Kenny Burrell: Midnight Blue (Rudy Van Gelder Edition)

Midnight Blue from 1963 is considered one of the most exciting recordings of Kenny Burrell's long and impressive career. With Stanley Turrentine's saxophone infusing every note with a heady excess of soul and Ray Barretto's congas adding a Latin tinge to the blues-oriented music, Burrell heats things up and is heard at his most exciting and extroverted. His soulful playing on songs like "Chitlins Con Carne," "Saturday Night Blues" and "Gee Baby Ain't I Good To You" is so emotional and shows why both B.B. King and Duke Ellington often named Kenny Burrell as their favorite guitarist. This superbly recorded classic belongs in every jazz collection.