Search - Charlie Byrd :: Sugarloaf Suite

My Very Favorite Charlie Byrd album

Phasedin | New Jersey | 08/31/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I can't believe this one is out of print!

I originally purchased the vinyl edition of this when it was first released around 1979 or so. I have since purchased the CD.

This is a live trio album of Charlie with bass and drums. It is impeccably recorded before an appreciative audience. It was also my very first purchase of an album of this type after growing up on Rock music in the 60's and 70's.

I became a Charlie Byrd fan because of this recording. It was also my first introduction to the music of Antonio Carlos Jobim (I had only previously heard "Girl From Ipenema").

Here Charlie downplays any of the country style down-home pickin' for some mellow, simply beautiful playing closer to classical and bosa nova style playing.

It's hard for me to listen to Charlie's music nowadays without feeling sad over his death several years ago (I only learned about it much after the fact), because when I discovered him in 1979 he was still very much alive, performing, and recording.

If you do find this one, please do yourself a favor and buy it!

If, for some reason, it doesn't work for you, you should have no problem finding someone who will fall in love with this recording...

Long live Charlie Byrd!"