Obit: Barney Kessel

Subject: Obit: Barney Kessel
From: Mark Clark
Date: 09 May 04 - 05:05 PM

I'm surprised to find that no thread has been started lamenting the death of the great Barney Kessel. No serious guitarist or jazz fan can help but be saddened by his passing. A stroke in 1992 had ended his performing career and his recent battle with a brain tumor had been going on for a while.

He was a gifted and lyrical jazz player who took up where Charlie Christian left off. His career spanned nearly six decades.

So long Barney.

      - Mark

Subject: RE: Obit: Barney Kessel
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 09 May 04 - 05:13 PM

Great player. Great character. I saw him a number of times with the "Great Guitars". He was a real wit. Popular music fans will know his playing from Julie London's famous version of " Cry me a River".

Subject: RE: Obit: Barney Kessel
From: fat B****rd
Date: 09 May 04 - 05:43 PM

Sad news indeed. Apart from his numerous great Jazz performances he was also house guitarist at Atlantic records in the 50s,but I have to say "Cry Me A River" is a beautiuful piece of playing. RIP MR. K.

Subject: RE: Obit: Barney Kessel
From: Mr Red
Date: 09 May 04 - 05:49 PM

I had forgotten I saw him in Birmingham - mind you I have an excuse - I was with the ex-wife at the time.

RIP old fella.

Subject: RE: Obit: Barney Kessel
From: Anglo
Date: 09 May 04 - 08:29 PM

He was indeed one of the great ones. I hadn't heard of his passing till it was mentioned on TV this morning. Sleep and take thy rest.

Subject: RE: Obit: Barney Kessel
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 09 May 04 - 09:18 PM

I hadn't heard about it either, Mark. When I used to daydream sitting in study hall in highschool, I imagined myself as a jazz guitarist. Barney Kessel was one of the first jazz guitarists I was aware of. From what I remember, he played guitar on Caravan by ralph Marterie, which was a smash hit in March of 1953... the year I graduated from high school. In the 40's, Kessel played with Charlie Parker, Charlie Barnet, Artie Shaw and Benny Goodman. I always liked his style... very lightly swinging. He was never recognized as widely as Charlie Christian (obviously) or Tal Farlow, but he was afive time Downbeat poll winner as best jazz guitarist.

The way the music business works, maybe they'll re-issue some of his old albums, now that he's passed.

Jerry

Subject: RE: Obit: Barney Kessel
From: Bob Hitchcock
Date: 09 May 04 - 11:36 PM

I am sorry to hear of his passing, he was truly one of the great players. His book "The Guitar" is well worth reading if you can find a copy now.

Jerry, some of the old albums have been reissued, I think I might have a few of them floating around here somewhere. I'll let you know.

Bob.

Subject: RE: Obit: Barney Kessel
From: Mudlark
Date: 10 May 04 - 02:24 AM

I'm truly saddened to learn of his death. I saw him often in LA clubs in the 50's...a great guitarist. I still have several of his old 10" lps. Always liked the tune he wrote, "64 Bars on Wilshire." Nice play on words as there were 64 bars along Wilshire Blvd. Makes me wonder if Tal Farlow and Mundell Lowe are still with us.

Subject: RE: Obit: Barney Kessel
From: GUEST
Date: 10 May 04 - 03:26 AM

Tal is certainly gone. It's sad that so many of those jazz guitarists ,born in the 20s, are no longer with us. Wes Montgomery went very early, of course, but Joe Pass, Charlie Byrd and so many other great players are also no longer around.

Subject: RE: Obit: Barney Kessel
From: GUEST,Hugh Jampton
Date: 10 May 04 - 10:56 AM

"The Daily Telegraph" did a superb obit. for BK last week.

Subject: RE: Obit: Barney Kessel
From: Francy
Date: 10 May 04 - 12:06 PM

He was with Oscar Peterson and Ray Brown near the beginnings of the Oscar Peterson Trio....Played with Shelly Manne and many others////

Subject: RE: Obit: Barney Kessel
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 10 May 04 - 12:11 PM

You're right, Bob: There is a ton of stuff by Kessel that's been re-issued.. I just checked Amazon.com.

Jerry

Subject: RE: Obit: Barney Kessel
From: Merritt
Date: 11 May 04 - 12:11 PM

Kessel IMHO had a subtle set of playing skills using rhythm and melody in ways that just grab me. On one of Artie Shaw's Grammercy Five sessions his understated comping and lead work are excellent. I can replay all of those solos in my head not because I'm all that clever but because he knew how to create simple, elegant themes that stick to my worn out synapses.

- Merritt

Subject: RE: Obit: Barney Kessel
From: M.Ted
Date: 11 May 04 - 01:48 PM

My friend and guitar mentor, Uncle Albert, was also a close friend of Barney's, and, we used to go to see him whenever he was in town(San Francisco, late 70's)Uncle Albert had always claimed that he taught Barney to play samba and bossa style, which we were privately skeptical about--Then one day, Barney pointed Al out, and said, "This is the guy that taught me to play Bossa Novas".

Barney had a unique ability make whatever was happening in the contemporary music scene his own--he played fusion and Latin just as well as he played Be-Bop and Swing, which is to say that he was the best.

Subject: RE: Obit: Barney Kessel
From: Lanfranc
Date: 11 May 04 - 06:35 PM

Until this thread, I didn't know Barney Kessel had passed on.

Another of my heroes gone, this mortality business sucks!

RIP, BK, and thanks for the music.

Alan

Subject: RE: Obit: Barney Kessel
From: GUEST,roy lowe
Date: 06 Dec 11 - 07:17 PM

I met Barney when my quartet supported him at the waterworks jazz club about twenty years ago in Birmingham, he had jimbo Richardson on bass and tony mann on drums, great night, like most of the giants he was a really nice guy,so down to earth and friendly and took time out to ask about us, great memories,he was special.

Subject: RE: Obit: Barney Kessel
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 07 Dec 11 - 05:28 AM

Best Barney Kessel quote......

The thing about Hendrix (Jimi) was that he believed in all that stuff...!