Burrell, Kenny - Kenny Burrell - LP 180 Gr. (OJC-Craft Vinyl Series)

The respected Detroit-born guitarist, who would later become a professor at UCLA's Herb Alpert School of Music, released his sixth album (his second self-titled release) in 1957. Here, Burrell—already in full command of his fluid, straightforward style—teams up with Cecil Payne (baritone saxophone), his frequent collaborator Tommy Flanagan (piano), Doug Watkins (bass), and Elvin Jones (drums). At just over 36 minutes, it's a dense, joyful set. The entire album is an inviting excursion, but if you're into it, you might find yourself drawn to the silky-smooth "Don't Cry Baby" and the slyly bubbly "Drum Boogie" for the full effect. Original Jazz Classics was launched in 1982 under Fantasy Records and revived in 2023 with a focus on audiophile reissues of groundbreaking jazz recordings. With over 850 reissues to date from the groundbreaking catalogs of Prestige, Riverside, Galaxy, Contemporary, Jazzland, Milestone, and others, OJC remains a trusted source for jazz discovery and rediscovery. Since its relaunch, the series has received critical acclaim, with Record Collector Magazine declaring, "The sound is out of this world." Tracking Angle called the OJC re-release of Thelonious Monk's "Monk's Music" "remarkable" and "the best-sounding pressing yet" of the album. Absolute Sound raved about the stereo re-release of Mal Waldron's "The Quest," noting that it "sounds fabulous—full-bodied, immediate, and crackling with energy." Jazzwise praised the "unparalleled" quality of the series, describing the re-releases as "exceptional" and "stunningly eloquent." Qobuz singled out the remastering, raving that it "breathes vibrant life into the original tapes."