Barney Kessel by Cabu

Guitarist universally known for his participation in hundreds of records recorded by the most illustrious artists - from Charlie Parker to Julie London and Oscar Peterson via Ella Fitzgerald , Billie Holiday , Sarah Vaughan and Fred Astaire - Barney Kessel has long represented a genre of jazz guitarist template. He demonstrated immense qualities as an improviser to the highest degree, developing a speech full of invention, superbly articulated and balanced, and delivered with great swing, like his first master, Charlie Christian.

His elegance, both solo and accompaniment, the beautiful voicing of his chords and his talent as an arranger make his personal recordings brought together here precious testimonies to the blossoming of a great talent who knew how to surround with complicit ideals. In this respect, reading the discography has the feel of a Californian elite.