Barney Kessel (October 17, 1923 – May 6, 2004) was an American

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a m ...

guitarist born in Muskogee, Oklahoma. Known in particular for his knowledge of chords and inversions and chord-based melodies, he was a member of many prominent jazz groups as well as a "first call" guitarist for studio, film, and television recording sessions. Kessel was a member of the group of

session musicians Session musicians, studio musicians, or backing musicians are musicians hired to perform in recording sessions or live performances. The term sideman is also used in the case of live performances, such as accompanying a recording artist on a t ...

informally known as the Wrecking Crew.

Biography

Kessel was born in Muskogee, Oklahoma in 1923. Kessel's father was an immigrant from Hungary who owned a shoe shop. His only formal musical study was three months of guitar lessons at the age of 12. He began his career as a teenager touring with local dance bands. When he was 16, he started playing with the Oklahoma A&M band, Hal Price & the Varsitonians. The band members nicknamed him "Fruitcake" because he practiced up to 16 hours a day. Kessel gained attention because of his youth and being the only white musician playing in all African American band at black clubs. In the early 1940s, he moved to Los Angeles, where for one year he was a member of the Chico Marx big band. He appeared in the film ''

Jammin' the Blues ''Jammin' the Blues'' is a 1944 American short film made by Gjon Mili and Norman Granz in which a number of prominent jazz musicians re-create the jam-session atmosphere of nightclubs and after-hours spots. It features Lester Young, Red Callen ...

'', which featured

Lester Young Lester Willis Young (August 27, 1909 – March 15, 1959), nicknamed "Pres" or "Prez", was an American jazz tenor saxophonist and occasional clarinetist. Coming to prominence while a member of Count Basie's orchestra, Young was one of the most ...

. Soon after, he played in the bands of

Charlie Barnet Charles Daly Barnet (October 26, 1913 – September 4, 1991) was an American jazz saxophonist, composer, and bandleader. His major recordings were "Skyliner", " Cherokee", "The Wrong Idea", "Scotch and Soda", "In a Mizz", and "Southland Shuffl ...

and

Artie Shaw Artie Shaw (born Arthur Jacob Arshawsky; May 23, 1910 – December 30, 2004) was an American clarinetist, composer, bandleader, actor and author of both fiction and non-fiction. Widely regarded as "one of jazz's finest clarinetists", Shaw led ...

. During the day, he worked as a

studio musician Session musicians, studio musicians, or backing musicians are musicians hired to perform in recording sessions or live performances. The term sideman is also used in the case of live performances, such as accompanying a recording artist on a t ...

and at night played jazz in clubs. In 1947, he recorded with

Charlie Parker Charles Parker Jr. (August 29, 1920 – March 12, 1955), nicknamed "Bird" or "Yardbird", was an American jazz saxophonist, band leader and composer. Parker was a highly influential soloist and leading figure in the development of bebop, a form ...

. He worked in

Jazz at the Philharmonic Jazz at the Philharmonic, or JATP (1944–1983), was the title of a series of jazz concerts, tours and recordings produced by Norman Granz. Over the years, "Jazz at the Philharmonic" featured many of the era's preeminent musicians, including Lou ...

and for one year in the early 1950s he was a member of the

Oscar Peterson Oscar Emmanuel Peterson (August 15, 1925 – December 23, 2007) was a Canadian virtuoso jazz pianist and composer. Considered one of the greatest jazz pianists of all time, Peterson released more than 200 recordings, won seven Grammy Awards ...

trio. After leaving the trio, he recorded several solo albums for

Contemporary Contemporary history, in English-language historiography, is a subset of modern history that describes the historical period from approximately 1945 to the present. Contemporary history is either a subset of the late modern period, or it is o ...

. He recorded a series of albums with Ray Brown and

Shelly Manne Sheldon "Shelly" Manne (June 11, 1920 – September 26, 1984) was an American jazz drummer. Most frequently associated with West Coast jazz, he was known for his versatility and also played in a number of other styles, including Dixieland, sw ...

as ''The Poll Winners'' because the three of them often won polls conducted by ''

Metronome A metronome, from ancient Greek μέτρον (''métron'', "measure") and νομός (nomós, "custom", "melody") is a device that produces an audible click or other sound at a regular interval that can be set by the user, typically in beats pe ...

