Barney Kessel; A Jazz Legend

Barney Kessel; A Jazz Legend

Throughout two years of courtship and ten years of marriage, I was the companion of Barney Kessel, a first echelon jazz guitarist known worldwide in traditional jazz circles. Having spent several high school years in his birthplace of Muskogee, Oklahoma, I also was privy to his Oklahoma roots and acquainted with some of his early friends. During our marriage, I had intimate knowledge of his workday world, his nature, his musical accomplishments, his strengths, and his flaws. I set out, in this book, to record what I know about his life and times from the perspective of a ten-year spouse who cared about him and overlooked many of his idiosyncrasies. This does not purport to be a definitive and all-inclusive story listing every detail of his busy life, but I hope I have covered the highlights and given justice to his many accomplishments. The facts and events related here have been exhaustively researched to assure their accuracy, where and when possible. Some instances featured in this book, which I was unable to verify, were related to me by Barney Kessel himself. Although this only truly original American musical art form lost its luster in the United States with the demise of the big band/swing era when rock music emerged in the 1950s and 1960s, jazz never lost its popularity and widespread appeal abroad, especially in Western Europe and Japan. In those countries, members of long established jazz clubs sponsor concerts and attend in great numbers. Not surprising, these club members are exceptionally knowledgeable about jazz music, the songs and their composers, dates of creation, and what artists recorded these songs on what album in what year. As Kessel amusedly noted, They can almost tell you what color of dress Billie Holiday was wearing when she recorded an album as these jazz matters are studied as one would encompass a field of learning. The jazz club fans are able to remind American performers of known facts and even correct them if the performers' memories fail them. As a member of an elite class of jazz musicians from the 1940s, Barney Kessel and his music were in demand, as he was one of the few remaining members alive in the 1990s. So many died as a result of natural or self-inflicted health problems, the life and ambiance of the club performer being what it is. With that in mind, my hope in writing this book is that the readers will learn about one of these jazz giants, Barney Kessel. -Jo Ann Kessel, 2014
Country USA
Manufacturer Oklahoma Heritage Association
Binding Paperback
UnitCount 1
EANs 9781938923135
ReleaseDate 0000-00-00

Country	USA
Manufacturer	Oklahoma Heritage Association
Binding	Paperback
UnitCount	1
EANs	9781938923135
ReleaseDate	0000-00-00

Barney Kessel; A Jazz Legend

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