Charlie Byrd - Byrd's World! (1958)

Tracklist

01 - Byrd's World
02 - Blue Turning Grey Over You
03 - Bobby In Bassoonville
04 - Satin Doll
05 - Tri-X
06 - Conversation Piece
07 - What's New
08 - Stompin' At The Savoy
09 - Don't Explain
10 - Buck's Hill

personnel :

Charlie Byrd - guitar
Ginny Byrd - vocals
Buck Hill - tenor saxophone
Bobby Felder - valve trombone
Kenneth Pasmanick - bassoon
Keter Betts - cello, bass
T. Carson - piano
Charlie Schneer - piano
Bertell Knox - drums
Eddie Phyfe - drums

Digitally remastered by Kirk Felton (2000, Fantasy Studios, Berkeley, California).

Byrd's Word! is an early Charlie Byrd recording that finds the guitarist in a variety of settings. The idea seems to be showcasing Byrd with a number of friends, including valve trombonist Bobby Felder, tenor saxophonist Buck Hill, and pianist Tee Carson. Though there are really no bad cuts on the album, the content is so diverse -- acoustic trios, electric guitar with brass, and acoustic guitar with vocals -- that the album doesn't flow as a whole. "Byrd's Word" opens the album, with a big brassy sound, complete with Byrd cutting loose on electric guitar. On this cut, and even more so on "Bobby in Bassoonville," his electric guitar sounds derivative of Charlie Christian or Herb Ellis. The best material finds an acoustic...