JANICE'S BLUES ALLEY PRESENTS
DONALD BYRD
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Donald Byrd was considered one of the finest hard bop trumpeters of the post-Clifford Brown era. He recorded prolifically as both a leader and sideman from the mid-'50s into the mid-'60s, most often for Blue Note, where he established a reputation as a solid stylist with a clean tone, clear articulation, and a knack for melodicism. Toward the end of the '60s, Byrd became fascinated with Miles Davis' move into fusion, and started recording his own forays into the field. In the early '70s, with the help of brothers Larry and Fonce Mizell, Byrd perfected a bright, breezy, commercially potent take on fusion that was distinct from Davis, incorporating tighter arrangements and more of a smooth soul influence. Opinions on this phase of Byrd's career diverge wildly -- jazz purists utterly despised it, branding Byrd a sellout and the records a betrayal of talent, but enraptured jazz-funk fans regard it as some of the most innovative, enduring work of its kind. In fact, proportionately speaking, Byrd was held in even higher esteem by that audience than by straight-ahead jazz fans who enjoyed his hard bop output.
Donaldson Toussaint L'Ouverture Byrd II was born in Detroit, Michigan, on December 9, 1932. His father, a Methodist minister, was an amateur musician, and Byrd was already an accomplished trumpeter by the time he finished high school, having performed with Lionel Hampton. Byrd served a stint in the Air Force, during which time he played in a military band, and subsequently completed his bachelor's degree in music at Wayne State University in 1954. He moved to New York in 1955 to get his master's at the Manhattan School of Music, and soon began performing with pianist George Wallington's group. In December of that year, he was invited to join Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, filling a chair once held by his idol, Clifford Brown, and Kenny Dorham. Byrd also began his recording career during this period, leading several sessions (mostly for Savoy) and working often as a sideman, particularly at the Prestige label. He left the Jazz Messengers in 1956 and joined up with Max Roach; he went on to play with the likes of John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins, and Red Garland, and also co-founded the Jazz Lab Quintet with altoist Gigi Gryce in 1957.
In 1958, Byrd signed an exclusive recording contract with Blue Note, and also formed a band with baritonist Pepper Adams, who would remain Byrd's regular partner until 1961. Byrd's Blue Note debut was 1958's Off to the Races, and he and Adams collaborated on a series of excellent hard bop dates over the next three years, including Byrd in Hand (1959), At the Half Note Cafe, Vols. 1-2 (1960), The Cat Walk (1961), and Royal Flush (also 1961), among others. Another 1961 recording, Free Form, found Byrd giving a young Herbie Hancock some of his earliest exposure. Following this burst of activity, Byrd took a sabbatical to continue his studies in Europe, where he spent some time under the tutelage of the legendary French music educator Nadia Boulanger. He returned to the U.S. in 1963 and recorded A New Perspective, a now-classic set that broke new ground by incorporating gospel choirs into its arrangements; its signature piece, "Cristo Redentor," became quite popular.
In the mid-'60s, Byrd focused more of his energies on teaching, and worked diligently to make jazz and its history a legitimate part of the college curriculum. He taught at Rutgers, Hampton, New York University, and Howard in the late '60s, and the last one remained a steady association for much of the '70s. In the meantime, Byrd continued to record occasionally, cutting a final spate of hard bop albums over 1966-1967 that included Mustang! and Blackjack. Byrd also began to study African music, inspired partly by the emerging black-consciousness movement, and became interested in Miles Davis' efforts to woo a younger audience (including Byrd's own students) by experimenting with electronics and funk rhythms. Released in 1969, Fancy Free found Byrd using electric piano for the first time, with a spacy sound that recalled Davis' In a Silent Way. Issued in 1970, Electric Byrd had more of a Bitches Brew flavor, and the jams on 1971's Ethiopian Knights were longer, funkier, and more aggressive.
