Lotus Blossom
Studio album by
Kenny Burrell
Released1995
RecordedMay 1995
LabelConcord Jazz[1]
ProducerJohn Burk
Kenny Burrell chronology
No Problem
(1994) 		Lotus Blossom
(1995) 		Then Along Came Kenny
(1996)

Lotus Blossom is an album by the American musician Kenny Burrell, released in 1995.[2][3] Burrell supported the album by touring with the 1996 "Guitar Summit" package, with Jorma Kaukonen, Stanley Jordan, and Manuel Barrueco.[4]

Production

Recorded in May 1995, the album was produced by John Burk.[5][6] Burrell used bassist Ray Drummond on the duo tracks, and Drummond and drummer Yoron Israel on the trio tracks; six of the tracks were performed solo.[7][6] "Satin Doll" and "Warm Valley" are versions of the Duke Ellington compositions.[8] The title track was written by Billy Strayhorn.[9]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[10]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[11]
Los Angeles Times[7]
MusicHound Jazz: The Essential Album Guide[6]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD[5]

The Sun-Sentinel wrote that "Burrell's elegant phrasing exudes warmth and lyricism."[2] The Los Angeles Times stated that "Burrell alternates rich harmonic statements with single string lines filled with arpeggiated phrasing spelling out the underlying chords."[7]

Newsday concluded that, "for Burrell, Ellington's music isn't a hallowed museum, but a palpable, living presence, capable of sustaining intimate, rewarding dialogue."[8] The Omaha World-Herald deemed the album "quiet, subtle music rendered in always creative fashion by a player who should be called Mr. Taste."[12]

AllMusic wrote that "although the tunes are superior, none of these versions are definitive and the mellow results rarely rise above the level of background music."[10] The Daily Breeze listed Lotus Blossom among the best mainstream jazz albums of 1995.[13]

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."Satin Doll" 
2."Warm Valley" 
3."There Will Never Be Another You" 
4."Lotus Blossom" 
5."If You Could See Me Now" 
6."The Night Has a Thousand Eyes" 
7."I Don't Stand a Ghost of a Chance" 
8."Minha (All Mine)" 
9."For Once In My Life" 
10."Couplet: Once Upon a Summertime / When the World Was Young" 
11."I'm Falling for You" 
12."They Can't Take That Away from Me" 
13."Old Folks" 

References

  1. ^ "NAIRD's '95 Indie Award nominees". Billboard. 108 (19): 50. May 11, 1996.
  2. ^ a b Randolph, Marvin (20 Oct 1995). "Recommended". Showtime. Sun-Sentinel. p. 19.
  3. ^ Franckling, Ken (October 24, 1995). "Another tip of the hat to the Duke". United Press International.
  4. ^ "'GUITAR SUMMIT' FEATURES 4 ON 5". Rhythm. Wisconsin State Journal. 14 Mar 1996. p. 16.
  5. ^ a b The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD. Penguin Books Ltd. 2000. p. 223.
  6. ^ a b c MusicHound Jazz: The Essential Album Guide. Schirmer Trade Books. 1998. p. 180.
  7. ^ a b c Heckman, Don (5 Nov 1995). "There Are No Gentle Weeping Guitars Here". Calendar. Los Angeles Times. p. 73.
  8. ^ a b Seymour, Gene (5 Nov 1995). "KENNY BURRELL 'Lotus Blossom'". Fanfare. Newsday. p. 19.
  9. ^ Elwood, Philip (4 Mar 1996). "Classy Guitar Summit". San Francisco Examiner. p. B3.
  10. ^ a b "Kenny Burrell - Lotus Blossom Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
  11. ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 2. MUZE. p. 77.
  12. ^ Smith, Will (November 19, 1995). "Guitarist Leads Creative Session". Entertainment. Omaha World-Herald. p. 9.
  13. ^ Tranfa, Anthony D. (December 29, 1995). "Jazz expands its boundaries". Daily Breeze. p. K24.
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