LPCDreissues: Looking forward to the past

These 1960 recordings capture Charlie Byrd at a pivotal stage in his career. He had won the 1959 Down Beat Critics' Poll as New Star on guitar, after a brief hiatus in his steady gig at Washington, D.C.'s Showboat for an international tour with Woody Herman's band. In 1961, a State Department visit to South America with the trio heard here would introduce Byrd to the bossa nova music that he would popularize with Stan Getz upon his return. Between these two triumphs, Byrd recorded this album with his working trio and demonstrated an already-sizable command of repertoire and small-group arrangement. In addition to Byrd's own signature mixture of acoustic classicism, Southern blues, and a clear fondness for Django Reinhardt, the performances verify that bassist Keter Betts brought exceptional taste and presence to this most intimate of jazz trios. Taking a Chance on Love, Moonlight in Vermont, Speak Low, Nuages, Everything I've Got (Belongs to You), Makin' Whoopee, Django, Nice Work If You Can Get It, The House of the Rising Sun, Ring Them Harmonics, Taboo, To Ginnywith Keter Betts, Buddy Deppenschmidt