Byrd and Brazil is a double-disc reissue of two titles from Concord's
Charlie Byrd catalog. It can be argued that
Byrd never really made a bad record. These two albums would support that statement. The first disc is a remastered version of
Byrd's Sugarloaf Suite from 1980, and features a rhythm section of Joe Byrd and on bass and drummer Wayne Phillips. A live date, this program contains four
Byrd originals, all of them bossa-inflected, two by
Antonio Carlos Jobim ("Triste" and "Favela"), and one each by
Luiz Bonfá ("The Gentle Rain") and Dori Caymmi ("Saudade de Bahia"). The second disc is Brazilville from 1982. It is a quartet date that features drummer
Charles Redd, Joe Byrd on bass, and saxophonist
Bud Shank.
Shank and
Byrd interact beautifully, both understanding the subtleties of bossa. As a two-disc set, this is well compiled and the music sounds fresh and exciting. For the price, it is unbeatable. ~ Thom Jurek