'' and '' DownBeat'' magazines. He was the guitarist on the album ''

Julie Is Her Name ''Julie Is Her Name'' is the first LP album by Julie London, released by Liberty Records in December, 1955, under catalog numbers LRP-3006, in monaural form. It was subsequently reprocessed to produce a stereophonic album, and this stereophonic ve ...

'' (1955) by Julie London, which includes the standard " Cry Me a River", selling a million copies and demonstrated Kessel's chordal approach to guitar. During the 1960s, Kessel worked for

Columbia Pictures Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. is an American film production studio that is a member of the Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group, a division of Sony Pictures Entertainment, which is one of the Big Five studios and a subsidiary of the mu ...

and was a member of a band of session musicians known as The Wrecking Crew. At one point, after a two and a half hour session to record a one-chord song, " The Beat Goes On," Kessel is reported to have stood up and proclaimed, "Never have so many played so little for so much." He recorded with pop acts such as The Monkees and The Beach Boys and with jazz musicians Sonny Rollins and

Art Tatum Arthur Tatum Jr. (, October 13, 1909 – November 5, 1956) was an American jazz pianist who is widely regarded as one of the greatest in his field. From early in his career, Tatum's technical ability was regarded by fellow musicians as extraord ...

. Kessel eventually left studio work to concentrate on his jazz career both onstage and on records. Along with solo work, he formed the ensemble Great Guitars with Charlie Byrd and Herb Ellis. Kessel was rated the No. 1 guitarist in '' Esquire'', ''DownBeat'', and ''

Playboy ''Playboy'' is an American men's Lifestyle magazine, lifestyle and entertainment magazine, formerly in print and currently online. It was founded in Chicago in 1953, by Hugh Hefner and his associates, and funded in part by a $1,000 loan from H ...

'' magazine polls between 1947 and 1960. From 1961 to 1974,

Gibson Guitars Gibson may refer to: People * Gibson (surname) Businesses * Gibson Brands, Inc., an American manufacturer of guitars, other musical instruments, and audio equipment * Gibson Technology, and English automotive and motorsport company based * G ...

manufactured the Barney Kessel artist signature guitars in Standard and Custom models.

Personal life

Kessel was married to Gail Genovia Farmer in the 50s and 60s, and she is the mother of Kessel's only children, Dan Kessel and David Kessel. He was then married to Betty Jane (BJ) Baker for 16 years. The couple divorced in 1980. His third marriage to Joanne (Jo) Kessel lasted 10 years, and he was married to his fourth wife, Phyllis Kessel, for 12 years. Kessel's sons Dan Kessel (died Feb 2021) and David Kessel became record producers and session musicians, working with

Phil Spector Harvey Phillip Spector (born Harvey Philip Spector; December 26, 1939January 16, 2021) was an American record producer and songwriter, best known for his innovative recording practices and entrepreneurship in the 1960s, followed decades later by ...

John Lennon John Winston Ono Lennon (born John Winston Lennon; 9 October 19408 December 1980) was an English singer, songwriter, musician and peace activist who achieved worldwide fame as founder, co-songwriter, co-lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of ...

, Cher,

Leonard Cohen Leonard Norman Cohen (September 21, 1934November 7, 2016) was a Canadian singer-songwriter, poet and novelist. His work explored religion, politics, isolation, depression, sexuality, loss, death, and romantic relationships. He was inducted in ...

, The Ramones, Blondie, The Go-Go's and more.

Death

Kessel was in poor health after suffering a stroke in 1992. He died from a brain tumor at his home in

San Diego, California San Diego ( , ; ) is a city on the Pacific Ocean coast of Southern California located immediately adjacent to the Mexico–United States border. With a 2020 population of 1,386,932, it is the eighth most populous city in the United Stat ...

, on May 6, 2004, at the age of 80.

