Kenny Burrell is an American modern jazz guitarist, composer, bandleader and educator, born in 1931 and still alive at the age of 94 as these notes are being written. Making his recording debut in 1951, he became a valued and versatile sideman, recording and performing prolifically for over 65 years through to 2015, in a huge variety of recording settings. He also recorded and performed leading his own bands, and quite early in his career recorded a number of sessions under his own name for Alfred Lion’s Blue Note label, from which came his first albums, all taking advantage of the opportunity for extended performances on the new LP format. 

This 21- track 2-CD set comprises titles from those sessions for Blue Note during his early years as a bandleader, and features all the titles from the Blue Note albums “Introducing Kenny Burrell”, “Kenny Burrell” and “Blue Lights Vol. 1” and most of the titles from the album “Blue Lights Vol. 2”. Musicians in his groups include tenor saxophonist Frank Foster, pianists Tommy Flanagan, Duke Jordan and Bobby Timmons, bassists Oscar Pettiford, Paul Chambers and Sam Jones, drummers Shadow Wilson, Kenny Clarke and Art Blakey, trumpeter Louis Smith, tenor saxophonists Frank Foster, Junior Cook and Tina Brooks and percussionist Candido Camero. 

He is a stylish and fluent improviser and these early titles are an enjoyable showcase for his distinctive approach to jazz guitar.

CD 1
1. PHINUPI Kenny Burrell 
2. NOW SEE HOW YOU ARE Kenny Burrell 
3. HOW ABOUT YOU Kenny Burrell 
4. CHEETA  Kenny Burrell 
5. MOTEN SWING  Kenny Burrell 
Rec. New York, March 12, 1956    Frank Foster (ts) Tommy Flanagan (p) Kenny Burrell (g) Oscar Pettiford (b) Shadow Wilson (d)
6. MEXICO CITY Kenny Burrell 
Rec. ‘live’ at “Café Bohemia” N.Y.  May 1956
Frank Foster (ts) Tommy Flanagan (p) Kenny Burrell (g) Oscar Pettiford (b) Shadow Wilson (d)
From the album “Kenny Burrell” (Blue Note BLP1543)
7. GET HAPPY Kenny Burrell 
8. FUGUE 'N' BLUES  Kenny Burrell 
9. TAKEELA Kenny Burrell 
10. DELILAH Kenny Burrell 
Rec. Hackensack, NJ, May 29, 1956  Tommy Flanagan (p) Kenny Burrell (g) Paul Chambers (b) Kenny Clarke (d) Candido Camero (cga)
11. BLUES FOR SKEETER Kenny Burrell 
12. THIS TIME THE DREAM'S ON ME Kenny Burrell 
13. RHYTHMORAMA  Kenny Burrell
Rec. Hackensack, NJ, May 30 1956  Tommy Flanagan (p) Kenny Burrell (g) Paul Chambers (b) Kenny Clarke (d) Candido Camero (cga)
From the album “Introducing Kenny Burrell” (Blue Note BLP1523)

CD 2
1. WEAVER OF DREAMS Kenny Burrell 
From the album “Introducing Kenny Burrell” (Blue Note BLP1523)
2. BUT NOT FOR ME  Kenny Burrell 
From the album “Kenny Burrell” (Blue Note BLP1543)
Rec. Hackensack, NJ, May 30 1956  Tommy Flanagan (p) Kenny Burrell (g) Paul Chambers (b) Kenny Clarke (d) Candido Camero (cga)
3. SCOTCH BLUES Kenny Burrell 
4. YES BABY Kenny Burrell 
5. THE MAN I LOVE Kenny Burrell 
Rec. New York, May 14, 1958 (1)     Louis Smith (tp) Junior Cook (ts) Tina Brooks (ts) Duke Jordan (p) Kenny Burrell (g) Sam Jones (b) Art Blakey (d)
6. AUTUMN IN NEW YORK  Kenny Burrell 
7. CARAVAN Kenny Burrell 
8. CHUCKIN'  Kenny Burrell 
9. ROCK SALT Kenny Burrell
Rec. New York, May 14, 1958 (2)    Louis Smith (tp) Junior Cook (ts) Tina Brooks (ts) Bobby Timmons (p) Kenny Burrell (g) Sam Jones (b) Art Blakey (d)
From the albums “Blue Light Vols 1 & 2 (Blue Note BLP1596 & 1597)