Byrd's Word!

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2023}}

{{about|the album by Charlie Byrd|the album by Donald Byrd|Byrd's Word}}

{{Infobox album

| name = Byrds's Word!

| type = studio

| artist = Charlie Byrd

| cover = Byrd's Word!.jpg

| alt =

| released = 1962

| recorded = 1958

| venue =

| studio = Edgewood Recording Studios, Washington, D.C.

| genre = Jazz

| length = 41:24

| label = Riverside

| producer = Orrin Keepnews

| chronology = Charlie Byrd

| prev_title = Midnight Guitar

| prev_year = 1957

| next_title = Byrd in the Wind

| next_year = 1959

}}

Byrd's Word! is an album by American jazz guitarist Charlie Byrd with tracks recorded in 1958 and released on the Riverside label in 1962.[http://www.jazzdisco.org/riverside-records/catalog-400-series/#rlp-448 Riverside Records discography] accessed October 26, 2012 The album was first released on the Washington Records Offbeat imprint as Jazz at the Showboat[http://www.jazzdisco.org/riverside-records/washington-records-catalog-offbeat-3000-4000-4900-5700-series/#olp-3001 Washington Records discography] accessed October 29, 2012

Reception

{{Album ratings

| rev1 = Allmusic

| rev1Score = {{rating|4|5}}

}}

Allmusic awarded the album 4 stars stating "Byrd's Word! is an early Charlie Byrd recording that finds the guitarist in a variety of settings... Though there are really no bad cuts on the album, the content is so diverse – acoustic trios, electric guitar with brass, and acoustic guitar with vocals – that the album doesn't flow as a whole... The variety of material and styles gives the impression that Byrd was experimenting, but even so, his experimentation was conservative... Byrd's Word! may not be a great album, but it is certainly a good place to get a look at Byrd's early development".Lankford, Jr., R. D. [http://www.allmusic.com/album/byrds-word-mw0000105787 Allmusic Review] accessed October 26, 2012

Track listing

All compositions written by Bobby Felder except as indicated

  1. "Byrd's Word" – 5:32
  2. "Blue Turning Grey Over You" (Andy Razaf, Fats Waller) – 2:55
  3. "Bobby in Bassoonville" – 4:26
  4. "Satin Doll" (Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn, Johnny Mercer) – 4:20
  5. "Tri-X" – 4:29
  6. "Conversation Piece" (Charlie Byrd, Keter Betts) – 3:36
  7. "What's New?" (Bob Haggart, Johnny Burke) – 4:14
  8. "Stompin' at the Savoy" (Benny Goodman, Chick Webb, Edgar Sampson, Razaf) – 3:21
  9. "Don't Explain" (Arthur Herzog, Jr., Billie Holiday) – 3:27
  10. "Buck's Hill" – 4:37

Personnel

  • Charlie Byrd – guitar
  • Bobby Felder – valve trombone (tracks 1, 3, 5, 7 & 10)
  • Kenneth Pasmanick – bassoon (track 3)
  • Buck Hilltenor saxophone (tracks 1, 5, 7 & 10)
  • T. Carson (tracks 1, 3, 5, 7 & 10), Charlie Schneer (track 8) – piano
  • Keter Bettsbass, cello (tracks 1, 3–8 & 10)
  • Eddie Phyfe (tracks 4, 6 & 8) Bertell Knox (tracks 1, 3, 5, 7 & 10) – drums
  • Ginny Byrd – vocals (tracks 2 & 9)

References