Discography

As leader

* ''Barney Kessel'' (

, 1954) * '' To Swing or Not to Swing'' (Contemporary, 1955) * ''

Kessel Plays Standards ''Kessel Plays Standards'' (subtitled ''Barney Kessel Volume 2'') is an album by guitarist Barney Kessel released on the Contemporary label and featuring eight tracks originally released on the ''Barney Kessel Volume 2'' 10-inch album which were r ...

'' (Contemporary, 1956) * ''

Easy Like ''Easy Like, Volume 1'' is an album by jazz guitarist Barney Kessel that was released by Contemporary Records in 1956. Eight songs were released on the 10-inch album ''Barney Kessel'' which were recorded in 1953, while other songs were recorded i ...

'' (Contemporary, 1956) * ''

Music to Listen to Barney Kessel By ''Music to Listen to Barney Kessel By'' is an album by guitarist Barney Kessel recorded at sessions in 1956 and released on the Contemporary Records, Contemporary label.

'' (Contemporary, 1957) * ''

The Poll Winners ''The Poll Winners'' is an album by jazz guitarist Barney Kessel with drummer Shelly Manne and bassist Ray Brown that was recorded in 1957 and released by Contemporary Records.

'' with Shelly Manne, Ray Brown (Contemporary, 1957) * '' The Poll Winners Ride Again!'' with Shelly Manne, Ray Brown (Contemporary, 1958) * '' Modern Jazz Performances from Bizet's Opera Carmen'' (Contemporary, 1959) * '' Some Like It Hot'' (Contemporary, 1959) * '' Poll Winners Three!'' with Shelly Manne, Ray Brown (Contemporary, 1960) * '' Exploring the Scene!'' with Shelly Manne, Ray Brown (Contemporary, 1960) * ''Bossa Nova Plus Big Band'' (

Reprise In music, a reprise ( , ; from the verb 'to resume') is the repetition or reiteration of the opening material later in a composition as occurs in the recapitulation of sonata form, though—originally in the 18th century—was simply any repe ...

, 1961) * ''El Tigre'' with Harold Land (Charlie Parker, 1962) * '' Let's Cook!'' (Contemporary, 1962) * ''Breakfast At Tiffany's'' (Reprise, 1962) * '' Barney Kessel's Swingin' Party'' (Contemporary, 1963) * ''Contemporary Latin Rhythms'' (Reprise, 1963) * ''On Fire'' (Emerald, 1965) * ''Kessel's Kit'' ( RCA Victor, 1969) * ''Reflections in Rome'' (RCA Victor, 1969) * ''Hair Is Beautiful'' (

Atlantic The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's five oceans, with an area of about . It covers approximately 20% of Earth's surface and about 29% of its water surface area. It is known to separate the " Old World" of Africa, Europe an ...

, 1969) * '' Feeling Free'' (Contemporary, 1969) * ''What's New... Barney Kessel?'' ( Mercury, 1969) * ''Guitarra'' (RCA Camden, 1970) * ''Swinging Easy!'' (

Black Lion Black Lion, Black Lions, or Blacklions may refer to: Businesses and organisations * Black Lion, Hammersmith, a London pub * Black Lion, Kilburn, a London pub * Black Lion Records, a British jazz record company * Black Lions Films, associated wit ...

, 1971) * ''I Remember Django'' with Stephane Grappelli (Black Lion, 1971) * ''Limehouse Blues'' with Stephane Grappelli (Freedom, 1972) * ''Summertime in Montreux'' (Black Lion, 1973) * ''Easy Moments'' with Carlos Pes (Gemelli, 1973) * ''Two Way Conversation'' with Red Mitchell (Sonet, 1974) * ''Barney (& Friends) Plays Kessel'' (

Concord Jazz Concord Jazz is a record company and label founded in 1973 by Carl Jefferson, the former owner of Jefferson Motors Lincoln Mercury dealership in Concord, California. The label was named after the city in the East San Francisco Bay area, and the j ...

