For this unusual set, guitarist
Charlie Byrd is accompanied by what is billed as
the Woody Herman Big Band, although it is mostly a studio orchestra sprinkled with a few of
Herman's associates. The first four selections are
Byrd originals that almost sound like bossa nova in spots, even though the style had not solidified and been named yet.
Byrd's classical training and interest in Brazilian music are very much in evidence. The final selections are a re-creation of
Ralph Burns' four-part "Summer Sequence," which at the time was over a decade old. The main difference between this and the original
Herman recording is that
Byrd is the main soloist throughout much of the extensive work. Although not quite essential,
Bamba-Samba Bossa Nova (which has often been reissued under
Woody Herman's name) has its moments of interest and shows how
Charlie Byrd sounded before bossa nova took off.