The late Charlie Byrd was one of those jazz figures whose choice of instrument alone made him stand out. His nylon-string guitar was ideally suited to the bossa nova idiom, in which he made his most famous historical contributions. This two-disc package captures Byrd a bit later in his career — specifically, the period from 1979 ...

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Article: Album Review

Charlie Byrd: Byrd's Word

by Derek Taylor
December 1, 2000

A common critique leveled at Charlie Byrd throughout his career suggested that he was incapable of ‘letting his hair down’ so to speak. His guitar playing was of such consistently high caliber that many critics took his impeccable technique as a sign of pompousness and egotism. The reality is that Byrd was equally adept in a ...

253

Article: Album Review

Charlie Byrd: Byrd By the Sea

by Derek Taylor
June 1, 2000

Charlie Byrd was that rarest of birds in the ornithology of music- one who could shape his plumage to fit into virtually any setting. Not content to rest on his laurels as a virtuoso jazz guitarist, Byrd was equally comfortable negotiating a tightly composed classical chart, sculpting a lilting Bossa Nova, strumming out a down-home blues ...

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Article: Album Review

Charlie Byrd: For Louis

by Jim Santella
April 1, 2000

Recorded only months before he passed away last year, Charlie Byrd’s final recording project was a tribute to Louis Armstrong. Joe Wilder sits in to represent the lyrical side of Armstrong’s sound, holding on to the natural phrasing that has influenced nearly every jazz trumpeter since. Byrd’s nylon string classical acoustic guitar and Wilder’s mellow tone ...

Article: Interview

Ron Carter: Brazilian Charm

by AAJ Staff
February 22, 2000

All About Jazz: You have said that Brazilian changes are different from the ways that Americans adapt Brazilian tunes. Do you think you were true to the Brazilian changes in your latest album, Orfeu? Ron Carter: Absolutely. Definitely. AAJ: What's different about Brazilian changes that Americans can't seem to grasp?