Kenny Burrell

Art by Tim Foley

Kenny Burrell

Guitar · born 31 July 1931

▸ Click for Richard Cook Bio

Burrell is on hundreds of records, many of which are among the more famous jazz sessions of the LP era, yet he has never secured the popularity which a guitarist might have expected in a period when its practitioners became as important as saxophonists and pianists. He grew up in Detroit and worked there until a tour with Oscar Peterson minded him to look further afield, and he moved to New York in 1956. His Christian-derived style helped get him a job with Benny Goodman, but thereafter he played in settings which were in the heartland of hard bop, for Prestige, Blue Note and New Jazz. Less a sideman and more a partner with several small-group leaders – especially Jimmy Smith, who was a favourite collaborator – Burrell's easygoing manner fits so snugly and accommodatingly into any jazz groove that he can almost disappear in a band situation, but his solos and rhythm parts are bluesily effective whatever the prevailing conditions. Gil Evans arranged Guitar Forms for him at Verve, which is perhaps the closest Burrell has ever been to a big-time date, but earlier or later records alike are highly enjoyable and only occasionally slip towards noodling. He presided over a wonderful Ellington tribute record, Ellington Is Forever (1975), which blends the feel of a jam session with insuperable mainstream values. He sang on some of his early 60s sessions, and lately has taken to doing so again.

Biography from Richard Cook's Jazz Encyclopedia (2005).

If you'd like more information, check out The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz (2002) or The Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz (2007), both of which are still in print.

◆Outside Links

As leader

  • Kenny Burrell – Introducing Kenny BurrellKenny Burrell – Introducing Kenny Burrell
  • Kenny Burrell – Kenny BurrellKenny Burrell – Kenny Burrell
  • Kenny Burrell – Kenny BurrellKenny Burrell – Kenny Burrell
  • John Jenkins / Kenny Burrell – John Jenkins with Kenny BurrellJohn Jenkins / Kenny Burrell – John Jenkins with Kenny Burrell
  • Kenny Burrell – Blue Lights, Volume OneKenny Burrell – Blue Lights, Volume One
  • Kenny Burrell / Jimmy Raney – 2 GuitarsKenny Burrell / Jimmy Raney – 2 Guitars
  • Kenny Burrell – On View at the Five Spot CafeKenny Burrell – On View at the Five Spot Cafe
  • Kenny Burrell – Blue Lights, Volume TwoKenny Burrell – Blue Lights, Volume Two

Plays on

  • Thad Jones – Detroit-New York JunctionThad Jones – Detroit-New York Junction
  • Billie Holiday – Lady Sings the BluesBillie Holiday – Lady Sings the Blues
  • Frank Wess – North, South, East … WessFrank Wess – North, South, East … Wess
  • Various Artists – Jazz Men DetroitVarious Artists – Jazz Men Detroit
  • Kenny Dorham – ‘Round About Midnight At The Café BohemiaKenny Dorham – ‘Round About Midnight At The Café Bohemia
  • Paul Chambers Sextet – Whims of ChambersPaul Chambers Sextet – Whims of Chambers
  • Paul Chambers – Bass On TopPaul Chambers – Bass On Top
  • Prestige All-Stars – All Night LongPrestige All-Stars – All Night Long
  • Prestige All-Stars – All Day LongPrestige All-Stars – All Day Long
  • Gene Ammons – FunkyGene Ammons – Funky
  • Prestige All-Stars – EarthyPrestige All-Stars – Earthy
  • Gene Ammons – Jammin’ In Hi FiGene Ammons – Jammin’ In Hi Fi
  • Idrees Sulieman / Webster Young / John Coltrane / Bobby Jaspar – Interplay for 2 Trumpets and 2 TenorsIdrees Sulieman / Webster Young / John Coltrane / Bobby Jaspar – Interplay for 2 Trumpets and 2 Tenors
  • Prestige All-Stars – After HoursPrestige All-Stars – After Hours
  • Buck Clayton – Buckin’ the BluesBuck Clayton – Buckin’ the Blues
  • Jimmy Smith – At The Organ, Volume OneJimmy Smith – At The Organ, Volume One
  • Jimmy Smith – At The Organ, Volume TwoJimmy Smith – At The Organ, Volume Two
  • Jimmy Smith – House PartyJimmy Smith – House Party
  • Jimmy Smith – The SermonJimmy Smith – The Sermon

Mentioned in text

  • Jimmy Smith – At The Organ, Volume ThreeJimmy Smith – At The Organ, Volume Three
  • Hank Mobley – Mobley’s MessageHank Mobley – Mobley’s Message
  • Lee Konitz – Inside Hi-FiLee Konitz – Inside Hi-Fi
  • Charles Mingus – East CoastingCharles Mingus – East Coasting
  • Curtis Fuller – The OpenerCurtis Fuller – The Opener
  • Jimmy Raney – AJimmy Raney – A
  • Paul Quinichette – On the Sunny SidePaul Quinichette – On the Sunny Side
  • Curtis Fuller – New TromboneCurtis Fuller – New Trombone
  • Mal Waldron – Mal/2Mal Waldron – Mal/2
  • Red Garland – GroovyRed Garland – Groovy
  • Phil Woods / Gene Quill / Sahib Shihab / Hal Stein – Four AltosPhil Woods / Gene Quill / Sahib Shihab / Hal Stein – Four Altos
  • Art Taylor – Taylor’s WailersArt Taylor – Taylor’s Wailers
  • Paul Chambers – Paul Chambers QuintetPaul Chambers – Paul Chambers Quintet
  • Cliff Jordan – Cliff JordanCliff Jordan – Cliff Jordan
  • Sonny Clark – Dial “S” For SonnySonny Clark – Dial “S” For Sonny
  • Curtis Fuller – Bone & BariCurtis Fuller – Bone & Bari
  • Lee Morgan – City LightsLee Morgan – City Lights
  • John Coltrane – Blue TrainJohn Coltrane – Blue Train
  • Lee Morgan – The CookerLee Morgan – The Cooker
  • Cliff Jordan – Cliff CraftCliff Jordan – Cliff Craft
  • Bennie Green – Back on the SceneBennie Green – Back on the Scene
  • Tommy Flanagan – OverseasTommy Flanagan – Overseas
  • Lou Donaldson with The Three Sounds – LD+3Lou Donaldson with The Three Sounds – LD+3
  • Gene Ammons – Blue GeneGene Ammons – Blue Gene
  • Young Men from Memphis – Down Home ReunionYoung Men from Memphis – Down Home Reunion
  • Freddie Hubbard – Open SesameFreddie Hubbard – Open Sesame
  • Tina Brooks – True BlueTina Brooks – True Blue
  • Curtis Fuller – Curtis Fuller, Volume ThreeCurtis Fuller – Curtis Fuller, Volume Three
  • Various Artists – The Definitive Jazz Scene, Vol. 1Various Artists – The Definitive Jazz Scene, Vol. 1
  • Miles Davis – Bitches BrewMiles Davis – Bitches Brew
  • Miles Davis – Get Up With ItMiles Davis – Get Up With It
  • Jimmy Heath – Picture of HeathJimmy Heath – Picture of Heath
  • Tommy Flanagan – Ballads & BluesTommy Flanagan – Ballads & Blues