It's been nearly two generations since jazz
guitarist Kenny Burrell's tribute to pioneering electric guitarist Charlie
Christian and "The King of Swing" Benny Goodman, A Generation Ago
Today, was released. The long-out-of-print album has been revived and is now,
for the first time in the U.S., available digitally and on CD with its original
cover, marking the first time this homage has been available in its original
form since being released half a century ago in 1967. The album includes new
liner notes by noted jazz journalist Kirk Silsbee. Order and stream A
Generation Ago
Recorded at
several sessions during 1966-67 with altoist Phil Woods, bassist Ron Carter and
drummer Grady Tate, A Generation Ago Today features Burrell and his all-star quintet
performing swing classics that Christian recorded during 1939-41 with the Benny
Goodman Sextet. Rather than merely copying Christian's solos, Burrell plays
creatively within the swing format, coming up with fresh statements of his own
that add to the legacy of the timeless music. "As Long As I Live,"
which adds vibraphonist Mike Mainieri to the group, is given a Brazilian tinge
that hints at bossa-nova. "Poor Butterfly" begins as a ballad for
Burrell's guitar before the second half features Woods playing heated
doubletime lines. The most extended selection, "Stompin' At The
Savoy," is a joyful jam with plenty of interplay between Burrell and Woods
and a fine solo by Carter. Among the other highlights are "Rose
Room," "A Smooth One," and the cooking uptempo blues
"Wholly Cats;" the latter has a guest appearance by pianist Richard
Wyands.
Burrell, a
major guitarist since he recorded with Dizzy Gillespie in the early 1950s, came
from the world of bebop yet was versatile enough to lead one of the first guitar-bass-drums
"power trio" on the 1959 Blue Note album, A Night At The Vanguard, to
record with Gil Evans arrangements on Guitar Forms, and to be an important part
of soul jazz jams with organist Jimmy Smith and tenor-saxophonist Stanley Turrentine.
The years
1966 and 67 were a very interesting time in jazz history. High-energy
avant-garde jazz (sometimes called "The New Thing"), which was best
typified by the explorative flights of John Coltrane and Ornette Coleman, was
having a strong influence. Soul jazz, grooving and soulful music that was open
to the rhythms of R&B and funk, was quite popular. Straightahead hard bop
and Dixieland also had their audiences. On A Generation Ago Today, Burrell
defied the musical trends of the time. Instead he recorded a change of pace, a
timeless exploration of swing tunes. The project gave him an opportunity to pay
homage to his early influence Charlie Christian and to make his own statements
in a small-group swing setting.
At 86,
Burrell is still active today and he has long been an important educator at
UCLA. But even in his long career of accomplishments, A Generation Ago Today is
one of the milestones.
A Generation Ago Today Tracklisting
1. As Long
As I Live
2. Poor
Butterfly
3. Stompin'
At The Savoy
4. I
Surrender Dear
5. Rose
Room
6. If I Had
You
7. A Smooth
One
8. Wholly
Cats
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