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Reviews (5)
21 July 2016
good value
Byrdland is Charlie Byrd on amplified acoustic guitar with his quartet ( normally straight acoustic) playing bossa nova as well a some popular tunes of the day ( late 1960's). The amplified guitar jarred on me a bit when I first heard this in about 1972 but grew on me and it was nice to revisit the album on CD. The album cover is imaginative.
The second CD is More Brazilian Byrd ( not Brazilian Byrd) and when it came out ( around 1968 I think) it was a disappointment after the iconic Brazilian Byrd ( 1965) which had helped to introduce bossa nova and the music of Antonio Carlos Jobim to the USA.
It fails to build on the wonderful Jobim tunes , unamplified guitar and orchestration of Brazilian Byrd but still has some good moments
02 September 2016
good but not his best work
I have had most of Charlie Byrd's albums at one time or another, and this is in the "OK' category. It is a collection of blues and jazz standards,Charlie's acoustic guitar combining in a trio with bass and drums. To be honest Joe Byrd's vocals, heard on a couple of the tracks jarred with me.
For those wanting to hear Charlie at his best I recommend "The Guitar Artistry of Charlie Byrd", " Brazilian Byrd" "Byrdland" and "Delicately". 'BlueByrd' would probably not get you in if it was your first exposure to Charlie, one of the great guitarists of recent times.
25 August 2016
blues and latin guitar by one of the great acoustic guitarists
Seven of Charlie Byrd's recorded albums are presented in a 4-CD pack, representing exceptional value. Charlie helped to popularise Brazilian samba rhythms and the music of Antonio Carlos Jobim in the 1960s, and 2 of the CDs are devoted to this genre. The others are blues, jazz and popular standards. His guitar work, either solo or with group or orchestral accompaniment is always good to listen to, and he brings a fresh sound and interpretation to many well known tunes. Charlie died some years ago but his music lives on , and it is good to see so many of his old albums now available on CD. Others well worth seeking out are Brazilian Byrd, Delicately, and Byrdland.
Randal Williams