Handcrafted
Kenny Burrell · 1979
35 min · 5 tracks · blues
Smooth and intricate guitar melodies weave through rich jazz arrangements, embodying a soulful exploration of classic standards.
Top tracks — play these first
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You And The Night And The Music — This track opens the album with a vibrant interplay between Burrell's guitar and the lush orchestration, setting the tone for the entire record.
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All Blues — Burrell's rendition of this Miles Davis classic highlights his skill in blending improvisation with melodic clarity, making it a centerpiece of the album.
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I'm Glad There Is You — This track showcases Burrell's emotive playing style, transforming a standard ballad into a deeply personal expression through nuanced phrasing.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
Burrell's expressive guitar work and sophisticated arrangements create a solid jazz experience, though it doesn't redefine the genre.
What we noticed
- The final track features a notable shift in dynamics, closing the album with a reflective tone that contrasts with the earlier pieces.
- 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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6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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7/10
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
- smooth evening unwind sessions
- soulful melodies for relaxation
- steady pacing with gradual resolution
- intimate moments of reflection
Maybe skip if you
- seeking high-energy excitement
- prefer shorter, standalone tracks
Where this album fits
- Career context
- By the time 'Handcrafted' was released in 1979, Kenny Burrell was an established figure in jazz, having built a reputation for his expressive guitar work since the 1950s. This album followed his celebrated period with Blue Note Records and reflected a mature sound that blended elements of blues and soul into traditional jazz frameworks.
- Stylistic neighbors
- George Benson· Wes Montgomery· Jim Hall
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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I'm Glad There Is You
The instrumental breaks shift from soft to more pronounced dynamics creates a palpable emotional uplift.
This dynamic contrast enhances the intimate atmosphere of the piece, emphasizing Burrell’s ability to convey deep emotion without lyrics.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 You And The Night And The Music 4:43
- 2 So Little Time 6:27
- 3 I'm Glad There Is You 8:15
- 4 All Blues 10:08
- 5 It Could Happen To You 5:47
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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