, 1975) * ''Just Friends'' (Sonet, 1975) * ''Blue Soul'' (Black Lion, 1975) * ''Great Guitars'' with Charlie Byrd, Herb Ellis (Concord Jazz, 1975) * ''The Poll Winners: Straight Ahead'' with Ray Brown, Shelly Manne (Contemporary, 1975) * ''Poor Butterfly'' with Herb Ellis (Concord Jazz, 1977) * ''Soaring'' (Concord Jazz, 1977) * ''Live at Sometime'' (Trio, 1977) * ''A Tribute to the Great Hollywood Stars'' with Junko Mine (Trio, 1977) * ''By Myself'' (Victor, 1977) * ''Great Guitars at the Winery'' with Charlie Byrd, Herb Ellis (Concord Jazz, 1980) * ''Solo'' (Concord, 1983) * ''Great Guitars at Charlie's Georgetown'' (Concord Jazz, 1983) * ''Spontaneous Combustion'' with Monty Alexander (Contemporary, 1987) * ''Red Hot and Blues'' (Contemporary, 1988) * ''Autumn Leaves'' (Black Lion, 1989) * ''Great Guitars Live'' with Charlie Byrd, Herb Ellis (Concord 2001) * ''Live at the Jazz Mill 1954'' (Modern Harmonic, 2016) * ''Live at the Jazz Mill 1954 Vol. 2'' (Modern Harmonic, 2018)

As sideman

With

Benny Carter Bennett Lester Carter (August 8, 1907 – July 12, 2003) was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, trumpeter, composer, arranger, and bandleader. With Johnny Hodges, he was a pioneer on the alto saxophone. From the beginning of his career ...

* '' Alone Together'' ( Norgran, 1955) * '' Cosmopolite'' (Norgran, 1956) * ''

Jazz Giant ''Jazz Giant'' is a studio album by jazz pianist Bud Powell, released on Norgran in 1950, featuring two sessions that Powell recorded for Norman Granz in 1949 and 1950. The album was remastered and re-released on CD in 2001 by Verve as a Verv ...

'' (Contemporary, 1958) * '' Aspects'' (

United Artists United Artists Corporation (UA), currently doing business as United Artists Digital Studios, is an American digital production company. Founded in 1919 by D. W. Griffith, Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford, and Douglas Fairbanks, the stud ...

, 1959) With

The Coasters The Coasters are an American rhythm and blues/rock and roll vocal group who had a string of hits in the late 1950s. Beginning with " Searchin'" and " Young Blood" in 1957, their most memorable songs were written by the songwriting and producin ...

* ''

Riot in Cell Block Number 9 "Riot in Cell Block #9" is a R&B song composed by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller in 1954. The song was first recorded by The Robins the same year. That recording was one of the first R&B hits to use sound effects and employed a Muddy Waters sto ...

'' (

Spark Records Spark Records was a record label started by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller around 1954 in Los Angeles, California. Artists released on Spark Records included Willy & Ruth, The Sly Fox, Ervin "Big Boy" Groves, and The Robins. Leiber and Stoller even ...

, 1954) * ''

One Kiss Led to Another "One Kiss Led to Another" is a song written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller and performed by The Coasters. The song reached #11 on the R&B chart and #73 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 in 1956. The song appeared on their 1957 album, ''The Coasters ...

'' (

Atco Atco or ATCO may refer to: Businesses * ATCO, a Canadian diversified company involved in manufacturing, utilities, energy and technologies ** ATCO Electric, a subsidiary of the above company * Atco (British mower company), a mower manufacturing ...

, 1956) * ''

Down in Mexico "Down in Mexico" is the debut single by the Coasters, released in 1956. The song was written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller and appears on the 1957 album, ''The Coasters''. It reached No. 8 on the R&B chart in 1956. This song is about a person, ...

'' (Atco, 1956) * '' Young Blood'' (Atco, 1957) * ''

Searchin' "Searchin'" is a song written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller specifically for the Coasters. Atco Records released it as a single in March 1957, which topped the R&B Chart for twelve weeks. It also reached number three on the ''Billboard'' sing ...

'' (Atco, 1957) With

Buddy DeFranco Boniface Ferdinand Leonard "Buddy" DeFranco (February 17, 1923 – December 24, 2014) was an Italian-American jazz clarinetist. In addition to his work as a bandleader, DeFranco led the Glenn Miller Orchestra for almost a decade in the 1960s and ...

