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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZKESSEL, Barney(b 17 Oct. '23, Muskogee OK; d 6 May 2004, San Diego CA) Guitar. Worked for Ben Pollock in Chico Marx Orchestra '43; appeared in Gjon Mili's film short Jammin' The Blues '44 with Lester Young; toured with JATP with Oscar Peterson '52-3; much studio work, pop A&R at Verve '57-8; TV and film work including Elvis Presley films. Norman Granz liked Oscar Moore, Nat Cole's guitarist, but when Moore stopped coming in Kessel became Granz's guitarist of choice and he made a great many albums as a sideman, e.g. Billie Holiday's West Coast Granz dates '56-7 with Ben Webster, Harry Edison and Jimmy Rowles. He has published instruction books. Own records began with singles on Atomic '45, a sextet incl. Dodo Marmarosa; Verve quartet LP '53; ten LPs on Contemporary '53-61 incl. reissue of tracks on 10-inch releases: Let's Cook! '57 had Webster on two tracks. LPs on Reprise '62-3 incl. sextet set with Paul Horn, Bud Shank and Victor Feldman, two big-band records; quartet LP On Fire '65 on Emerald aka Slow Burn on Phil Spector label; Guitar Workshop '67 on Saba live from Berlin Festival is shared, with tracks by Jim Hall; trio sets Swinging Easy and Blue Soul '67 on Black Lion, quintet Hair Is Beautiful '68 on Polydor have some tracks on both labels (last has second guitar by Ike Isaacs, b 28 March '23, Akron OH). Back on Contemporary for Feeling Free '69 with Bobby Hutcherson, Elvin Jones, Chuck Domanico on bass. Trio LP Reflections In Rome '69 on Italian RCA had Kessel playing twelve-string and electric as well as his regular guitar. What's New on Mercury and Limehouse Blues on Black Lion were both made in Paris, Barney Kessell Group on Black Lion in London, all '69. Two Way Conversation '73 was a duo on Sonet/Gazell with bassist Red Mitchell; Summertime In Montreux '73 on Black Lion has solo, trio, quartet and quintet tracks. Barney Plays Kessel '75, Soaring and Poor Butterfly '76, Jelly Beans '81 are all on Concord Jazz; quartet Spontaneous Combustion '87 with Monty Alexander is on Contemporary. |