Byrd truly came into his own as a fusion artist when he hooked up with brothers Larry and Fonce Mizell, who began to handle production, writing, and some musical support duties. Their first collaboration was 1972's Black Byrd, an upbeat, funky blend of jazz and R & B. Jazz critics detested the album and called Byrd all sorts of names, but the record was a smash hit; it became the biggest seller in Blue Note history, and just missed hitting number one on the R & B albums chart. In the wake of its success, Byrd formed a supporting group, the Blackbyrds, who were culled from the cream of his music students at Howard University and recorded through the rest of the '70s. Byrd went on to release a string of successful LPs in partnership with the Mizell Brothers, including the imaginary blaxploitation soundtrack Street Lady (1974), Stepping into Tomorrow (1975), the much-lauded Places and Spaces (1976), and Caricatures (1977). All made the Top Ten on the R & B album charts, and the Places and Spaces single "Change (Makes You Wanna Hustle)" even got substantial play in discotheques. Jazz-funk fans revere this period in general, but usually reserve their highest praise for Street Lady and, especially, Places and Spaces. As a side note to his musical career, Byrd finished law school in 1976, and went on to teach at North Carolina Central University.
Following Caricatures, Byrd parted ways with Blue Note and the Mizell Brothers and moved to Elektra. He recorded several albums over 1978-1983, but even the most commercially successful, 1978's Thank You...for F.U.M.L. (Funking up My Life), didn't match the infectiousness of his Blue Note jazz-funk outings. In 1982, Byrd received his Ph.D. from Columbia Teachers College. He spent a few years in the mid-'80s away from recording, due in part to ill health, but continued to teach, moving on to North Texas State and Delaware State. In the late '80s and early '90s, Byrd returned to the hard bop of his early days on several sessions for the Landmark label. He participated in rapper Guru's Jazzmatazz project in 1993, and with the advent of the jazz-rap movement and England's acid jazz revival, his '70s albums became hugely popular sources for samples. In the meantime, Byrd continued his activities as a jazz educator. He died in February 2013 at the age of 80.
-- by Steve Huey, All Music Guide
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1955 Byrd Jazz |
1955 First Flight01. Blues02. Tortion Level 03. Woody �N You 04. Dancing In The Dark 05. Parisian Thoroughfare 06. Yusef 07. Shaw �Nuff |
1955 Long Green |
1955 Byrd�s Word01. Winterset02. Gotcha Goin� And Comin� 03. If I Love Again 04. Long Green 05. Star Eyes 06. Someone To Watch Over Me |
1955 Byrd�s Eye View01. Doug�s Blues02. El Sino 03. Everything Happens To Me 04. Hank�s Tune 05. Hank�s Other Tune 06. Crazy Rhythm |
1956 Two Trumpets01. The Third02. Contour 03. Dig 04. �Round Midnight 05. When Your Lover Has Gone |
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1956 The Young Bloods01. Dewey Square02. Dupeltook 03. Once More 04. House Of Chan 05. In Walked George 06. Lover Man |
1956 All Night Long01. All Night Long02. Boo-Lu 03. Flickers 04. Li�l Hankie 05. Body And Soul 06. Tune-Up |