* ''Generalissimo'' (

Verve Verve may refer to: Music * The Verve, an English rock band * ''The Verve E.P.'', a 1992 EP by The Verve * ''Verve'' (R. Stevie Moore album) * Verve Records, an American jazz record label Businesses * Verve Coffee Roasters, an American coffee ho ...

, 1959) * ''Live Date'' (Verve, 1959) * ''Bravura'' (Verve, 1959) * ''Wailers'' (Verve, 1960) With

Harry Edison Harry "Sweets" Edison (October 10, 1915 – July 27, 1999) was an American jazz trumpeter and a member of the Count Basie Orchestra. His most important contribution was as a Hollywood studio musician, whose muted trumpet can be heard backi ...

* ''

Sweets Candy, also called sweets (British English) or lollies (Australian English, New Zealand English), is a confection that features sugar as a principal ingredient. The category, called ''sugar confectionery'', encompasses any sweet confection, i ...

'' (

Clef A clef (from French: 'key') is a musical symbol used to indicate which notes are represented by the lines and spaces on a musical stave. Placing a clef on a stave assigns a particular pitch to one of the five lines, which defines the pitc ...

, 1956) * ''

Gee Baby, Ain't I Good to You "Gee, Baby, Ain't I Good to You" is a 1929 song written by Andy Razaf and Don Redman. It was recorded by the Redman-led McKinney's Cotton Pickers on Victor on November 5, 1929 as "Gee, Ain't I Good to You." King Cole Trio recording Nat King C ...

'' (Verve, 1957) With

Sonny & Cher Sonny & Cher were an American pop and entertainment duo in the 1960s and 1970s, made up of husband and wife Sonny Bono and Cher. The couple started their career in the mid-1960s as R&B backing singers for record producer Phil Spector. The pair f ...

* ''

Look at Us ''Look at Us'' is the debut album by American pop duo Sonny & Cher, released in 1965 by Atco Records. The album reached number two on the ''Billboard'' 200 and was certified gold. Album information Shortly after their single "I Got You Babe" ...

'' (Atco Records, 1965) With

Billie Holiday Billie Holiday (born Eleanora Fagan; April 7, 1915 – July 17, 1959) was an American jazz and swing music singer. Nicknamed "Lady Day" by her friend and music partner, Lester Young, Holiday had an innovative influence on jazz music and pop s ...

* '' Billie Holiday Sings'' (Clef, 1952) * ''

'' (Clef, 1953) * ''

'' (Clef, 1954) * ''

Billie Holiday at JATP ''Billie Holiday at Jazz at the Philharmonic'' (MG C-169) is a live album by jazz singer Billie Holiday, originally recorded on February 12, 1945 and October 3, 1946 at the Jazz at the Philharmonic concert at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, ...

'' (Clef, 1954) * ''

Music for Torching ''Music for Torching'' is a 1999 novel by American writer A. M. Homes. It is about a dysfunctional suburban family in the contemporary United States. The book deals with issues including sex, infidelity, social consciousness, and school violence ...

'' (Clef, 1956) * ''

Velvet Mood ''Velvet Mood: Songs by Billie Holiday'' is an album by jazz singer Billie Holiday, released in 1956 on Clef Records. The music was recorded over the course of two sessions in Los Angeles, two days apart, which had also resulted in all the materi ...

'' (Clef, 1956) * '' Lady Sings the Blues'' (Clef, 1956) * '' Body and Soul'' (Verve, 1957) * ''

Songs for Distingué Lovers ''Songs for Distingué Lovers'' is an LP album, album by Vocal jazz, jazz singer Billie Holiday, released in 1958 in music, 1958 on Verve Records. It was originally available in both Monaural, mono (catalogue number MGV 8257) and stereo (catalog n ...

'' (Verve, 1957) * ''

All or Nothing at All "All or Nothing at All" is a song composed in 1939 by Arthur Altman, with lyrics by Jack Lawrence. Frank Sinatra recording Frank Sinatra's August 31, 1939 recording of the song, accompanied by Harry James and his Orchestra was a huge hit in 194 ...

