Customer Reviews

Midnight Blue

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

An absolutely incredible album. Every tune is a perfect blend of a causual, cool, smokey nightclub feel and a profound monument to the blues. The title captures the spirit and sound of this gentle yet intense, carefully-crafted hardbop classic. Buy it, buy it, buy it! You will be addicted to this sound.

This is a perfect marriage of Jazz and Blues music. While some "classic" albums are considered such more because of a single performance or two rather than the whole (i.e. Grant Green's excellent "Idle Moments"), there is not a weak track on this CD...even with the reissiue bonus tracks. Kenny Burrell simply does not play a wasted note, he fills it up in all the right places. The CD flows from the first cut to the last, the whole greater than the fantastic sum of it's parts. This would be a welcome addition to most any CD collection. Perfect for dinner/cocktail parties or headphone listening, music does not get much better than this.

This album is definitely one of my "desert island" favorites. Along with "Kind of Blue" and "Maiden Voyage" this album rates as one of my all time "best" Jazz album. Kenny Burrell's playing is top notch, fantastic improvisation, with a "bluesy" feel. What is really great about Kenny is his ability to stick to the melody and still add his own flavour. He never loses sight of the song, sometime Jazz improv goes too far and the melody gets lost in an artists rendition. This is Kenny's best recording, followed by "Blue Bash" and his playing on Jimmy Smith's album "Midnight Special".

This CD is a must when compiling a Jazz library, right up there with "Kind of Blue".

This recording, and "Midnight Blue" in particular, is the greatest expression of late-night "bluesy" jazz guitar playing I have ever heard in 35 years of listening. Kenny Burrell was, and is, the master of this style. His touch, tone and rhythmic placement of notes -- all are immaculate. He is joined by Stanley Turrentine on tenor, Ray Barretto on congas,Major Holley and Bill English -- a perfect group. Lots of mid-tempos and minor keys. Sometimes I listen to the "Midnight Blue" track over and over. I have transcribed most of it, chords and solo lines -- Fm7, Gm7, Abmaj7, Gm7, etc. It takes me to a different place and time. The recording is magnificent, as if the musicians are in your living room, you are lounging at your table 3 feet away, nursing a Tom Collins . . . It doesn't get any cooler.

Great album, a bit startled when it ended....just too soon. Talented bluesy jazz. (I always look for more rythm in an album so thats why only 4 stars.) put the disc in with 4 others and press shuffle cause ya ain't gonna wow anyone by this disc on it's own. *do buy*

Kenny Burrell's playing combines the most creative chord voicings with rhythmic intensity while never compromising the overallmood of the piece. On Midnight Blue his choice of chords and his melodic playing are so fluid and bluesy in the best sense of the word. Stanley Turrentine's sax blends perfectly with Burrell's guitar to create an irresistible groove. The rhythm section is also outstanding with a special nod to Major Holley on Bass. This is one of my all-time favorites and I highly reccomend it.

You'll never go back to silly, boring, 3-chord blues after hearing what Kenny Burrell can do. None of the songs here are really traditional blues at all, but there is a relaxed bluesy FEEL in these songs. Burrell has the most incredible guitar tone and his note placement is perfect. This music is both relaxed and low-key AND dramatic all at the same time. Listen to Soul Lament and then Midnight Blue and you'll feel it too. He's the best.

As far as jazz guitar on Blue Note records goes, there are two names you must know: Grant Green and Kenny Burrell. And while Grant's discography for Blue Note is humungous, Kenny did much of his recording as a sideman. But the numbers are all irrelevant when you listen to this masterpiece -- seven tunes that reach deep, deep into the blues and achieve that wonderfully lazy, after hours groove.

The performances are all classic, from the Latin groove of "Chitlins con Carne", to the brisk swing of the title track, to the solo guitar of "Soul Lament". Stanley Turrentine's soulful saxophone playing is among his finest, and the bass/drums/conga rhythm section is impeccable at setting up a groove. And the leader provides tasty guitar playing that mixes bebop lines and bluesy feeling perfectly. As far as hearing some classic jazz guitar, Midnight Blue and Grant Green's Idle Moments album are a perfect start.

Kenny Burrell is magic. This CD will take you to another dimension with an intoxicating blend of blues based guitar rhythms, rapid conga and bass beats, and well balanced sax interludes. Forget about your troubles and add Midnight Blue to your collection. You'll look at life from a higher level. Enjoy!!

Wonderful indeed... and worthy of inclusion on anyone's shortlist of the best late night albums ever made. Kenny Burrell's & Stanley Turrentine's superbly cool playing combined with strong blues based melodies and lock-tight backings produce music that completely captures the ambience of a smoky club on a hot summer night. Unobtrusive, unforgettable and packed full of low-key jazz virtuosity at its very best.