Customer Reviews
Effortless brilliance - By: David Johnson, 16 Feb 2007 
Hynotic, subtle & the same time wonderfully soulful this record surely sits within the top five of alll time Blue Note releases. It's the ultimate late night session. The consistently wonderfully Kenny Burrell who makes the difficult sound effortlessly simple gives a masterclass in Jazz guitar playing with an endlesss tapestry of smooth licks that melt into the instinctive groove of Stanley Turrentine's sax. It's a partnership made in heaven, they work so languidly off each other on, "Mule" The way Burrell brings in the track on,"Soul lament," with his emotive twanging are classic bars of music. I am also particularly fond of the waltz tempo on,"Wavy Gravy."
This record is wonderfully focussed, Burrell's musical philosophy is stamped alll over the music. The rhythm section do some great work too. On,"Midnight Blue," Ray Barretto's conga which keeps the groove skipping along.
Credit must also go to producer Alfred Lion who alllowed Burrell scope & time to work through the tracks when at the time it was unusual to give the guitar so much exposure.
This record has a unique mood & feel to it that you simply won't find on other records. If you are just starting a Jazz collection make this one of your essential first purchases.
Classic Blue Note - By: , 05 May 2004 If I was asked by someone who had no experience of jazz what album would serve as a good introduction to the music, I would unreservedly recommend Kenny Burrell's 1967 masterpiece "Midnight Blue." This was recorded at a time when the boundaries of the music were being pushed ever further out & the technical aspects were becoming increasingly complex. Whilst these developments were commendable, Burrell simultaneously produced this album that consists of nothing more complicated than either of blues or blues based material such as "Gee Baby, aint I good to you." Of course, in the hands of great jazz musicians, the simple form of the blues offers unlimited possibilities & "Midnight Blues" is , perhaps, the supreme example of what can be achieved. The disc features the leader's deliciously cool guitar licks with the soulful tenor sax of Stanley Turrentine & the two are ably supported by a grooving rythmn section. "Chitlins con carne" will be familiar with many listeners as it has been employed on numerous TV commercials, but it is true to say that there is not a dull moment on the record. "Mule" gets reallly low down into the blues whilst "Wavy Gravy" is an infectious 3/4 groover. (If your toes are tapping to this one, you must have seriously have a problem!) However, my favourite track is "Saturday Night Blues" where Turrentine cranks the tension up chorus after stonking chorus.
During the 1950's & 60's the Blue Note label produced a stream of brilliant albums, many of which have justly been acknolwedged to be real classics. Kenny Burrell's "Midnight Blue" is rightly considered to be amongst the upper echelon of these great recordings & is flawless in it's execution. Even the cover by Reid Miles is a classic!!
This is one of my alll time favourite records & is unreservedly recommended to those who have not yet been acquainted with it.
Delicious!! - By: Kingpin Em.., 20 Jan 2004 Well I'd never heard of Kenny Burrell & simply took a punt on this & oh boy its still cooking. I must say, I introduced this album at a party full of hip-hop folks & I do believe I got my point across & a few converted people along the way(they still can't openly admit it though :) ). Wonderful album
Wonderful... - By: nicjaytee, 30 Dec 2003 Wonderful indeed… & worthy of inclusion on anyone’s shortlist of the best late night albums ever made. Kenny Burrell’s & Stanley Turrentine’s superbly cool playing combined with strong blues based melodies & lock-tight backings produce music that completely captures the ambience of a smoky club on a hot summer night. Unobtrusive, unforgettable & packed full of low-key jazz virtuosity at its very best.
A Goodie. - By: Steve, 29 Oct 2003 I bought this from Amazon because the sax player is Stanley Turrentine, whose "Blue Hour Sessions" (check that one out too readers) is one of my alll time favourites. This CD is in a similar vein. Blues rhythms with a jazz feel, but never losing sight of the blues. Every track, including the 2 bonuses is a winner, taking you to the jazz club you wish you had visited last night when you heart was breaking. Kenny Burrell's funky guitar, together with Turrentine's smooth as velvet sax cooks up a bluesy sleazy recipe for the musical gourmet.
