A Guitarist's Open Invitation to Swing
Kessel invites you into the room where he and his friends simply decide to play together.
This is a session album in the truest sense — Barney Kessel gathered a working band of Los Angeles studio musicians and let them play. The lineup includes Red Mitchell on bass, Claude Williamson on piano, Shelly Manne on drums, and Bud Shank on alto saxophone, among others rotating through the session. Nobody was there to prove anything. They were session players, the kind of musicians who showed up for film work and television gigs during the day, and here they were at night simply making a record together.
Kessel's approach was straightforward — good players, simple arrangements, and room to breathe. The guitar sits front and center, but not as a showpiece. Listen to how he moves through changes with clarity and logic, his knowledge of inversions and voicings giving the music a harmonic intelligence that never sounds theoretical. The tempo is easy, the swing is real, and there's no rush. This is what the title promises: music that feels natural, unforced, like you've wandered into a club and caught them mid-set.
The album works because everyone in that room understood the assignment. Williamson's piano and Manne's drumming create space rather than fill it. Mitchell and Shank settle into their roles. This isn't a masterpiece of historical importance — it's simply a well-played session by first-rate musicians who knew how to support a guitar player. That's enough. Start here if you want to hear Kessel in his element, doing exactly what he was built for.
Who's playing
Red Mitchelldouble bass
Harry Babasinbass
Claude Williamsonpiano
Arnold Rosspiano
Jimmy Rowlespiano
Barney Kesselguitar
Bud Shankalto saxophone
Harold Landtenor saxophone
Pete Candolitrumpet
Buddy Colletteflute
Shelly Mannedrums
Mel Lewisdrums
Larry Bunkervibraphone
Where next?
More by Barney Kessel
Barney Kessel, Volume 3: "To Swing or Not to Swing" 1955
Some Like It Hot 1959
Feeling Free 1969
♫
Modern Jazz Performances From Bizet's Carmen 1959
The musicians on this record
The Drum Sessions 1975
Shelly Manne
plays drums (drum set) here
plays drums (drum set) here
Bob Brookmeyer Featuring John Williams & Red Mitchell 1963
Red Mitchell
plays double bass here
plays double bass here
♫
"If I'm Lucky" 1977
Jimmy Rowles
plays piano here
plays piano here
