75Th Birthday Bash Live!

With his warm, feather-soft tone and his graceful, flowing lines, guitarist Kenny Burrell has established himself as one of the most influential and respected jazz guitarists of his era. Recorded at Yoshi’s, the esteemed Oakland jazz club, on the night of Burrell’s 75th birthday (with a handful of tracks coming from the next night in Santa Cruz), this live album is both a celebration of Burrell’s storied career and a testament to his continued mastery of taste and technique. The first six tracks feature Gerald Wilson’s big band, and three of the numbers come from the Duke Ellington songbook, including a swinging romp through “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore.” Burrell showcases his prowess with the blues — as well as his conversational singing style — on a run through T-Bone Walker’s “Stormy Monday.” The leader fronts a pared-down trio for readings of Wayne Shorter’s “Footprints” and Miles Davis’s “All Blues,” both of which showcase his supple chord work. A rippling band featuring Hubert Laws on flute, Herman Riley on tenor sax, and Joey DeFrancesco on organ rolls through Dizzy Gillespie’s “A Night in Tunisia” and Ellington’s “Take the ‘A’ Train,” the latter featuring Burrell’s endearing scat vocals. From swing to blues to bop and beyond, Burrell’s playing remains elegant and emotive.