Kenny Burrell – Kenny Burrell LP (OJC Series)

Kenny Burrell – Kenny Burrell

The respected Detroit-born guitarist, who would later become a professor at UCLA's Herb Alpert School of Music, released his sixth album (his second self-titled release) in 1957. Here, Burrell - already in full command of his flowing, straightforward style - collaborates with Cecil Payne (baritone saxophone), frequent collaborator Tommy Flanagan (piano), Doug Watkins (bass) and Elvin Jones (drums).
At just over 36 minutes, it's a tight, upbeat set. The entire album is an inviting excursion, but if you let yourself get into it, you may find yourself drawn to the silky-smooth "Don't Cry Baby" and the slyly sprightly "Drum Boogie" for the full effect.

Original Jazz Classics was launched in 1982 under Fantasy Records and revived in 2023 with a focus on audiophile reissues of landmark jazz recordings. With over 850 reissued titles to date from the seminal catalogs of Prestige, Riverside, Galaxy, Contemporary, Jazzland, Milestone and others, OJC remains a trusted source for jazz discovery and rediscovery.

Since its reintroduction, the series has garnered much praise from critics, with Record Collector Magazine declaring, "The sound is out of this world." Tracking Angle described the OJC reissue of Thelonious Monk's "Monk's Music" as "remarkable" and "the best-sounding pressing" of the album to date. Absolute Sound raved about the stereo reissue of Mal Waldron's "The Quest", noting that it "sounds fabulous - full-bodied, immediate and crackling with energy". Jazzwise praised the "unparalleled" quality of the series, describing the reissues as 'exceptional' and with "stunningly eloquent" sound. Qobuz highlighted the remastering, raving that it "breathes vibrant life into the original tapes".

Tracklist:
A1 Don't Cry Baby
A2 Drum Boogie

B1 Strictly Confidential
B2 All Of You
B3 Perception

Label: Concord
Released: 1957/2025