Special Requests (And Other Favorites)

大御所ギタリスト、ケニー・バレルの2013年ニュー・アルバム。ウェスト・コースト・ジャズのメッカ〈Catalina's〉でのステージを収録した本作は、リクエストの多かった楽曲、バレル自身のお気に入り曲やオリジナル楽曲など、力みの無いリラックスした味わい深いジャズのスタンダードを楽しめる好内容のライヴ盤。メンバーは、フスト・アルマリオ、トム・ラニア、トニー・デュマス、クレイトン・キャメロンのクインテット編成。

Recorded live at Catalina's in Hollywood in November 2012, these pleasant reworkings are special requests by fans of the legendary jazz guitarist Kenny Burrell. Consider this release as the second part of the 2010 live date Be Yourself: Live at Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola, also on High Note. Alongside Burrell on these performances is an awesome set of musicians who provide a delicate balance between their post-bop technical excellence and improvisational skills: Justo Almario on sax and flute, Tom Ranier on piano, Tony Dumas on bass, and Clayton Cameron on drums. On these 11 tracks, Burrell pays tribute to Duke Ellington on "Sunset and the Mockingbird," "The Feeling of Jazz," and "In a Sentimental Mood," plus great renditions of "Generation," Benny Golson's "Killer Joe," the Freddie Hubbard composition "Little Sunflower," the standards "Make Someone Happy," "Bye Bye Blackbird," and "The Summer Knows," J.J. Johnson's "Lament," and Burrell's classic "Chitlins con Carne." Fans of Burrell's early sessions for Blue Note should be aware that the guitarist was in fine form in 2012, and listeners will definitely find some pleasant moments here. ~ Al Campbell