Charlie Byrd Music

A masterpiece. One of the most beautiful CD's / LP's I have ever heard in my life.

Laurindo Almeida has been a favourite of mine since the 60's (yes, I am just an aging hippie!). My wife bought this album on vinyl years ago - we wore it out. When we saw it as a CD we tripped over each other racing to the cashier! The subtle phrasing, the interplay of these masters, the choice of songs, every facet of this gem sparkles and becomes more lustrous with repeated listening. Sometimes a song or an interpretation sounds SO SIMPLE - until you try to do it! Then you begin to understand what mastery is necessary to make things sound easy. It's so very difficult to do; Charlie Byrd and Laurindo Almeida make the most beautiful music sound simple - wizards!

From the first cut to the last, this music climbs directly to my innards, makes me smile, weep and all emotions in between. I do believe it is Byrds best.

A masterpiece. One of the most beautiful CD's / LP's I have ever heard in my life.

Laurindo Almeida has been a favourite of mine since the 60's (yes, I am just an aging hippie!). My wife bought this album on vinyl years ago - we wore it out. When we saw it as a CD we tripped over each other racing to the cashier! The subtle phrasing, the interplay of these masters, the choice of songs, every facet of this gem sparkles and becomes more lustrous with repeated listening. Sometimes a song or an interpretation sounds SO SIMPLE - until you try to do it! Then you begin to understand what mastery is necessary to make things sound easy. It's so very difficult to do; Charlie Byrd and Laurindo Almeida make the most beautiful music sound simple - wizards!

From the first cut to the last, this music climbs directly to my innards, makes me smile, weep and all emotions in between. I do believe it is Byrds best.

A masterpiece. One of the most beautiful CD's / LP's I have ever heard in my life.

Laurindo Almeida has been a favourite of mine since the 60's (yes, I am just an aging hippie!). My wife bought this album on vinyl years ago - we wore it out. When we saw it as a CD we tripped over each other racing to the cashier! The subtle phrasing, the interplay of these masters, the choice of songs, every facet of this gem sparkles and becomes more lustrous with repeated listening. Sometimes a song or an interpretation sounds SO SIMPLE - until you try to do it! Then you begin to understand what mastery is necessary to make things sound easy. It's so very difficult to do; Charlie Byrd and Laurindo Almeida make the most beautiful music sound simple - wizards!

From the first cut to the last, this music climbs directly to my innards, makes me smile, weep and all emotions in between. I do believe it is Byrds best.

A masterpiece. One of the most beautiful CD's / LP's I have ever heard in my life.

Laurindo Almeida has been a favourite of mine since the 60's (yes, I am just an aging hippie!). My wife bought this album on vinyl years ago - we wore it out. When we saw it as a CD we tripped over each other racing to the cashier! The subtle phrasing, the interplay of these masters, the choice of songs, every facet of this gem sparkles and becomes more lustrous with repeated listening. Sometimes a song or an interpretation sounds SO SIMPLE - until you try to do it! Then you begin to understand what mastery is necessary to make things sound easy. It's so very difficult to do; Charlie Byrd and Laurindo Almeida make the most beautiful music sound simple - wizards!

From the first cut to the last, this music climbs directly to my innards, makes me smile, weep and all emotions in between. I do believe it is Byrds best.

I was so happy to discover that this album came available as CD. It's an absolute jewel in my collection.

This 1981 live date at Charlie's Club in Georgetown gives us an idea of what the L.A. Four would have sounded like if Laurindo Almeida played jazz guitar and Jeff Hamilton kept his drumming less obtrusive. This is a classic album; the interplay between Byrd and Shank is masterful; the choice of tunes is thoughtful; and the date produced a pair of masterpieces: Kurt Weill's "Speak Low", and and the old Jerome Kern standard "Yesterdays". Get this album before it disappears.

In 1953 Bud Shank recorded Brazilliance with acoustic guitarist Laurindo Almeida. That record predated Stan Getz' ventures into Bossa Nova by several years. You might say Bud Shank was ahead of his time. After releasing that record, Bud Shank attempted to create a sequel by releasing Brazilliance Volume 2. The sequel never quite lived up to the original. It featured Bud's flute playing and contained standards that didn't quite fit the Bossa Nova gendre.
Well, it took Bud Shank 20 years to get it right, but get it right he did with Brazilville. This CD is the real followup to the original Brazilliance. This CD swings with the fire of Rio. What we have here is an acoustic rhythm trio headed by co-leader Charlie Byrd that perfectly compliments the genius of Bud Shank's alto sax. Buy this CD. It's a masterpiece that was 20 years in the making.

I was so happy to discover that this album came available as CD. It's an absolute jewel in my collection.

This 1981 live date at Charlie's Club in Georgetown gives us an idea of what the L.A. Four would have sounded like if Laurindo Almeida played jazz guitar and Jeff Hamilton kept his drumming less obtrusive. This is a classic album; the interplay between Byrd and Shank is masterful; the choice of tunes is thoughtful; and the date produced a pair of masterpieces: Kurt Weill's "Speak Low", and and the old Jerome Kern standard "Yesterdays". Get this album before it disappears.

In 1953 Bud Shank recorded Brazilliance with acoustic guitarist Laurindo Almeida. That record predated Stan Getz' ventures into Bossa Nova by several years. You might say Bud Shank was ahead of his time. After releasing that record, Bud Shank attempted to create a sequel by releasing Brazilliance Volume 2. The sequel never quite lived up to the original. It featured Bud's flute playing and contained standards that didn't quite fit the Bossa Nova gendre.
Well, it took Bud Shank 20 years to get it right, but get it right he did with Brazilville. This CD is the real followup to the original Brazilliance. This CD swings with the fire of Rio. What we have here is an acoustic rhythm trio headed by co-leader Charlie Byrd that perfectly compliments the genius of Bud Shank's alto sax. Buy this CD. It's a masterpiece that was 20 years in the making.

A great melding of Latin and Classical styles, and a unique combination of brass and jazz trio. The recording is crisp, the musicianship without parallel. Not a bad cut on the disc. Charlie, we miss you.

A great melding of Latin and Classical styles, and a unique combination of brass and jazz trio. The recording is crisp, the musicianship without parallel. Not a bad cut on the disc. Charlie, we miss you.