Kenny Barron Trio - Minor Blues / 2LP Venus Records

Venus Records producer Tetsuo Hara first met American pianist and composer Kenny Barron in 1992 and had wanted to record a trio album with him ever since. This wish was finally fulfilled in 2004 with the release of “Super Standard”.

However, due to Barron's contract with another label, his name could not be used, so the trio adopted the name “Super Trio”. When this contract expired, Barron returned to Venus Records to record “Minor Blues”, a trio album released

this time under his own name. Barron is not only an extremely talented musician: he is one of the best jazz pianists of our time, and his bop-based style with flowing lyricism and unique sense of melody comes to the fore on “Minor Blues”.

Unlike his other releases, this album mainly features beautiful interpretations of standards and ballads. Barron, George Mraz (bass) and Ben Riley (drums) sound completely relaxed and at the same time very inspired on this recording.

You can tell from the album that they had a lot of fun making music together. “Minor Blues” is undoubtedly one of the best albums Kenny Barron has released to date. Recorded on May 4 and 5, 2009, at Avatar Studios in New York, the

album was produced by Todd Barkan and mixed and mastered by legendary producer Tetsuo Hara.

Venus Records was founded in Japan in 1992 by Tetsuo Hara, who previously worked as a producer for RCA Victor. The label uses a special mastering process called “Hyper Magnum Sound” for the strictly limited double LP of “Minor Blues”,

cut at 33 RPM and pressed on 180-gram vinyl, which produces a powerful, present sound and is highly appreciated by audiophiles worldwide. A quick note: Venus LPs are only pressed once. Once the edition is sold out, the title is removed

from the catalog and will not be reissued. Collectors should therefore not wait too long to place their orders: all releases of the “Venus Masterpiece Collection” are extremely popular!

Venus LPs are pressed only once. After the first edition is sold out, the titles are removed from the catalog. Collectors should therefore consider a purchase in time.

Title

1. Minor Blues

2. Hush-A-Bye 

3. Emily

4. How Deep Is The Ocean 

5. Too Late Now

6. Beautiful Love

7. For Heaven's Sake 

8. Don't Explain

9. I've Never Been In Love Before

10. My Ideal