1956 September Afternoon01. Stardust02. Indian Summer 03. I�m A Fool To Want You 04. Some Day My Prince Will Come 05. Moon Mist 06. I Get Along Without You Very Well 07. The Touch Of Your Lips 08. Lazy Afternoon 09. Varmeland 10. Love Is The Sweetest Thing 11. September Afternoon 12. Dearly Beloved |
1956 The Jazz Message Of Freedom for All |
1957 Byrd Blows On Beacon Hill01. Little Rock Getaway02. Polka Dots And Moonbeams 03. People Will Say We�re In Love 04. If I Love Again 05. What�s New 06. Stella By Starlight |
1957 Jazz Lab01. Love For Sale02. Geraldine 03. Zing! Went The Strings Of My Heart 04. Minority 05. Wake Up |
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1957 Star Eyes |
1957 Modern Jazz Perspective | 1958 Three Trumpets01. Palm Court Alley02. Who�s Who? 03. Diffusion Of Beauty 04. Forty Quarters 05. You Gotta Dig It To Dig It |
1958 Jazz In Paris01. Salt Peanuts02. Parisian Thoroughfare 03. Stardust 04. 52nd Street Theme 05. At This Time 06. Formidable 07. Two-Bass Hit |
1958 Off To The Races01. Down Tempo02. Off To The Races 03. Sudwest Funk 04. Lover 05. Paul�s Pal 06. Lover, Come Back To Me 07. When Your Lover Has Gone |
1959 Byrd In Hand01. Witchcraft02. Here Am I 03. Devil Whip 04. Bronze Dance 05. Clarion Calls 06. The Injuns |
| 1959 Fuego01. Fuego02. Bup A Loup 03. Funky Mama 04. Low Life 05. Lament 06. Amen |
1959 Byrd In Paris01. Dear Old Stockholm02. Paul�s Pal 03. Flute Blues 04. Ray�s Idea 05. The Blues Walk |
1960 Donald Byrd At The Half Note Caf� Vol. 101. My Girl Shirl02. Soulful Kiddy 03. Portrait Of Jennie 04. Cecile 05. The Theme |
1960 Donald Byrd At The Half Note Caf� Vol. 201. Jeannine02. Pure D. Funk 03. Kimyas 04. When Sunny Gets Blue |
1960 Byrd In Flight01. Ghana02. Little Boy Blue 03. Gate City 04. Lex 05. Bo 06. My Girl Shirl 07. Child�s Play 08. Carol 09. Soulful Kiddy |
1960 Motor City Scene01. Stardust02. Philson 03. Trio 04. Libeccio 05. Bitty Ditty |
| 1961 Chant01. I�m An Old Cowhand02. You�re Next 03. That�s All 04. Great Cot 05. Sophisticated Lady |
1961 The Cat Walk01. Say You�re Mine02. Duke�s Mixture 03. Each Time I think Of You 04. The Cat Walk 05. Cute 06. Hello Bright Sunflower |
1961 Royal Flush01. Hush02. I�m A Fool To Want You 03. Jorgie�s 04. Shangri-La 05. 6M�s 06. Requiem |
1961 Free Form01. Pentecostal Feelin�02. Night Flower 03. Nai Nai 04. French Spice 05. Free Form |
1961 Out Of This World01. Birdhouse02. Theme From Mr. Lucky 03. Day Dream 04. I�m An Old Cowhand 05. Currio�s 06. It�s A Beautiful Evening 07. Out Of This World |
1962 Grooving For Nat01. Hush02. Child�s Play 03. Angel Eyes 04. Smoothie 05. Sudel 06. Friday�s Child 07. Out Of This World 08. Grooving For Nat |
| 1963 A New Perspective01. Elijah02. Beast Of Burden 03. Cristo Redentor 04. The Black Disciple 05. Chant |
1964 Up With Donald Byrd01. You�re Talking About My Baby02. Blind Man, Blind Man 03. Boom Boom 04. My Babe 05. See See Rider 06. House Of The Rising Sun 07. Bossa 08. Cantaloupe Woman 09. Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child |
1964 I�m Trying To Get Home01. Brother Isaac02. Noah 03. I�m Trying To Get Home 04. I�ve Longed And Searched For My Mother 05. March Children 06. Pearly Gates |
