Joe Byrd

The Joe Byrd Trio and Quartet farewell concerts at Loews Annapolis Powerhouse last weekend were sold out, filled with fans who witnessed the end of an era of authentic, sophisticated American jazz that has been at home in Annapolis the past 40 years. Joe Byrd has been playing bass for 50 years - 40 years with his world-class guitarist brother Charlie Byrd. After Charlie's death in 1999, Joe maintained his style of jazz with administrative support from Elana, his wife of 31 years. Elana Byrd, a lawyer who also acts as her husband's promoter and agent, serves as concert emcee.

Good news for jazz aficionados and connoisseurs: Concert impresario Elana Byrd has announced that she will continue the Joe Byrd jazz concerts in 2013. Joe and Elana Byrd had chosen the full 2012 slate of artists before his death March 7 in an auto accident near his Edgewater home. Elana Byrd decided to continue the planned season, bringing major jazz musicians to Annapolis. Downtown Annapolis is in its 40th consecutive year as a showcase for jazz — a legacy of local guitarist Charlie Byrd, his brother, bassist Joe, and entrepreneur Paul Pearson, who in 1972 opened the King of France Tavern at the Maryland Inn, where jazz royalty was featured for nearly 30 years.

Jazz concert -- Loews Annapolis Hotel and Joe Byrd Jazz will present Jazz at the Powerhouse at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday at 126 West St., Annapolis. The Joe Byrd trio, featuring Nate Najar and Kevin Whisman, will perform at the 7th annual tribute concert to Charlie Byrd (above). Proceeds benefit the Charlie Byrd Scholarship fund at the Peabody Institute in Baltimore. Reservations are required. 410-269-0777.

Joe Byrd, a bassist who was best known for collaborations with his guitarist brother Charlie and who helped introduce bossa nova-inflected jazz to the United States, died March 6 at Anne Arundel Medical Center from injuries suffered in a car accident that day. He was 78. Mr. Byrd, who also played guitar and was billed early in his career under his given name, Gene, was the youngest of four musical brothers who grew up in Virginia's Tidewater region....

Ever since last fall's closure of the legendary King of France Tavern on Church Circle, the Annapolis jazz scene has been strangely silent. But listen carefully and you just might hear the sound of Joe Byrd's bass tuning up for what he hopes will be a memorable performance. Tonight at 8, Byrd - brother of the late jazz legend Charlie Byrd - will perform for the opening of the Powerhouse, a new club at the Loews Annapolis Hotel on West Street. The club is a collaborative effort of Joe Byrd, wife Elana and Loews general manager Larry Beiderman.

BARCELONA, Spain -- Joe Byrd can't get a break.Yesterday amounted to a re- sounding success for his beleaguered U.S. boxing team, but the coach spent most of it fearing for Oscar de la Hoya's neck and his son Chris' body.Both fighters survived to advance to gold-medal bouts, but not in ways relaxing to Byrd, who is still reeling from the controversial eliminations of two U.S. fighters.De la Hoya edged a South Korean whose skills appeared better suited for professional wrestling. Chris Byrd dominated aCanadian, but distressed his father by keeping his hands down the entire fight.

When the Annapolis Brass Quintet disbanded in the spring of 1993, after 22 years of exceptional music-making, its fans hoped against hope that the pioneering ensemble would consider reassembling for occasional forays into the brass chamber music repertoire they did so much to popularize. But true to their word, trumpeters David Cran and Bob Suggs, French hornist Sharon Tiebert, and trombonists Wayne Wells and Robert Posten went their separate ways and avoided reunion concerts of any kind.

BARCELONA, Spain -- U.S. middleweight Chris Byrd spent the first round smirking at his opponent and shaking his head. Cuba's Ariel Hernandez just kept dancing, and before Byrd knew it, his chance of winning an Olympic gold medal was gone.The fighters were tied 4-4 entering the third round, but Hernandez outboxed Byrd in the final three minutes to earn a 12-7 decision -- the fourth by a Cuban over an American at these Olympics, the first including both countries since 1976.Lightweight Oscar de la Hoya was the only U.S. fighter to earn a gold medal, but four Cubans won golds yesterday, and four more compete in finals today.

BARCELONA, Spain -- Joe Byrd, the U.S. boxing coach, never intended to train fighters in his basement.In fact, when his wife suggested it after Byrd lost his old training site, he said, "I've got too much class to put no gym in my own house."But he did anyway, and it's important to know about the gym when you watch Joe's son, Chris, fight for a medal here. Because Chris is always leaning on the ropes, doing his Ali rope-a-dope imitation. He learned that in the family gym. He couldn't help but learn it.Seems the space in the basement is a little cramped.

When a nursing home director, a music publisher, the administrator of a scientific laboratory and a couple of college professors get together to play chamber music for an evening, you wouldn't think the public would be clamoring to hear them. But when those five players are the former Annapolis Brass Quintet, you can bet that tickets will be at a premium. For the first time since the ABQ's dissolution in 1993, trumpeters David Cran and Robert Suggs, French hornist Sharon Tiebert, and trombonists Wayne Wells and Robert Posten are getting together musically, returning to Annapolis for a performance of holiday music at historic St. Anne's Episcopal Church.

