Top jazzman here

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33453, 7 February 1974, Page 4

Top jazzman here

Three of the finest jazz guitarists of the last decade — Barney Kessel. Herb Ellis and Charlie Byrd —• will appear in convert at the Town Hall next Wednesday evening. The concert will feature each in trio format backed by Gene Byrd, bass, and Bill Reichenbach, drums, the other members of the Charlie Byrd Trio which toured New Zealand in 1962. As a finale, the three will play together with the rylhym section, a set which could provide some of the most exciting jazz performed here. There are surprising similarities in the background of the three. All are about 50 years old. poll winners, widely recorded and performed. Barney Kessel and Herb Ellis have both worked with big bands in the vintage days, and Herb Ellis took Kessel’s place as a member of the Oscar Peterson Trio in the five years from 1953 to 1958. a period in which the trio performed much of its very best music. Both guitarists were wedded to amplified guitars and used plectrum, rather than the thumb and finger style later employed so successfully by Wes Montgomery., Charlie is a bird of differ- i ent plumage, a guitarist unique in his use of a classical technique (and guitar), equally at home with classics or jazz. His tutors have included Sophocles Parpas! and Andres Segovia. Latterly his contribution to music, excluding tours, shows and recording has been his work in the “bossanova” area, a musical form he did much to popularise after successful recordings such as “Jazz Samba” with saxophonist Stan Getz.