Collectables
combines two very different back-to-back recordings made by guitarist
Charlie Byrd
for
Columbia
in the mid-'60s.
Travellin' Man
(issued in 1965) is a live gig at the Showboat in Washington D.C., a club he was playing in -- and owned -- 36 weeks out of the year. He is featured with his bass playing brother
Joe
, and the rather astonishing drummer
Bill Reichenbach
. The program consists of everything from originals like the title cut and the
country
and
bluegrass
tinged opener
"Mama I'll Be Home Someday"
to
Michel Legrand
's
"I Will Wait for You."
With tunes like the
Richard Rodgers
Stephen Sondheim
standard
"Do I Hear a Waltz,"
Billy Strayhorn
"U.M.M.G.,"
Django Reinhardt
"Nuages"
sandwiched in between. It' is a hard swinging date where
Byrd
, a great melodic improviser, turns original arrangements inside out and pours his love for
bossa
blues
into everything he plays. The latter album,
A Touch of Gold
, was recorded and released in 1966 and was thought to be a great departure for the hard swinging jazzman. The set featured a full backing band with horns and strings and a backing vocal chorus arranged by
Charlie Callello
. The tunes were regarded derogatorily in many quarters as "
pop
songs" -- and that may be exactly why
loved them. The opening bars of
"In My Room, (El Amor)"
by
Lee Pockriss
borrows its opening statement from
George Gershwin
"Summertime,"
, of course moves through its beautiful Latin modes and harmonies effortlessly, allowing the rhythms full free range play inside it. Likewise, his
version of
"The Shadow of Your Smile,"
where
samba
rhythms permeate the arrangements and
's solo plays counterpoint to the melody in places only enhances the lyric of the tune, rather than take away from it.
Other surprises on the set are a trio of
Beatles
covers in
"Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown),"
"Yesterday,"
"Michelle."
's adherence to the melody and the illustrative brass section on the former offered a very "South of the Border," feel, that broke it briefly into a swinging progressive
big band
item. On the last cut, a brief but beautiful string prologue advances the theme inconspicuously before
brings his shimmering faux
flamenco
style to the body of the main melody.
's knowledge of the intricate harmonics in these pieces is rather remarkable. Indeed, no less a voice than
Orrin Keepnews
predicted the tracks would be known as
standards
in a short time. And he was right in, no small part simply because
covered them, and adult audiences were exposed to the complex and adventurously accessible music of
the Beatles
. But there is more than lilting love song sentiment in
's take on popular music. Listen to his humorous reading of the theme from
"Bonanza!,"
or even his wooly version of the barroom/strip club anthem
"Walk Right In."
These cuts have their vulgarities, but they are not without elegance because
was the king of class. As for evidence (if anyone needs more), they need listen no further than his utterly moving version of
Ervin Drake
"It Was a Very Good Year,"
that was closely associated with
Sinatra
during this juncture -- and virtually owned by him in performance every year thereafter. This may not be the
recording to start with, but anyone deeply interested in his music should seriously consider checking this one out as well. Two full albums on a single CD? What are you waiting for? ~ Thom Jurek