Kenny Burrell • The Common Ground

Review by Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr.
When it comes to Kenny Burrell, a title like Blues -- The Common Ground speaks volumes. His approach always keeps in mind the connection of jazz to the blues, infusing his guitar with a soulful, hard bop edge. Recorded in 1967 and 1968, Blues -- The Common Ground finds Burrell backed by lots of brass and wind instruments for most of the album, hardly his usual setting. But his guitar successfully weaves in and out of songs like "Every Day (I Have the Blues)" and "Burning Spear," blending with the band and creating a pleasant balance. Much of this works thanks to arranger Don Sebesky's tasteful settings. Sebesky seems to have an instinctive grasp of when to sit on the band and when to let it fly loose. There's the late-night, gentle feel of "Angel Eyes," and the more animated setup on the title cut. The only time this doesn't work is on pieces like "The Preacher" and "See See Rider," where the upbeat horns and shrill flutes remind one of a "groovy" soundtrack from a bad '60s movie. It's also interesting to note that the album's unusual song choices, like "Everydays" by Stephen Stills, do find common ground in the blues. There's a beautiful, short solo piece, "Were You There?," and two quartet pieces, "Sausalito Nights" and "Soulful Brothers." Blues -- The Common Ground holds up well, and the 2001 reissue offers Burrell fans a cleaned-up version of this fine album.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/blues-the-common-ground-mw0000015010

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Reseña de Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr.
Cuando se trata de Kenny Burrell, un título como Blues -- The Common Ground dice mucho. Su enfoque siempre tiene en cuenta la conexión del jazz con el blues, infundiendo su guitarra con un toque de bop duro y conmovedor. Grabado en 1967 y 1968, Blues -- The Common Ground encuentra a Burrell respaldado por muchos instrumentos de viento y de metal durante la mayor parte del álbum, difícilmente su escenario habitual. Pero su guitarra se entreteje con éxito en canciones como "Every Day (I Have the Blues)" y "Burning Spear", mezclándose con la banda y creando un agradable equilibrio. Mucho de esto funciona gracias a los arreglos de buen gusto del arreglista Don Sebesky. Sebesky parece tener una comprensión instintiva de cuándo sentarse en la banda y cuándo dejarla volar libremente. Está la sensación de "Ojos de Ángel", y la configuración más animada en el corte del título. La única vez que esto no funciona es en piezas como "The Preacher" y "See See Rider", donde los animados cuernos y las estridentes flautas recuerdan una banda sonora "groovy" de una mala película de los 60. También es interesante notar que las inusuales elecciones de canciones del álbum, como "Everydays" de Stephen Stills, encuentran un terreno común en el blues. Hay una hermosa y corta pieza solista, "Were You There?", y dos piezas para cuarteto, "Sausalito Nights" y "Soulful Brothers". Blues -- The Common Ground se mantiene bien, y la reedición de 2001 ofrece a los fans de Burrell una versión depurada de este fino álbum.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/blues-the-common-ground-mw0000015010

 

 

  

Tracks:
1 - Everydays
2 - Every Day (I Have The Blues)
3 - The Preacher
4 - Angel Eyes
5 - The Common Ground
6 - Were You There?
7 - Burning Spear
8 - Wonder Why
9 - Soulful Brothers
10 - See See Rider
11 - Sausalito Nights

Personnel
Kenny Burrell - guitar
Ron Carter - bass
Wayne Andre
Bernie Glow
Ernie Royal
Grady Tate - drums
Don Butterfield - tuba
Paul Faulise - trombone
Jimmy Nottingham - trumpet
Tony Studd
Johnny Pacheco - percussion
Harvey Phillips - tuba
Donald McDonald
Don Sebesky - arranger, conductor

 

 

 

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