Asphalt Canyon Suite
Kenny Burrell · 1969
40 min · 10 tracks · blues
A vibrant blend of blues, jazz, and soul that reflects urban life through intricate guitar work and rich orchestration.
Top tracks — play these first
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Asphalt Canyon Blues — This track exemplifies the album's blend of bluesy guitar riffs with complex harmonies, capturing the essence of urban storytelling inherent in the suite.
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Things Ain’t What They Used To Be — Its poignant lyrics and soulful delivery resonate with themes of nostalgia and change, reflecting the societal shifts of the late 1960s.
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Please Send Me Someone To Love — This rendition showcases Burrell's emotive playing style, intertwining heartfelt vocals with expressive guitar lines that deepen the song’s longing.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album's orchestration and suite format create a strong sense of cohesion and distinctiveness within its genre.
What we noticed
- The album features a continuous suite structure, with tracks flowing into one another, creating a cohesive narrative throughout.
- Burrell's guitar work is prominent, often leading the melodies while being supported by lush orchestral arrangements that include strings and brass.
- Several tracks incorporate vocal elements, blending jazz instrumentation with soul and blues influences, particularly in the covers of 'Put A Little Love In Your Heart' and 'Please Send Me Someone To…
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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9/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- wave-like pacing with emotional depth
- urban storytelling through soulful melodies
- reflective moments for quiet contemplation
- inviting warmth for cozy gatherings
Maybe skip if you
- seeking high-energy dance tracks
- prefer instant gratification over nuance
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Asphalt Canyon Suite marked a turning point in Kenny Burrell's career, being his first major orchestral project after a series of successful jazz albums. Released in 1969, it showcased his ability to merge jazz with broader musical styles, elevating his profile as an innovative guitarist and composer.
- Stylistic neighbors
- George Benson· Wes Montgomery· Jim Hall
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Introduction (Asphalt Canyon Suite, Pt. 1a) 1:03
- 2 Asphalt Canyon Blues (Asphalt Canyon Suite, Pt. 1b) 7:05
- 3 Think About It (Asphalt Canyon Suite, Pt. 2a) 2:41
- 4 Better Get Your Thing Together (Asphalt Canyon Suite, Pt. 2b) 6:00
- 5 Alone In The City (Asphalt Canyon Suite, Pt. 2c) 2:58
- 6 Things Ain’t What They Used To Be 3:15
- 7 Put A Little Love In Your Heart 4:16
- 8 Please Send Me Someone To Love 4:38
- 9 Going To Jim And Andy’s 3:03
- 10 Sugar Hill 5:00
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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