Barney Kessel was a jazz guitarist who is widely regarded as one of the most brilliant and versatile guitarists of the post-war era. Emerging on the scene at the start of the 1940s he enjoyed a parallel career as one of the most in-demand session men in Hollywood, appearing on dozens of hit records and movie soundtracks.

He was greatly influenced by Charlie Christian and became a fixture on bebop sessions through into the 1950s, working with the likes of Charlie Parker and Oscar Peterson and on the Jazz At The Philharmonic shows. A decade later he was a member of the celebrated band of session musicians known as The Wrecking Crew.

This 43-track set comprises selected titles he recorded leading his own bands on albums for the Contemporary label during the middle years of the 1950s. It features tracks culled from his albums Barney Kesssel, Barney Kessel Vol.2, Easy Like, Barney Kessel Plays Standards, To Swing Or Not To Swing, Music To Listen To Barney Kessel By and Poll Winners. It includes recordings with Bud Shank, Harry Babasin, Shelly Manne, Harry ‘Sweets’ Edison, Jimmy Rowles, Al Hendrickson, Andre Previn, Buddy Collette and Ray Brown.

Ranging across standards and his own compositions, this fascinating 2CD collection is an enlightening showcase for a great guitarist best–known for his work with other bands, but is here featured as a leader.

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