Barney Kessel Licks

Barney Kessel is particularly known as a bebop guitar player and for his jazz trios. Born in 1923 he started his career by playing in big bands, like the one of Artie Shaw. In 1952 he toured with the Oscar Peterson Trio for one year. During the 1960s he became one of the busiest studio musicians in LA. As a session guitarist he played on many famous pop albums and singles from bands like The Monkees and The Beach Boys.

Kessel's most famous album is The Poll Winners, a trio album with bass player Ray Brown and drummer Shelly Manne. Another famous trio of him is Great Guitars, an all guitar band with Herb Ellis and Charlie Byrd.

In 1992 Barney Kessel suffered a major stroke, which put him out of action. He died of brain cancer in 2004.

Recommended listening : Kessel Plays Standards

1) This guitar lick is based on triads.

• The first bar begins with a Gm triad with a 9
• followed by a Bm triad --> Gmaj7#5 sound
• bar two begins with a Bb triad --> C9sus4 sound
• followed by an A minor pentatonic or F major pentatonic run
• the lick concludes with a chromatic phrase

Barney Kessel wrote a great book about jazz guitar playing: The Jazz Guitar Artistry of Barney Kessel

The Sibelius Score