Here’s a good-value double-disc compendium of Barney Kessel performances largely culled from the albums issued under his name from 1954–62 on the Contemporary label.

Always an upholder of the Charlie Christian approach – the two men actually met and played together when Barney was 16 – Kessel made his name on the West Coast, his exceptional skills enabling him to function successfully in the twin worlds of studio sessions and small jazz groups. It’s the latter on display here, with Kessel caught at play with the very best of his contemporaries who appeared alongside him in both his musical milieux.

Jasmine cites the albums from which each of these 40 tracks are taken, but does not provide personnel details. The late Nesuhi Ertegun’s note from the earliest of the albums chosen is reprinted here and provides a helpful account of Kessel’s early days and his eventual flowering in California. Of course, his career continued to flourish long after the album’s time-line: one has only to recall his tours with the Great Guitars and many club and concert visits up until his stroke in the early 1990s.

As if to emphasise Kessel’s commitment to the Christian cause, the opening piece is his ‘Salute to Charlie Christian’, its supple lines and deep-down swing emulating his hero’s style with Ross and Manne perfect in support.

Much the same goes for successive tracks, save for Julie London’s wistful vocal on ‘Cry Me A River’ with the guitarist as accompanist and the album title track which was a honking tenor trifle which gave Kessel a freak pop hit. Otherwise, among many others, that immortal trio, the Poll Winners with Brown, and Manne, gets deserved attention, their perfect interplay and unrelenting desire to swing marvellous to observe. Great stuff.