1966 Mustang01. Mustang02. Fly Little Bird Fly 03. I Got It Bad (and that ain�t good) 04. Dixie Lee 05. On The Trail 06. I�m So Excited By You 07. Gingerbread Boy |
1967 Blackjack01. Blackjack02. West Of Pecos 03. Loki 04. Eldorado 05. Beale Street 06. Pentatonic 07. All Members |
1967 Slow Drag01. Slow Drag02. Secret Love 03. Booker�s Bossa 04. Jelly Roll 05. The Loner 06. My Ideal |
| 1967 The Creeper01. Samba Yantra02. I Will Wait For You 03. Blues Medium Rare 04. The Creeper 05. Chico-San 06. Early Sunday Morning 07. Blues Well Done |
1970 Fancy Free01. Fancy Free02. I Love The Girl 03. The Uptowner 04. Weasil |
1970 Electric Byrd01. Estavanico02. Essence 03. Xibaba 04. The Dude |
1971 Kofi01. Kofi02. Fufu 03. Perpetual Love 04. Elmina 05. The Loud Minority |
1972 Ethiopian Knights01. The Emperor02. Jamie 03. The Little rasti |
1973 Black Byrd01. Flight Time02. Black Byrd 03. Love�s So Far Away 04. Mr. Thomas 05. Sky High 06. Slop Jar Blues 07. Where Are We Going? |
| 1973 Street Lady01. Lansana�s Priestess02. Miss Kane 03. Sister Love 04. Street Lady 05. Witch Hunt 06. Woman Of The World |
1975 Places And Spaces01. Change (makes you wanna hustle)02. Wind Parade 03. Falling Like Dominoes 04. Places And Spaces 05. You And The Music 06. Night Whistler 07. Just My Imagination |
1975 Stepping Into Tomorrow01. Stepping Into Tomorrow02. Design A Nation 03. We�re Together 04. Think Twice 05. Makin� It 06. Rock And Roll Again 07. You Are The World 08. I Love The Girl |
1976 Caricatures01. Dance Band02. Wild Life 03. Caricatures 04. Science Funktion 05. Dancing In The Street 06. Return Of The King 07. Onward �Til Morning 08. Tell Me |
1978 Thank You . . . For F. U. M. L.01. Thank You For Funking Up My Life02. Sunning In Your Loveshine 03. Your Love Is My Ecstasy 04. Loving You 05. Have You Heard The News 06. In Love With Love 07. Cristo Redentor 08. Close Your Eyes And Look Within |
1981 Donald Byrd And 125th Street NYC01. Pretty Baby02. Gold The Moon, White The Sun 03. Giving It Up 04. Marilyn 05. People Suppose To Be Free 06. Veronica 07. Morning 08. I Love You |
| 1981 Love Byrd01. Love Has Come Around02. Butterfly 03. I Feel Like Loving You Today 04. I Love Your Love 05. I�ll Always Love You 06. Love For Sale 07. Falling |
1982 Words, Sounds, Colors And Shapes01. Sexy Dancer02. Midnight 03. So Much In Love 04. High Energy 05. Star Trippin� 06. I�m Comin� Home 07. Forbidden Love 08. Everyday |
1990 Getting Down To Business01. Theme From Malcolm02. That�s All There Is To Love 03. Pomponio 04. I Got It Bad (and that ain�t good) 05. A Certain Attitude 06. The Onliest 07. Around The Corner |
1991 A City Called Heaven01. King Arthur02. I�ll Always Remember 03. A City Called Heaven 04. Buck Down In Lu Easy Anna 05. Byrd Song 06. Del Valle 07. Remember Me 08. Not Necessarily The Blues |
1992 Harlem Blues01. Harlem Blues02. Fly Little Bird Fly 03. Voyage A Deux (journey for two) 04. Blue Monk 05. Alter Ego 06. Sir Master Kool Guy 07. Hi-Fly |
2002 At Newport01. Johnny Come Lately02. Nona�s Blues 03. Tune 2 04. Splittin� (Ray�s way) 05. Batland 06. Love For Sale |
| 2005 In A Soulful Mood01. Stardust02. Philson 03. Trio 04. Libeccio 05. Bitty Ditty |
2006 With Strings |
2012 Modern Jazz Perspective |
