Search - Charlie Byrd :: Byrd at the Gate

Superb, Soulful Jazz Guitar in an Intimate Trio

Edward Batista | San Francisco, CA USA | 12/27/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I can't disagree more with the one-star review above (or below) I have several Byrd discs, and this is by far my favorite. It's probably one of the CDs I've listened to most over the past year. The sound isn't pristine, but it's perfectly decent, and there are no glaring problems worth complaining about. The music is fantastic--an interesting selection of songs, mixing up some common standards with some fairly obscure numbers. And far from "shallow," I find Byrd's playing majestic here. Forty years later, it still sounds fresh and innovative. "Blues for Night People," "I Left My Heart in San Francisco," and "Where Are the Hebrew Children?" stand out, but the set is great from start to finish. If you like Charlie Byrd in particular or jazz guitar in general, "Byrd at the Gate" will not disappoint."

Byrd at his best!

Vidar P | Norway | 10/16/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Actually, I too couldn't disagree more with a 1-star rating on this; finding it as I do the best Byrd album I've heard. He might be a bit underwhelming at first, but he and the trio really swings with a lyrical tone I haven't heard him do better. The band is awesome, and both Seldon Powell (sax) and Clark Terry (trp) are totally and utterly great on this set. In fact, I've not heard Clark this inspired to my memory.

The sound is really lovely on a good system, with both great body, colour, depth and focus. My MoFi vinyl might sound a lot better than the OJC cd, but there you go.."