1957 · Album
2 Guitars
Recorded 1957 · Prestige · Produced by Not specified in provided information
Two Voices, One Conversation
A straightforward guitar dialogue that arrived quietly and stayed rewarding.
When Kenny Burrell and Jimmy Raney sat down to record 2 Guitars (1957), they were making something deliberately modest — just two electric guitars, no rhythm section, no horn players to carry the melody. It was a format that could have felt thin or overly clever, but what emerged was genuinely useful to listen to. The two players work around each other rather than competing, and the session has a conversational ease that you don't always hear on small-group records.
This wasn't a breakout moment for either guitarist. Burrell was already known for his studio work and his ability to adapt to any context, while Raney had been a respected session player for years. The album didn't spark immediate commercial excitement or critical fanfare, which is honest enough — a record of two guitars trading solos was never going to move a lot of copies in 1957. But it found its place quietly among musicians and listeners who valued clean playing and genuine interplay over flash. The record works because both players listen carefully to what the other is doing instead of just waiting for their turn.
If you're coming to Burrell's work for the first time, start elsewhere — try Midnight Blue (1963) or his earlier work with larger ensembles, where his tone and harmonic sensibility have more room to breathe. This record is better for listeners already familiar with his voice, or for those interested in how two accomplished players can make something engaging out of very simple ingredients. It's the kind of album that doesn't demand much but rewards attention when you give it.
Who's playing
Doug Watkinsdouble bass
Mal Waldronpiano
Kenny Burrellguitar
Jimmy Raneyguitar
Jackie McLeanalto saxophone
Donald Byrdtrumpet
Art Taylordrums
Where next?
More by Kenny Burrell
Introducing Kenny Burrell 1956
Midnight Blue 1963
Kenny Burrell & John Coltrane 1963
♫
Jazzmen: Detroit 1956
The musicians on this record
Byrd in Flight 1960
Donald Byrd
plays trumpet here
plays trumpet here
4, 5 and 6 1956
Jackie McLean
plays alto saxophone here
plays alto saxophone here
Wheelin’ & Dealin’ 1958
Mal Waldron
plays piano here
plays piano here
