The Poll Winners (Remastered) Barney Kessel

• 1 Jordu 03:26
• 2 Satin Doll 06:34
• 3 It Could Happen To You 04:27
• 4 Mean To Me 06:31
• 5 Don't Worry 'Bout Me 04:38
• 6 On Green Dolphin Street 03:59
• 7 You Go To My Head 04:25
• 8 Minor Mood 03:23
• 9 Nagasaki 03:04
• Total Runtime 40:27

Info for The Poll Winners (Remastered)

For many jazz lovers, Barney Kessel (1923-2004) remains the most complete master of the electric guitar in jazz history. In the late 50s he dominated the jazz polls, as did bassist Ray Brown (1926-2002) and drummer Shelly Manne (1920-1984), and the three joined forces as ‘The Poll Winners’, firmly establishing the form of the jazz guitar trio. All four of their classic LPs of the period are now presented in their entirety on Retrospective’s new double album. The 37 tracks spotlight not only Kessel’s phenomenal artistry, but the endlessly subtle interplay between three supremely talented jazz musicians. Enjoy once more this generous helping of West Coast Jazz at its very finest.

"If the picture of three grown men hanging onto giant, colored swirl sticks looks a bit odd, or if the title The Poll Winners seems a bit conceited, the music, nonetheless -- recorded in 1957 -- still sounds great in 2002. Besides, guitarist Barney Kessel, bassist Ray Brown, and drummer Shelly Manne really did win polls in Down Beat, Playboy, and Metronome in 1956, and this is precisely what brought the players together. Here, on their first outing, they interpret nine pieces for 40 lovely minutes of modern jazz. After kicking off with a fine take on Duke Jordan's "Jordu," the group delivers an emotionally warm, six-minute version of "Satin Doll," one the album's highlights. While each player is always fully engaged in this small setting, Kessel's guitar supplies the lead voice. His expressive style has more in common with bluesy players like Kenny Burrell than cool ones like Tal Farlow. This quality leads to sensitive interpretations of melody-filled standards like "On Green Dolphin Street" and "It Could Happen to You." As is traditional in small settings, both Manne and Brown are also given a piece of the action, usually near the end of a tune. The choice of material, the interplay between the three players, and the lead work all meld together beautifully on The Poll Winners, making it a classic guitar album in a small-group setting." (Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr., AMR)

Barney Kessel, guitar
Ray Brown, bass
Shelly Manne, drums

Recorded March 18 & 19, 1957 at Contemporary Records Studio, Los Angeles, California
Produced by Lester Koenig

Digitally remastered

Barney Kessel
(October 17, 1923 – May 6, 2004) was an American jazz guitarist born in Muskogee, Oklahoma, USA. Generally considered to be one of the greatest jazz guitarists of the 20th century, he was noted in particular for his vast knowledge of chords and inversions and chord-based melodies. He was a member of many prominent jazz groups as well as a "first call" guitarist for studio, film, and television recording sessions. Kessel was a member of the group of session musicians known as The Wrecking Crew.

Kessel began his career as a teenager touring with local dance bands before moving on to bands such as that led by Chico Marx. He quickly established himself as a key post-Charlie Christian jazz guitarist. In 1944 he participated in the film Jammin' the Blues, which featured Lester Young, and in 1947 he recorded with Charlie Parker's New Stars on the Relaxin' at Camarillo session for Dial Records. He is featured on the compilation Charlie Parker on Dial. He was rated the #1 guitarist in Esquire, Down Beat, and Playboy magazine polls between 1947 and 1960.

Barney Kessel is known for his innovative work in the guitar trio setting. In the 1950s, he made a series of albums called The Poll Winners with Ray Brown on bass and Shelly Manne on drums. He was also the prominent guitarist on Julie London's definitive recording of "Cry Me a River". Also from the '50s, his three Kessel Plays Standards volumes contain some of his most polished work.

Kessel was also a member of the Oscar Peterson Trio with Ray Brown for a year, leaving in 1953. The guitar chair was called the hardest gig in show business since Peterson often liked to play at breakneck tempos. Herb Ellis took over from Kessel. Kessel also played with Sonny Rollins in the late '50s and can be heard on the Sonny Rollins and the Contemporary Leaders album on songs like "How High the Moon".

A "first call" guitarist at Columbia Pictures, during the 1960s Kessel became one of the most in-demand session guitarists in America, and is considered a key member of the group of first-call session musicians now usually known as The Wrecking Crew. In this capacity he played on hundreds of famous pop recordings including albums and singles by Phil Spector, The Beach Boys, The Monkees and many others. He appeared in an acting part playing a jazz guitarist named "Barney" in one episode of the Perry Mason TV show. He also wrote and arranged the source music, including a jazz version of "Here Comes the Bride", provided by the jazz combo that figured in the story.

In 1961 The Gibson Guitar Corporation introduced The Barney Kessel model guitar onto the market and continued to make them until 1973.

One custom instrument Kessel played was essentially a 12-string guitar neck attached to a mandolin body (similar to Vox's mando guitar), which may have been played on the intro to The Beach Boys' "Wouldn't It Be Nice."

During the 1970s, Kessel presented his seminar 'The Effective Guitarist' in various locations around the world.

Kessel's sons David and Daniel also became session musicians, working with Phil Spector during the 1970s. He was married to B. J. Baker.

On Pete Townshend's 1983 album Scoop, Townshend paid homage to the guitarist with the instrumental song "To Barney Kessel".

Kessel released several solo albums even late into his life.

Kessel died of a brain tumor in San Diego, California. He had been in poor health after suffering a stroke in 1992.

This album contains no booklet.