The Great Guitars - Charlie Byrd, Herb Ellis & Barney Kessel / director, Angus Wright ; Wayne Phillips, Charlie Byrd, Joe Byrd, Herb Ellis, Barney Kessel.

[Place of publication not identified] : EUROARTS, 1987.

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"Guitarists Herb Ellis, Barney Kessel and Charlie Byrd had every right to call the collective group they formed ""The Great Guitars,"" for these were three of the finest players jazz had ever known. Each had a distinctive style. Of the ensemble's electric guitarists, Ellis was touched by country music, while Kessel dug deeply into the blues. Byrd-featured here on amplified acoustic guitar-was seriously influenced by bossa nova. Yet each shared common ground and could delve into the other's musical spheres with satisfying results. The extraordinary harmony that arose when the three virtuosos hooked up can certainly be heard during this high-spirted British performance. While all three men were deeply touched by swing and bebop, labelling their individual styles misses the mark. What unites these wizardly players was an unerring ability to swing and to regularly produce beautiful and expressive music no matter the idiom or tempo. Little wonder that each of these players collaborated with many of the most illustrious jazz icons of their day including Charlie Parker, Oscar Peterson and Stan Getz. We also sense the pleasure that each takes in the other's masterful playing. On such performances as ""Undecided,"" the theme from ""The Flintstones,"" and their animated tribute to three illustrious jazz guitarists ( Django Reinhardt, Wes Montgomery and Charlie Christian) the mutual respect among this six-string triumvirate is palpable. Exuberant, tasteful and, above all, swinging, Herb Ellis, Barney Kessel and Charlie Byrd were indeed the great guitars! Steve Futterman".

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June 05, 2023

Concert films.