'' (Verve, 1958) With Julie London * ''

'' (1955) With

Anita O'Day Anita Belle Colton (October 18, 1919 – November 23, 2006), known professionally as Anita O'Day, was an American jazz singer and self proclaimed “song stylist” widely admired for her sense of rhythm and dynamics, and her early big band app ...

* '' This Is Anita'' (Verve, 1956) * ''

Pick Yourself Up with Anita O'Day ''Pick Yourself Up with Anita O'Day'' is an album by Anita O'Day that was released in 1957. O'Day sings with the Buddy Bregman orchestra and with Harry "Sweets" Edison. Track listing Personnel * Anita O'Day – vocals * Conte Candoli – trum ...

'' (Verve, 1957) * '' Anita Sings the Winners'' (Verve, 1958) * ''

Anita O'Day Swings Cole Porter with Billy May ''Anita O'Day Swings Cole Porter with Billy May'' is a 1959 studio album by Anita O'Day, of songs written by Cole Porter arranged by Billy May. O'Day and May recorded another Anita O'Day and Billy May Swing Rodgers and Hart, album dedicated to a ...

'' (Verve, 1959) * '' Trav'lin' Light'' (Verve, 1961) With

Shorty Rogers Milton "Shorty" Rogers (born Milton Rajonsky; April 14, 1924 – November 7, 1994) was an American jazz musician, one of the principal creators of West Coast jazz. He played trumpet and flugelhorn and was in demand for his skills as an arrang ...

* '' Martians Come Back!'' (Atlantic, 1956) * ''

Way Up There ''Way Up There'' is an album by American jazz trumpeter, composer and arranger Shorty Rogers, released on the Atlantic label in 1957.Chances Are It Swings ''Chances Are It Swings'' is an album by American jazz trumpeter and arranger Shorty Rogers performing compositions by Robert Allen which was released on the RCA Victor label in 1959.The Wizard of Oz and Other Harold Arlen Songs ''The Wizard of Oz and Other Harold Arlen Songs'' is an album by American jazz trumpeter and arranger Shorty Rogers performing songs composed by Harold Arlen including several from '' The Wizard of Oz''. The album was issued by RCA Victor in 1959 ...

'' (RCA Victor, 1959) With

Pete Rugolo Pietro "Pete" Rugolo (December 25, 1915 – October 16, 2011) was an American jazz composer, arranger and record producer. Life and career Rugolo was born in San Piero Patti, Sicily. His family emigrated to the United States in 1920 and settle ...

* '' Out on a Limb'' ( EmArcy, 1956) * '' An Adventure in Sound: Reeds in Hi-Fi'' (Mercury, 1958) * '' An Adventure in Sound: Brass in Hi-Fi'' (Mercury, 1958) With Cher * ''

All I Really Want to Do "All I Really Want to Do" is a song written by Bob Dylan and featured on his Tom Wilson- produced 1964 album, ''Another Side of Bob Dylan''. It is arguably one of the most popular songs that Dylan wrote in the period immediately after he abandon ...

'' ( EMI Records, 1965) With others *

Georgie Auld Georgie Auld (May 19, 1919 – January 8, 1990) was a jazz tenor saxophonist, clarinetist, and bandleader. Early years Auld was born John Altwerger in Toronto, Canada, and moved to Brooklyn, New York, in 1929. Before the family left Canada, Au ...

, ''

In the Land of Hi-Fi with Georgie Auld and His Orchestra ''In the Land of Hi-Fi with Georgie Auld and His Orchestra'' is an album by American jazz saxophonist and bandleader Georgie Auld featuring tracks recorded in 1955 and released on the EmArcy label.Louis Bellson Louie Bellson (born Luigi Paulino Alfredo Francesco Antonio Balassoni, July 6, 1924 – February 14, 2009), often seen in sources as Louis Bellson, although he himself preferred the spelling Louie, was an American jazz drummer. He was a composer, ...

