by Scott Yanow
This Concord release has a logical combination, teaming together guitarist Charlie Byrd's trio (which also includes bassist Joe Byrd and drummer Charles Redd) with the alto of Bud Shank. Shank had recorded an early version of bossa-nova with guitarist Laurindo Almeida in the mid-'50s while Byrd helped to popularize the attractive idiom in the early '60s. Shank and Byrd mix together very well, performing a few standards and some obscurities, mostly with samba rhythms. This music is both accessible and creative; recommended.