Kenny Burrell’s Midnight Blue is one of the most iconic soul-jazz guitar standards ever recorded. Released in 1963 on Blue Note Records, the track is the title cut of Burrell’s classic album Midnight Blue, featuring Stanley Turrentine (tenor sax), Major Holley (bass), Billy Gene English (drums), and Ray Barretto (congas). If you’re into a smooth and bluesy jazz guitar sound, Midnight Blue is a must-learn.
Midnight Blue was recorded at the legendary Van Gelder Studio in New Jersey. Burrell’s sound and playing on the track have influenced generations of jazz and blues guitarists. Artists like Stevie Ray Vaughan and George Benson have cited Burrell as a key influence.
In this lesson, you will learn how to play the intro and melody of the tune, as well as an improvised solo.
Midnight Blue is a great study in how less can be more.
Midnight Blue – Video
Midnight Blue – Melody
The melody of Midnight Blue is fairly straightforward, although the B section can be tricky and harder to get under your fingers because of the chords.
Backing Track
Listen & Play-Along
Midnight Blue – Solo
This improvised solo is inspired by Kenny Burrell’s vocabulary, mixing blues phrasing, chromatic passing tones, scales, and arpeggios.
Backing Track
Listen & Play-Along
Amazing lesson . Thanks for your efforts. Would it be posssible to do something like After Hours by Ronnie Jordan for us beginners.
Can you do one for Chitlins Con Carne off the same album?
Working on it right now!
I love all of Kenny Burrell’s work. This is greatly appreciated. Is there any way you can work on some Cornell Dupree songs.
That’s a great tune. One of my favorites. Many thanks for your generous lesson, Dirk. So well done and played. Great bluesy bebop solo as well. Not to mention that you sound awesome with your vintage 175 and the new tone master.
Thank you! Absolutely love this tune. Appreciate you creating this video and transcription.
Love this tune. Old teacher introduced me to Kenny Burrell with Chitlins Con Carne, but I always went straight to [Cut 4] Midnight Blue. Infectious melody. Swings like crazy
Excellent choice for a study in blues by the best.
Excellent choice for a study lesson in blues. Kenny is the best in my estimation for this genre. Taste personified! I went to see him once in Philly years ago. I remember his rendition of Who Can I Turn To on his fat Gibson ( I guess an L5 maybe) played through a vintage Gibson amp.
Wonderful performance – have played this in the past. Great version … I will have to try it again … Thanks
👍 Thanx for your great transcriptions.
Thank you for taking the time for posting this. There is so much detail here saving us the time for analysis! There is a ‘wealth’ of material here.
This is a great song and a great lesson. Thanks so much for the time you put into it as well as gifting it to us. Hip man, hip!
Gran bel pezzo! Ottima lezione per l’estate; grazie 👍
Thank you so much for this! I’ve been working on it by ear for a long time! But I love how easy & comfortable my fingers can now flow with your voicings. I love Kenny Burrell and this is one of my favorites.
Many thanks for sending me this blues phrasing.
Have a good day!!!