Charlie Byrd: Bamba Samba Bossa Nova
However, Byrd really excelled in the area of presentation, reshaping South American folk songs into brilliantly orchestrated gems and crafting nifty little originals that worked quite well in the idiom. Even diehard Byrd fans may not have known that this 1959 album existed, a relic from the time when Byrd was a featured soloist with the Woody Herman band. In what must have been an engineer's nightmare, Byrd's unamplified guitar is backed by Herman's big band, and the results erase the shortcomings of each: he plays with a little more fire and Herman's band reigns in their barnstorming tendencies. Byrd contributes four terrific originals, all of which work in the Latin music vein in one way or another. The second half is a version of Ralph Burns' "Summer Sequence in which he recast the main themes for guitar and the band provides tonal shadings behind.
Those looking for a great Woody Herman record will be disappointed, for the Herd is clearly just providing backing for Byrd (Herman scarcely gets any time in the spotlight). But this is one of Byrd's strongest records, an unlikely collaboration that paired nimble guitar playing and punchy riffing to create a jazz gem.
Track Listing
Bamba Samba (Bossa Nova); Original #2; Love Song Ballad; Prelude A La Cha Cha; Summer Sequence Part 1; Summer Sequence Part 2; Summer Sequence Part 3 Summer Sequence Part 4.
Personnel
Charlie Byrd: guitar; with the Woody Herman Big Band.
Album information
Title: Bamba Samba Bossa Nova | Year Released: 2005 | Record Label: Empire Musicwerks
Post a comment about this album
FOR THE LOVE OF JAZZ
All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.
WE NEED YOUR HELP
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.
Tags
Contest Giveaway
Days remaining: 28