, '' Skin Deep'' (Norgran, 1953) * Chet Baker, '' Albert's House'' (Beverly Hills, 1969) *

Buddy Collette William Marcel "Buddy" Collette (August 6, 1921 – September 19, 2010) was an American jazz flutist, saxophonist, and clarinetist. He was a founding member of the Chico Hamilton Quintet. Early life William Marcel Collette was born in L ...

, ''

Man of Many Parts ''Man of Many Parts'' is an album by multi-instrumentalist and composer Buddy Collette recorded at sessions in 1956 and released on the Contemporary label.

'' (Contemporary, 1956) * Sam Cooke, '' Night Beat'' (RCA Victor, 1963) * Sam Cooke, '' Ain't That Good News'' (

RCA The RCA Corporation was a major American electronics company, which was founded as the Radio Corporation of America in 1919. It was initially a patent trust owned by General Electric (GE), Westinghouse, AT&T Corporation and United Fruit Comp ...

, 1964) *

Sonny Criss William "Sonny" Criss (23 October 1927 – 19 November 1977) was an American jazz musician. An alto saxophonist of prominence during the bebop era of jazz, he was one of many players influenced by Charlie Parker. Biography William Criss wa ...

, ''Go Man'' ( Imperial, 1956) *

Dion DiMucci Dion Francis DiMucci (born July 18, 1939), better known simply as Dion, is an American singer, songwriter and guitarist. His music has incorporated elements of doo-wop, pop, rock, R&B, folk and blues. Initially as the lead singer of Dion and t ...

, '' Born to Be with You'' (Collectables, 1975) *

Roy Eldridge David Roy Eldridge (January 30, 1911 – February 26, 1989), nicknamed "Little Jazz", was an American jazz trumpeter. His sophisticated use of harmony, including the use of tritone substitutions, his virtuosic solos exhibiting a departure from ...

, ''

Dale's Wail ''Dale's Wail'' is an album by American jazz trumpeter Roy Eldridge recorded in 1953 and originally released on the Clef label.

'' (Clef, 1953) *

Ella Fitzgerald Ella Jane Fitzgerald (April 25, 1917June 15, 1996) was an American jazz singer, sometimes referred to as the "First Lady of Song", "Queen of Jazz", and "Lady Ella". She was noted for her purity of tone, impeccable diction, phrasing, timing, in ...

, ''

Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Cole Porter Songbook ''Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Cole Porter Song Book'' is a 1956 studio double album by American jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald, accompanied by a studio orchestra conducted and arranged by Buddy Bregman, focusing on the songs of Cole Porter. Background ...

'' (Verve, 1956) *

Wardell Gray Wardell Gray (February 13, 1921 – May 25, 1955) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist who straddled the swing and bebop periods. Biography Early years Gray was born in Oklahoma City, the youngest of four children. He spent his early chil ...

Dexter Gordon Dexter Gordon (February 27, 1923 – April 25, 1990) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist, composer, bandleader, and actor. He was among the most influential early bebop musicians, which included other greats such as Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gi ...

, Sonny Criss, ''Jazz Concert West Coast'' ( Savoy, 1956) *

Hampton Hawes Hampton Barnett Hawes Jr. (November 13, 1928 – May 22, 1977) was an American jazz pianist. He was the author of the memoir ''Raise Up Off Me'', which won the Deems-Taylor Award for music writing in 1975. Early life Hampton Hawes was born on ...

, ''

Four! ''Four!'' is a 1958 album by Hampton Hawes, originally released on the Contemporary Records, Contemporary label and reissued in 1991 by Original Jazz Classics. Reception AllMusic's Scott Yanow gives the album five stars and states that "Pianist ...

'' (Contemporary, 1958) *

Woody Herman Woodrow Charles Herman (May 16, 1913 – October 29, 1987) was an American jazz clarinetist, saxophonist, singer, and big band leader. Leading groups called "The Herd", Herman came to prominence in the late 1930s and was active until his dea ...

