My Inspiration: Music of Brazil
July 2009 Week 2
Guitarist Charlie Byrd has revisited bossa nova numerous times since his landmark collaboration with Stan Getz, Jazz Samba, helped start the worldwide bossa craze in 1961. But My Inspiration--The Music of Brazil is one of his most successful yet. Possibly this is because he is backed on "Inspiration" by the Brazilian guitar, bass, and drums of Trio Da Paz (featuring Romero Lubambo, Nilson Matta, and Dudaka Da Fonseca), which keeps the music's rhythmic and harmonic core intact. Or possibly it's because of the wonderful Brazilian singer Maucha Adnet, who sings six tunes here, or even tenor saxophonist Scott Hamilton's uncanny updating of Getz's sound. More likely though, it's because of Byrd himself, who again proves himself one of the few non-Brazilian masters of the genre, sprinkling his distinctive classical-meets-jazz guitar style all over lovely versions of Jobim's "So Danca Samba," "Fotografia," "Agua de Beber," and others. He even displays his adventurous side with a bossa arrangement of Chopin's Prelude in E Minor (here titled "Freddie's Tune"), proving that even a familiar classical melody can sound sensuously Brazilian. -Ezra Gale
July 2009 Week 2
Guitarist Charlie Byrd has revisited bossa nova numerous times since his landmark collaboration with Stan Getz, Jazz Samba, helped start the worldwide bossa craze in 1961. But My Inspiration--The Music of Brazil is one of his most successful yet. Possibly this is because he is backed on "Inspiration" by the Brazilian guitar, bass, and drums of Trio Da Paz (featuring Romero Lubambo, Nilson Matta, and Dudaka Da Fonseca), which keeps the music's rhythmic and harmonic core intact. Or possibly it's because of the wonderful Brazilian singer Maucha Adnet, who sings six tunes here, or even tenor saxophonist Scott Hamilton's uncanny updating of Getz's sound. More likely though, it's because of Byrd himself, who again proves himself one of the few non-Brazilian masters of the genre, sprinkling his distinctive classical-meets-jazz guitar style all over lovely versions of Jobim's "So Danca Samba," "Fotografia," "Agua de Beber," and others. He even displays his adventurous side with a bossa arrangement of Chopin's Prelude in E Minor (here titled "Freddie's Tune"), proving that even a familiar classical melody can sound sensuously Brazilian. -Ezra Gale
Charlie Byrd
Audio CD (January 12, 1999)
Original Release Date: January 12, 1999
Number of Discs: 1
Label: Concord Records
Buy the CD here
Listen to the CD here
Audio CD (January 12, 1999)
Original Release Date: January 12, 1999
Number of Discs: 1
Label: Concord Records
Buy the CD here
Listen to the CD here
TRACK LISTING
1. Meninha Flor
2. Desafinado
3. My Inspiration
4. Fotografia
5. Agua de Beber
6. Esperança Perdida
7. Violao Quebrada
8. So Danço Samba
9. Someone to Light Up My Life
10. Do Dia Pra Noite
11. Freddie's Tune
12. Carol for All Seasons
1. Meninha Flor
2. Desafinado
3. My Inspiration
4. Fotografia
5. Agua de Beber
6. Esperança Perdida
7. Violao Quebrada
8. So Danço Samba
9. Someone to Light Up My Life
10. Do Dia Pra Noite
11. Freddie's Tune
12. Carol for All Seasons
