7 Classic Albums

Barney Kessel was a much in demand session guitarist of the 40s-50s jazz bop scene, playing on many dozens of albums, & was a member of the famous 60s Wrecking Crew (fascinating history to look up if you’re not familiar); as band leader, he recorded over 30 albums between ’53-’88. This box set features 7 full albums of his as band leader, spread over 4 discs (so individual albums are not confined to the same disc): Let’s Cook (1957), Kessel Plays Carmen (’58), Some Like it Hot (’59), Exploring the Scene (4th release of 5 from 1960 recording sessions as trio The Poll Winners, released in ’63), Barney Kessel’s Swingin’ Party (’60, live in studio w/audience), Workin’ Out (’61, as the Barney Kessel Quartet), & Bossa Nova (’61, as Barney Kessel plus Big Band, mis-identified as a ’62 release).Sound (w/headphones) is great, although album #1 plays at a slightly higher volume level (not too bad that you’ve got to run for the volume control). All tracks are in gorgeous stereo. Disc 1 = 70 minutes/ Windows Media Player mislabels all tracks; D-2 = 73/ WMP correct for all tracks; D-3 = 75/ WMP all wrong; D-4 = 57/ WMP correct except many tracks misspelled.Discs are held securely by plastic teeth in a double hinged jewel case. Do not expect much from the 8 page booklet (6 inner pages are devoted to a VERY extensive list of this label’s jazz box set releases) – the front you see on this Amazon page, the back shows a nearly complete list of personnel for each album (misses a few people for Carmen, Swingin’ & Bossa – can find info on-line if needed). Back of jewel case lists album/ date/ song title & length. No song composers listed anywhere.Considering what some of these individual albums go for on line, this set is an amazing value.

Love the music. Barney definitely had the chops. I am not well versed in a lot of jazz music. I am not familiar with a lot the standard tunes that make up the idiom. That being said, the label, "Real Gone Jazz" and who ever put this package together, should be sentenced to life in front of a firing squad!The track info doesn't match up at all. The track list on the package says one thing, the meta data on each track of the CD says something completely different. CD 3 says tracks 3 is "So What". Apparently that was the attitude of the mentally impaired individual who authored the disc because that is definitely not what music is on the CD for that track. Ditto for trk 4. Misty? I think not. CD 3 is all messed up as is CD 1. They don't even say what the last few tracks are on each disc. I guess it wasn't important enough to fill in all the info, even if it was wrong.I mention this because I do not know a lot of jazz material - but I do know "Misty" and "So What". I can also tell when the "title' and the music don't seem to go together. Which is all here in huge doses. I give the music high ratings. Unfortunately if someone asks me "what song is that?" all I can say is, "hell if I know". A real shame. The music, the musicians, and the customers deserved better treatment and a better product.

And I've heard alot of them.Ok, so I have the AVID 'First Four Albums' and I have listened to it probably 50+ times. Great Introduction to Barney.I received this box from Marvelo last week and right from the first cd, the fidelity was Master Tape Quality! No Noise Reduction pumping noise, no smothering of the Treble. Very Very well done from this label 'Real Gone Jazz'. The music itself is great swinging Jazz. Kessel Played with some really good Jazz people and it's the kind of Jazz that is not boring, alot of different styles. So I heartily recommend this set-it is literally a steal!!Gerard Masters

Back when I studied jazz in college, we hear over and over from our instructors; Barney Kessel, Herb Ellis, Joe Pass. That was back when there was no such thing as cassettes. These are just as fresh today as they were when I first listened to them.

Some of Kessels best discs covering years from 1958 till 1962. You get greats like Shelly Mann on drums and my all time favorite vibes player Victor Feldman. Another gem by Real Gone. Original recording's include Lets Cook...Kessel Plays Carmen...The Poll Winners...Some Like it Hot ( Art Pepper on Clarinet ) ...Barney Kessels Swingin' Party...Workin' Out...and Bossa Nova.

Barney doesn't really have a lot of "Pizzazz," He is a technically gifted player but he just doesn't have a lot of personality compared to a Johnny Pizzerelli or say Gabor Zabo. He's mellow like Charlie Bird. Maybe buying a 7 CD set wasn't the way to go. It gets too boring.

This is a great set of 7 of Barney's finest albums. Outstanding recording quality. Great value. Quit wasting time reading this review. Join Prime and order 2 day shipping immediatley. You will not be disapointed. Jazz at its best!

Barney was one of the greats. A lot of music for the price on this purchase.

Kessel was one of the pioneers of electric jazz guitar and certainly one of its greatest exponents. I had already bought some of his earlier work and this set nicely covers the next stage in his career. I have not listened to all of these yet, but the reality is that at this price, the set is unbeatable

These RealGone remastered CDs are super quality and value.The only gripe that I and many others have is,no original sleeve notes are supplied.These notes are of great interest to most buyers.So please will you have them posted on a special web site ? Past and prospective buyers will be able to view and enjoy them.Yours Harry [baldeloks] of Beccles.

some fine guitar work

Real gone regala un'altra gemma per gli appassionati di chitarra jazz. Il mitico Barney in sette album al prezzo di mezzo cd. Solo per la rarità di alcuni titoli va acquistato subito , io li ho tutti,o quasi , collezionati in 20 anni di viaggi e pellegrinaggi nei negozi di dischi e ogni volta che ne trovavo uno era subito grande festa, anche se all'epoca costavano molto di più . Amazon ha reso possibile ottenerne alcuni rari ma a volte i prezzi subiscono delle variazioni improvvise Approfittate finché siete in.tempo.

Wunderbare Gitarrenmusik von und mit Barney Kessel, der in verschiedenen Genresunterwegs ist. Hier kommt eine sehr schöne, repräsentative 7 CD Box mit Highlights ausseinem vielfältigen Schaffenwerk. Auf Augenhöhe mit Joe Pass oder Django Reinhardt.