, '' Songs for Hip Lovers'' (Verve, 1957) * Milt Jackson, '' Ballads & Blues'' (Atlantic, 1956) *

Gene Krupa Eugene Bertram Krupa (January 15, 1909 – October 16, 1973), known as Gene Krupa, was an American jazz drummer, bandleader and composer who performed with energy and showmanship. His drum solo on Benny Goodman's 1937 recording of " Sing, Sing, ...

and

Buddy Rich Bernard "Buddy" Rich (September 30, 1917 – April 2, 1987) was an American jazz drummer, songwriter, conductor, and bandleader. He is considered one of the most influential drummers of all time. Rich was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, ...

, '' The Drum Battle'' (Verve, 1960) *

Oliver Nelson Oliver Edward Nelson (June 4, 1932 – October 28, 1975) was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, arranger, composer, and bandleader. His 1961 Impulse! album ''The Blues and the Abstract Truth'' (1961) is regarded as one of the most signifi ...

, '' Soulful Brass'' (

Impulse! Impulse! Records (occasionally styled as "¡mpulse! Records" and "¡!") is an American jazz record company and label established by Creed Taylor in 1960. John Coltrane was among Impulse!'s earliest signings. Thanks to consistent sales and positiv ...

, 1968) * Art Pepper and

Zoot Sims John Haley "Zoot" Sims (October 29, 1925 – March 23, 1985) was an American jazz saxophonist, playing mainly tenor but also alto (and, later, soprano) saxophone. He first gained attention in the "Four Brothers" sax section of Woody Herman's big ...

, '' Art 'n' Zoot'' (

Pablo Pablo is a Spanish form of the name Paul. People *Pablo Alborán, Spanish singer *Pablo Aimar, Argentine footballer * Pablo Armero, Colombian footballer * Pablo Bartholomew, Indian photojournalist * Pablo Brandán, Argentine footballer * Pablo Br ...

, 1995) *

, ''The Oscar Peterson Quartet'' (Verve, 1955) * Oscar Peterson, ''Romance: The Vocal Styling of Oscar Peterson'' (Verve, 1956) * Sonny Rollins, ''

Sonny Rollins and the Contemporary Leaders ''Sonny Rollins and the Contemporary Leaders'' is a 1958 album by jazz saxophonist Sonny Rollins, recorded for the Contemporary label, featuring performances by Rollins with Hampton Hawes, Barney Kessel, Leroy Vinnegar, and Shelly Manne with Vi ...

'' (Contemporary, 1958) *

Evie Sands Evie Sands (born July 18, 1946) is an American singer, songwriter and musician. Sands' music career spans more than 50 years. She began her career as a teenager in the mid-1960s. After a rocky start, she eventually found chart success in 1969, be ...

, ''Any Way That You Want Me'' (Rev-Ola, 1970) *

Ike & Tina Turner Ike & Tina Turner were an American musical duo consisting of husband and wife Ike Turner and Tina Turner. From 1960 to 1976, they performed live as the Ike & Tina Turner Revue, supported by Ike Turner's band the Kings of Rhythm and backing voca ...

, ''

River Deep – Mountain High "River Deep – Mountain High" is a song by Ike & Tina Turner released as the title track to their 1966 studio album on Philles Records. Produced by Phil Spector and written by Spector, Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich. ''Rolling Stone'' ranke ...

'' (A&M, 1966) * Joe Williams, ''With Love'' (Temponic, 1972)

Bibliography

* * * * * *

References

External links

* * * * *
Barney Kessel Interview
NAMM Oral History Library (1999)
Barney Kessel Signature Phrases & Analysis
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kessel, Barney 1923 births 2004 deaths 20th-century American guitarists American jazz guitarists American music arrangers American session musicians Bebop guitarists Deaths from cancer in California Concord Records artists Contemporary Records artists Cool jazz guitarists Deaths from brain cancer in the United States Jazz musicians from Oklahoma Jewish American musicians People from Muskogee, Oklahoma The Wrecking Crew (music) members West Coast jazz guitarists Jewish jazz musicians American male guitarists Mainstream jazz guitarists 20th-century American male musicians American male jazz musicians Great Guitars (band) members Black Lion Records artists Sonet Records artists Savoy Records artists RCA Records artists Oscar Peterson Trio members