Laurindo Almeida

Two acoustic-guitar aces, Laurindo Almeida and Charlie Byrd, who were instrumental (no pun intended) in popularizing Brazilian bossa nova to American audiences (and subsequently, the world), join forces and stretch out on some tunes from, well, Brazil. The languid, sultry rhythms, the immaculate picking, the superbly tasteful backing by Milt Holland and Bob Magnusson–all one would need now is a floral-print shirt, an outdoor cafe (or porch), and one's favorite libation to live a life free from care and woe for at least as long as this disc plays. ~ CDUniverse

The first of at least four meetings on record between the great Brazilian-styled guitarists Laurindo Almeida and Charlie Byrd, this very logical matchup (in a quartet with bassist Bob Magnusson and percussionist Milt Holland) is quite succesful. The music is tightly arranged with very little improvisation but the beauty of the two guitarist's distinctive tones and the colorful melodies makes this a rewarding set. From "Carioca" and Jobim's "Stone Flower" to several Brazilian classical pieces and even "Don't Cry For Me Argentina," everything works.

The gracefully aging Brazilian guitarist takes a trio into a jazz club in Pacific Beach (near San Diego) and delivers a lovely, swinging set of transcriptions and arrangements of music from three continents, bracketed by the music of Jobim ("Outra Vez" to start, and a medley of hits to close). While Almeida was not a technical dazzler at age 74, it doesn't matter; his selection of notes, his feeling for the samba, his selection of material, and his fine-tuned timing with his rhythm section (Bob Magnusson, bass; Jim Plank, drums) make this a hugely enjoyable record.