by Scott Yanow
For this trio album with bassist Joe Byrd and drummer Wayne Phillips, Charlie Byrd (who long ago became an innovator by bringing the classical guitar into jazz) performs a bossa-nova oriented program which, in addition to a pair of Antonio Carlos Jobim tunes, Luiz Bonfa's &The Gentle Rain& and Dori Caymmi's &Saudade Da Bihia,& includes four of Byrd's own compositions in the style. The music is typically exquisite, pretty and subtle and the performances grow in interest with each listen.