Charlie Byrd tribute at the Theatre

At 3 p.m. Sunday, March 10, the Theatre at Washington presents guitarist Nate Najar, Chuck Redd on vibes and drums and Tommy Cecil on bass in a concert dedicated to the memory of Charlie Byrd.

The late, great guitarist was one of the first musicians to play at the Theatre more than 20 years ago, when his trio included Redd on drums and vibes; Chuck had joined the trio in 1980 at the age of 21 and he remained close to Charlie, both musically and as a family friend, until the guitarist’s death in 1999.

Najar was also strongly influenced by Byrd. “Charlie was my guy,” says the young guitarist. “I knew Charlie's records, I loved his sound . . . . There was just this elegant simplicity in his playing; it always seemed like just the right way to do it.”

Najar has played with jazz greats including Clark Terry, Ken Peplowski and Ray Kennedy. In 2008, Nate was invited to perform in a Kennedy Center event celebrating Charlie Byrd and other D.C. area jazz notables. Redd says Najar’s playing has been described as “energetic yet delicate” and that it echoes “the earthiness of Charlie Byrd.”

Bassist Tommy Cecil played with Byrd many times, and it is fitting that the three musicians join in this tribute. Chuck says that this trio has been working together in Washington, D.C. and New York for the last three or four years and there is a wonderful chemistry between them.

Tickets for the March 10 performance are $25 ($10 ages 17 and younger). For reservation, call 540- 675- 1253 or email TheatreVA@aol.com.