crew, during the 60s, before resuming his love affair with Jazz in the late 70s.

Track Listing

Disc 1

1. SALUTE TO CHARLIE CHRISTIAN
2. BERNARDO
3. LOVE IS HERE TO STAY
4. BARNEY'S BLUES
5. INDIANA
6. CONTEMPORARY BLUES
7. JULIE LONDON - CRY ME A RIVER
8. EASY LIKE
9. APRIL IN PARIS
10. CHEERFUL LITTLE EARFUL
11. BLUES FOR A PLAYBOY
12. CARIOCA
13. TIME REMEMBERED
14 JUST IN TIME
15. JORDU
16. GREEN DOLPHIN STREET
17. EL TIGRE
18. CHEETA'S FOR TWO
19. HONEY ROCK
20. BEE DEEDLE DEE DO
21. CUSTARD PUFF
22. THE MERRY-GO-ROUND BROKE DOWN

Disc 2

1. SWINGIN' THE TOREADOR
2. THE GYPSY'S HIP
3. SWEET SUE
4. SUGAR BLUES
5. SOFT WINDS
6. CRISIS
7. LITTLE SUSIE
8. DOODLIN'
9. LI'L DARLIN'
10. JOY SPRING
11. MISS MEMPHIS
12. A STRING OF PEARLS
13. IT AIN'T NECESSARILY SO
14. TUMBLING TUMBLEWEEDS
15. WHEN JOHNNY COMES MARCHING HOME
16. MY FUNNY VALENTINE
17. SOMETHING FOR CAT
18. THE BIG HEIST