Customer Reviews

Brazilville

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In 1953 Bud Shank recorded Brazilliance with acoustic guitarist Laurindo Almeida. That record predated Stan Getz' ventures into Bossa Nova by several years. You might say Bud Shank was ahead of his time. After releasing that record, Bud Shank attempted to create a sequel by releasing Brazilliance Volume 2. The sequel never quite lived up to the original. It featured Bud's flute playing and contained standards that didn't quite fit the Bossa Nova gendre.
Well, it took Bud Shank 20 years to get it right, but get it right he did with Brazilville. This CD is the real followup to the original Brazilliance. This CD swings with the fire of Rio. What we have here is an acoustic rhythm trio headed by co-leader Charlie Byrd that perfectly compliments the genius of Bud Shank's alto sax. Buy this CD. It's a masterpiece that was 20 years in the making.

This 1981 live date at Charlie's Club in Georgetown gives us an idea of what the L.A. Four would have sounded like if Laurindo Almeida played jazz guitar and Jeff Hamilton kept his drumming less obtrusive. This is a classic album; the interplay between Byrd and Shank is masterful; the choice of tunes is thoughtful; and the date produced a pair of masterpieces: Kurt Weill's "Speak Low", and and the old Jerome Kern standard "Yesterdays". Get this album before it disappears.

I was so happy to discover that this album came available as CD. It's an absolute jewel in my collection.

In 1953 Bud Shank recorded Brazilliance with acoustic guitarist Laurindo Almeida. That record predated Stan Getz' ventures into Bossa Nova by several years. You might say Bud Shank was ahead of his time. After releasing that record, Bud Shank attempted to create a sequel by releasing Brazilliance Volume 2. The sequel never quite lived up to the original. It featured Bud's flute playing and contained standards that didn't quite fit the Bossa Nova gendre.
Well, it took Bud Shank 20 years to get it right, but get it right he did with Brazilville. This CD is the real followup to the original Brazilliance. This CD swings with the fire of Rio. What we have here is an acoustic rhythm trio headed by co-leader Charlie Byrd that perfectly compliments the genius of Bud Shank's alto sax. Buy this CD. It's a masterpiece that was 20 years in the making. Review by William Gowers