The 49 West Coffeehouse and Cafe back room is an intimate, homey space where music fans can experience, up-close, musicians' creative artistry. On occasion it's possible to hear music royalty, as we did June 14 when native Brazilians Duduka Da Fonseca on drums and Leonardo Cioglio on bass performed. They were joined by local favorites Chuck Redd on vibes and his brother Robert on piano. Remembering Brazilian composer Antonio Carlos Jobim seemed appropriate in Annapolis, where the late, great guitarist Charlie Byrd helped popularize his music.

The Joe Byrd Trio and Quartet farewell concerts at Loews Annapolis Powerhouse last weekend were sold out, filled with fans who witnessed the end of an era of authentic, sophisticated American jazz that has been at home in Annapolis the past 40 years. Joe Byrd has been playing bass for 50 years - 40 years with his world-class guitarist brother Charlie Byrd. After Charlie's death in 1999, Joe maintained his style of jazz with administrative support from Elana, his wife of 31 years. Elana Byrd, a lawyer who also acts as her husband's promoter and agent, serves as concert emcee.

Anyone sharing my New Year's resolution to enjoy life more in 2008 might find this goal easy to pursue at 49 West Coffeehouse, Winebar & Gallery in Annapolis. Having visited the cafe twice last year and experienced its ambience while enjoying the classic jazz offered in the back room, I returned Jan. 2 and Jan. 9 to find the atmosphere even more glowing. A longtime fan of Joe Byrd and pianist Jim Lester, I found their music Jan. 2 as elegant as I remembered, with the added distinction of Bill McHenry on drums.

Jazz concert -- Loews Annapolis Hotel and Joe Byrd Jazz will present Jazz at the Powerhouse at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday at 126 West St., Annapolis. The Joe Byrd trio, featuring Nate Najar and Kevin Whisman, will perform at the 7th annual tribute concert to Charlie Byrd (above). Proceeds benefit the Charlie Byrd Scholarship fund at the Peabody Institute in Baltimore. Reservations are required. 410-269-0777.

An art perfected by the late Charlie Byrd, who drew legions of fans to the Maryland Inn's King of France Tavern -- jazz continues to flourish in Annapolis. Attorney Elana Byrd and her husband, bassist Joe Byrd -- Charlie's brother -- are at the forefront of the local jazz scene with their weekly jam sessions at 49 West and in monthly concerts at Loews' Powerhouse. Its third floor can accommodate 100 patrons in a cozy, cabaret setting. The $20 cover charge and reasonably priced drinks provide an affordable evening.

The indigenous American art form of vintage jazz was recently celebrated at Loews' Powerhouse in Annapolis. The event was hosted by Elana Byrd, who with her husband - bassist Joe Byrd - has promoted a resurgence of jazz in Annapolis. Joe Byrd is the brother of the late jazz legend Charlie Byrd, and the Charlie Byrd Trio for years was a main draw of the King of France Tavern at the Maryland Inn. The June 23--24 weekend closed the Powerhouse jazz season for the summer, with Friday night featuring the newly formed Powerhouse Six led by clarinetist Bob Thulman in a program of Dixieland and ragtime.

An art perfected by the late Charlie Byrd, who drew legions of fans to the Maryland Inn's King of France Tavern -- jazz continues to flourish in Annapolis. Attorney Elana Byrd and her husband, bassist Joe Byrd -- Charlie's brother -- are at the forefront of the local jazz scene with their weekly jam sessions at 49 West and in monthly concerts at Loews' Powerhouse. Its third floor can accommodate 100 patrons in a cozy, cabaret setting. The $20 cover charge and reasonably priced drinks provide an affordable evening.

BARCELONA, Spain -- The fighter said he got thumbed in the eye. The coach said the fighter quit. And a third party offered just what the latest U.S. boxing controversy needed: Another opinion.The facts are, U.S. flyweight Tim Austin lasted only 64 seconds in his Olympic semifinal bout against Cuba's Raul Gonzalez yesterday before Indonesian referee Kishen Narsi stopped the fight.Austin's personal coach, John Falcone, claimed afterward that the outcome would have been different had he been permitted in Austin's corner.

Ever since last fall's closure of the legendary King of France Tavern on Church Circle, the Annapolis jazz scene has been strangely silent. But listen carefully and you just might hear the sound of Joe Byrd's bass tuning up for what he hopes will be a memorable performance. Tonight at 8, Byrd - brother of the late jazz legend Charlie Byrd - will perform for the opening of the Powerhouse, a new club at the Loews Annapolis Hotel on West Street. The club is a collaborative effort of Joe Byrd, wife Elana and Loews general manager Larry Beiderman.

When a nursing home director, a music publisher, the administrator of a scientific laboratory and a couple of college professors get together to play chamber music for an evening, you wouldn't think the public would be clamoring to hear them. But when those five players are the former Annapolis Brass Quintet, you can bet that tickets will be at a premium. For the first time since the ABQ's dissolution in 1993, trumpeters David Cran and Robert Suggs, French hornist Sharon Tiebert, and trombonists Wayne Wells and Robert Posten are getting together musically, returning to Annapolis for a performance of holiday music at historic St. Anne's Episcopal Church.