Carmen (Barney Kessel album)

1959 studio album by Barney Kessel

Carmen

Studio album by

Barney Kessel

Released| 1959
Recorded| December 19 & 22, 1958
Studio| Contemporary Records Studio, Los Angeles, California
Genre| Jazz
Length| 43:30
Label| Contemporary M3563/S7563
Producer| Lester Koenig
Barney Kessel chronology
| The Poll Winners Ride Again!
(1958)  | Carmen
(1959)  | Some Like It Hot
(1959)

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Carmen (full title Modern Jazz Performances from Bizet's Carmen and also referred to as Kessel Plays Carmen) is an album by guitarist Barney Kessel performing adaptations of pieces from Georges Bizet's opera Carmen recorded in late 1958 and released on the Contemporary label.[1]

## Reception[edit]

Professional ratingsReview scores

Source| Rating
AllMusic| [2]

The AllMusic review by Scott Yanow states: "Kessel also wrote the arrangements, which pay tribute to the melodies while not being shy of swinging the themes. An interesting if not essential project".[2]

## Track listing[edit]

All compositions adapted from Georges Bizet and arranged by Barney Kessel

1. "Swingin' the Toreador" - 5:41
2. "A Pad on the Edge of Town" - 6:42
3. "If You Dig Me" - 4:00
4. "Free as a Bird" - 4:56
5. "Viva el Toro!" - 3:13
6. "Flowersville" - 5:55
7. "Carmen's Cool" - 4:36
8. "Like, There Is No Place Like..." - 3:56
9. "The Gipsy's Hip" - 3:30

## Personnel[edit]

* Barney Kessel - guitar
* Ray Linn \- trumpet (track 9)
* Harry Betts \- trombone (track 9)
* Herb Geller \- alto saxophone (track 9)
* Justin Gordon - flute, alto flute, tenor saxophone (tracks 1, 2, 4-6, 8 & 9)
* Buddy Collette \- clarinet, flute (tracks 1, 2, 4-6 & 8)
* Jules Jacob - clarinet, oboe (tracks 1, 2, 4-6 & 8)
* Bill Smith \- clarinet, bass clarinet (tracks 1, 2, 4-6 & 8)
* Pete Terry - bass clarinet, bassoon (tracks 1, 2, 4-6 & 8)
* André Previn \- piano
* Victor Feldman \- vibraphone (tracks 3 & 7)
* Joe Mondragon \- bass
* Shelly Manne \- drums

## References[edit]

1. ^ Contemporary Records discography accessed May 25, 2015
2. ^ a b Yanow, Scott. Carmen – Review at AllMusic. Retrieved May 25, 2015.

* v
* t
* e

Barney Kessel

Studio albums|

* Easy Like
* Kessel Plays Standards
* To Swing or Not to Swing
* Music to Listen to Barney Kessel By
* The Poll Winners
* Let's Cook!
* The Poll Winners Ride Again!
* Carmen
* Some Like It Hot
* Poll Winners Three!
* Barney Kessel's Swingin' Party
* Exploring the Scene!
* Workin' Out! with the Barney Kessel Quartet
* Bossa Nova Plus Big Band
* Feeling Free

With Billie Holiday|

* Billie Holiday Sings
* Billie Holiday
* Billie Holiday
* Billie Holiday at JATP
* Music for Torching
* Velvet Mood
* Lady Sings the Blues
* Body and Soul
* Songs for Distingué Lovers
* All or Nothing at All

Signature guitar|

* Gibson Barney Kessel

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