Corona Chronicles: The Barney Bunch Fights Back

Well…the investigative landscape of our project has changed drastically, as our terrain has been limited to our living rooms…literally.

But, we will go the (social) distance and persevere the best we can. As Barney might say, we won’t let it ruin our day. While we will have to manage our expectations, we still plan on creating something to honor the life and music of Barney Kessel.

UPDATES

We have an official title for our project: Illuminating a Musical Legacy: The Barney Kessel Project

As we have no access to our primary source documents beyond what we had collected before campus closed, we have realized that it is possible to make *NEW* primary sources. We hope to explore this concept through the avenue of interviews. More to come!

The prolific variety in Barney’s life has been made clearer as each of us realized that we focused on aspects of his life that are entirely different from each other. And this poses a challenge as we attempt to synthesize, connect, and organize our findings – but it is a satisfying challenge.  

A good “Barneyism” to remember is that the only way to get through COVID-19 is through self-care: “3. Do 10 BX Program 4. Watch Diet  5. Take Vitamins 6. Breathe!”

We owe the team at UMKC LaBudde Special Collections and the UMKC WordPress folks a debt of gratitude for continuing to make this project possible, in any of its forms.

Our hearts go out to our friends, colleagues, and fellow humans who are struggling during this time. And while “there are moments that the words don’t reach” (thank you, Hamilton), we borrow our stance from Leonard Bernstein: “This will be our reply to [confusion and despair]: to make music more intensely, more beautifully, more devotedly than ever before.”

Stay safe, dear friends!

Until next time,

The Barney Bunch


Snapshots of Barney: simply gassed to be here

Welcome to the Barney Kessel Project. To borrow a descriptor from one of Barney’s fans, we are “gassed” about sharing our research with you. We have been surprised and delighted by what we have found so far. Not only was Barney Kessel an inspiring and influential guitarist, arranger, teacher, and jazz performer, he was also a profoundly wonderful human with a great sense of humor and a grounded outlook on life.

Meet the Team:

Bryanna Beasley: MM in flute performance and MM in musicology, soccer star, savorer of dramatic symphonies, and sushi aficionado  

Lacie Eades: MM in musicology, mother of two, aspiring home chef, and appreciator of all things mid-century modern

Nick Gillock: MM in musicology, reformed public school teacher, fan and comprehender of sports statistics, and minimalism connoisseur

Riley Kurre: MM in musicology, member of The Kansas City Symphony Chorus, resident opera geek, and snappy dresser  

Alec Radecki: DMA in composition, language nerd, home chef, and video game enthusiast  

Gabbi Roderer: DMA in flute performance and MM in musicology, gluten-free baker, pickleball lover, and self-proclaimed pun expert

Daniel Shineberg: DMA in flute performance and MA-MT in music therapy, doggy dad, old movie lover, and gin-and-whisky-drinking cross stitcher

Barney Anecdotes

Wikimedia Commons

#1 When it’s the “other guy” that makes you sound bad in a performance:

July 8, 1989:
…His setting of my tone controls were all wrong. I played but didn’t enjoy it musically…But I didn’t let this incident spoil my day.

#2 The cathartic one-star Yelp review:

Lunch break – ate at Italian restaurant near NBC 

Waitress rude –

#3 When someone thinks you’re talking about them but it’s all one big misunderstanding:

Melbourne, Australia February 11, 1992:
As I was coming out of a radio station (after an interview) with an associate…I saw a particularly offensive green car parked right outside the front door of the station. As I opened the door and was outside I pointed to the car and said to my associate, rather loudly, “I think that is an ugly green” just as a lady walked by between the car and me wearing a bright green blouse and she really frowned.

#4 Kodak Moments…that we hope no one noticed:

New Zealand February 17, 1992
This morning in the coffee shop: the table w/breakfast buffet. Also, the milk pitcher was made to look like a chicken with its beak open (milk pours through the beak). In pouring milk for my cereal, I spilled it.

#5 #showerthoughts:

Words for a song: 

I have to let you go, girl

I have to get you out of my sight,

I have to let you go, girl

‘Cause keepin’ you around

Is making me uptight

#6 Words to live by:

April 12, 1990
Don’t study music to learn about music. Study music to learn how to express that which is your thoughts and feelings through the medium of music. 

If you have stories or memories about Barney Kessel or his music, we would love to hear them!

Stay tuned for future updates!