THE GREAT GUITARS
Great Guitars Live (Concord)
Reviewed by Shaun Dale

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Although other names have been promoted under the Great Guitars heading, no grouping has ever topped the original lineup of Charlie Byrd, Barney Kessel and Herb Ellis. Kessel and Ellis stand among the greatest names in swing and bop guitar, and Charlie Byrd is without peer as an interpreter of Bossa Nova. Combined, they created an irresistibly blend of styles and invariably displayed a combination of instrumental proficiency and taste that left audiences satisfied, and frequently astonished.

Great Guitars Live is a two disc reissue of At The Winery (1980) and At Charlie's Georgetown (1983), albums that caught the trio of fretmasters in their best circumstance - in front of an appreciative audience. The best jazz is always enhanced in a live setting, and these discs are a great lesson in why that is true. The interplay of the musicians, drawing inspiration from each other and from the audience reaction, is outstanding, and the selection of standards they draw from for these sets guarantee that just about anyone will find a great version of a favorite title.

This is music that goes down like fine, single malt Scotch whiskey - smooth, rich and with burn that put's a fine finish on the whole thing.

Track Lists:

Disc One: Broadway * Air Mail Special * Body And Soul * You Took Advantage Of Me * So Danco Samba * Sheik Of Araby * Straighten Up And Fly Right * Just In Time * The Talk Of The Town

Disc Two: Where Or When * New Orleans * When The Saints Go Marching In * Change Partners * Pensive * Opus One * Old Folks * Get Happy * Danielle * Trouble In Mind

© 2001 - Shaun Dale