MY NORTHERN SKIES

Hello, welcome to the My Northern Skies website, home of my two weekly radio shows, which alternate here each week, The Jazz File every Tuesday (8pm) and Flick the Dust Off every Friday (10am).

Featured Album | 398

Barney Kessel, Shelly Mann, Ray Brown | Poll Winners | Contemporary C 3535 | 1957

Barney Kessel, Shelly Mann and Ray Brown would go on to make five albums together, this being the first, where the trio make an exciting sound, to say there are no horns nor piano to worry about throughout, just one fine guitar player accompanied by a first rate rhythm section. As with many album cover shots at the time, one has to stand back and scratch one’s head, though I’m sure it all made perfect sense at the time. The photo does however illustrate the sun-drenched West Coast sensibility, in much the same way as the Beach Boys would do throughout the following decade with their album covers. So with sun and suits, together with swirling barber shot tubes, Kessel, Mann and Brown wade into the contemporary cool jazz scene with some confidence. The title may allude to the fact that these musicians were winning certain accolades at the time, which is unsurprising, as each of them are masters of their craft. Kessel’s guitar style is notable not only for its highly melodic flair, but also for its command over rhythm, making it all the more compatible with the fine rhythm section of Brown’s confident bass runs and Mann’s seasoned drum patterns. With some rather spiffing performances of Duke Jordan’s “Jordu”, Duke Ellington’s “Satin Doll”, and a fine arrangement of “On Green Dolphin Street”, the trio made their mark before the decade was through. The Rock generation that followed ten years later probably owes more to jazz than we tend to appreciate. What was Cream, Taste, James Gang, ZZ Top and Nirvana (to name but a few) if not a guitar, bass and drums combo? You’re Welcome.

Playlist:

Blue Train – John Coltrane (Blue Train)

Jordu – Barney Kessel, Shelly Manne & Ray Brown (The Poll Winners)

Love for Sale – Cannonball Adderley (Somethin’ Else)

Spain – Return to Forever (Light as a Feather)

Honeysuckle Rose – Erroll Garner (Body & Soul)

Mr B – John Scofield (Memories of Home)

Mean to Me – Barney Kessel, Shelly Manne & Ray Brown (The Poll Winners)

Fearless Dreamer – Loren Stillman (Time and Again)