Barney Kessel, Vol. 3: To Swing or Not to Swing

• Artist: Barney Kessel
• Rating:
• Release Date: March 28, 1955
• Total Time: 39:57
• Type: Instrumental
• Genre: Jazz

Review

Guitarist Barney Kessel's string of recordings for Contemporary in the 1950s included some of the finest work of his career. The unusual repertoire on this set -- which includes "Louisiana," "Indiana," and "12th Street Rag," along with four Kessel originals and more usual standards -- would by itself make this bop/cool set noteworthy. Add to that a very interesting lineup of players (trumpeter Harry "Sweets" Edison, Georgie Auld or Bill Perkins on tenor, pianist Jimmy Rowles, the rhythm guitar of Al Hendrickson, bassist Red Mitchell, and Shelly Manne or Irv Cottler on drums) and some excellent showcases for Kessel, and the overall result is a CD highly recommended to fans of straight-ahead jazz. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Begin the Blues	Barney Kessel	Barney Kessel	(4:29)
Louisiana	Andy Razaf, Bob Schafer, J.C. Johnson	Barney Kessel	(3:57)
Happy Feeling	Barney Kessel	Barney Kessel	(3:58)
Embraceable You	George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin	Barney Kessel	(3:24)
Wail Street	Barney Kessel	Barney Kessel	(4:25)
(Back Home Again In) Indiana	Ballard MacDonald, James F. Hanley	Barney Kessel	(3:13)
Moten Swing	Bennie Moten, Buster Moten	Barney Kessel	(3:58)
Midnight Sun	Lionel Hampton, Sonny Burke, Johnny Mercer	Barney Kessel	(3:10)
Contemporary Blues	Barney Kessel	Barney Kessel	(4:09)
Don't Blame Me	Dorothy Fields, Jimmy McHugh	Barney Kessel	(2:58)
Twelfth Street Rag	Euday L. Bowman	Barney Kessel	(2:55)

Credits

Red Mitchell (Bass), Harry "Sweets" Edison (Trumpet), Ralph J. Gleason (Liner Notes), William Claxton (Design), William Claxton (Photography), Bill Perkins (Sax (Tenor)), Jimmy Rowles (Piano), Barney Kessel (Guitar), Shelly Manne (Drums), Irving Cottler (Drums), Al Hendrickson (Guitar (Rhythm)), Georgie Auld (Sax (Tenor)), William Claxton (Cover Design)