Burrell and Friends Keep It Loose
A casual, after-hours session that rewards patience and rewards fans of understated guitar playing.
By 1957, Kenny Burrell had already established himself as one of the more quietly assured guitarists working in jazz — not flashy, not loud, just consistently good. Earthy (1957) is a Prestige all-stars date, which means it has that familiar Prestige feel: a group of capable musicians brought together relatively informally, recorded without a lot of fuss, and released with Burrell's name on the front even though nobody here was really treating it like his solo showcase. That context matters, because if you go in expecting a tightly constructed guitar album, you might be puzzled. If you go in expecting a loose, collaborative session with some good blowing, you'll be fine.
The album earns its title in the best way. Nothing here is slick or overproduced. The rhythm section keeps things grounded, and Burrell plays with the kind of relaxed confidence that suits the setting perfectly. He isn't trying to dominate every track. He comps thoughtfully, solos cleanly, and generally sounds like a guy who's enjoying the company of the other musicians in the room. That's not a backhanded compliment — that kind of selflessness is actually hard to pull off on a nominally leader-billed record.
This isn't Burrell's most essential album. If you're new to him, something more focused on his own vision would be a better starting point. But for anyone who already likes his playing, Earthy is a satisfying, low-key listen that shows how well he functioned in a collaborative environment. Prestige sessions from this era can feel throwaway, but this one has enough personality to justify its existence. It's a solid record made by good musicians having a decent night, and sometimes that's exactly what you want.
Who's playing
Teddy Kotickbass
Mal Waldronpiano
Kenny Burrellguitar
Al Cohntenor saxophone
Hal McKusickalto saxophone
Art Farmertrumpet
Ed Thigpendrums
Where next?
More by Kenny Burrell
Introducing Kenny Burrell 1956
Midnight Blue 1963
Kenny Burrell & John Coltrane 1963
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Jazzmen: Detroit 1956
The musicians on this record
Jazz Alive! A Night at the Half Note 1959
Al Cohn
plays tenor saxophone here
plays tenor saxophone here
Farmer's Market 1958
Art Farmer
plays trumpet here
plays trumpet here
Wheelin’ & Dealin’ 1958
Mal Waldron
plays piano here
plays piano here
