by Ken Dryden
Kenny Burrell's recordings for Cadet and Argo are sampled on this two-record set reissued in 1972. Eight of the 20 tracks come from Burrell's 1959 performance at the Village Vanguard with Richard Davis and Roy Haynes, including one track &How Could You Do a Thing Like That to Me& which was strangely omitted from both the original album and the later CD reissue. The guitarist is the primary focus of the date, and he makes the most of the opportunity. Burrell is also soft yet swinging in the five selections from the 1966 sessions (from the LP The Tender Gender) with Richard Wyands, Martin Rivera, and Oliver Jackson. Three of the compositions are by Burrell, while also adding strong performance of &Girl Talk& and a brief solo take of &People.& Meredith Willson's &Arm in Arm& is actually from a quartet date led by Hank Jones, with Burrell, Milt Hinton, and Elvin Jones. Less interesting are the tracks featuring an orchestra conducted and arranged by Richard Evans. Although many of the songs on this compilation have been reissued on CD, this is an excellent sampler of Burrell's work for Cadet.