Black Byrd

• Artist: Donald Byrd
• Rating:
• Release Date: 1973
• Total Time: 44:21
• Type: Instrumental
• Genre: Jazz

Review

Purists howled with indignation when Donald Byrd released Black Byrd, a full-fledged foray into R&B that erupted into a popular phenomenon. Byrd was branded a sellout and a traitor to his hard bop credentials, especially after Black Byrd became the biggest-selling album in Blue Note history. What the elitists missed, though, was that Black Byrd was the moment when Byrd's brand of fusion finally stepped out from under the shadow of his chief influence, Miles Davis, and found a distinctive voice of its own. Never before had a jazz musician embraced the celebratory sound and style of contemporary funk as fully as Byrd did here -- not even Davis, whose dark, chaotic jungle-funk stood in sharp contrast to the bright, breezy, danceable music on Black Byrd. Byrd gives free rein to producer/arranger/composer Larry Mizell, who crafts a series of tightly focused, melodic pieces often indebted to the lengthier orchestrations of Isaac Hayes and Curtis Mayfield. They're built on the most straightforward funk rhythms Byrd had yet tackled, and if the structures aren't as loose or complex as his earlier fusion material, they make up for it with a funky sense of groove that's damn near irresistible. Byrd's solos are mostly melodic and in-the-pocket, but that allows the funk to take center stage. Sure, maybe the electric piano, sound effects, and Roger Glenn's ubiquitous flute date the music somewhat, but that's really part of its charm. Black Byrd was state-of-the-art for its time, and it set a new standard for all future jazz/R&B/funk fusions -- of which there were many. Byrd would continue to refine this sound on equally essential albums like Street Lady and the fantastic Places and Spaces, but Black Byrd stands as his groundbreaking signature statement. ~ Steve Huey, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Flight Time	Larry Mizell	Donald Byrd	(8:27)
Black Byrd	Larry Mizell	Donald Byrd	(8:00)
Love's So Far Away	Larry Mizell	Donald Byrd	(6:00)
Mr. Thomas	Larry Mizell, Warren Jordan	Donald Byrd	(5:15)
Sky High	Larry Mizell	Donald Byrd	(5:59)
Slop Jar Blues	Larry Mizell	Donald Byrd	(6:00)
Where Are We Going?	L. Gordon, Larry Mizell	Donald Byrd	(4:40)

Credits

Chuck Rainey (Bass (Electric)), Donald Byrd (Electric Trumpet), Dr. George Butler (Executive Producer), Larry Mizell (Vocals), Steve Waldman (Assistant Engineer), David Hassinger (Engineer), David T. Walker (Guitar), Fonce Mizell (Trumpet), Freddie Perren (Vocals), Donald Byrd (Flugelhorn), Wilton Felder (Bass (Electric)), Chuck Davis (Assistant Engineer), Chuck Rainey (?), Joe Sample (Piano (Electric)), Dean Parks (Guitar), Larry Mizell (Producer), David Hassinger (Remixing), Perk Jacobs (Percussion), Bobbye Porter (Percussion), Freddie Perren (Synthesizer), Roger Glenn (Flute), Allan Curtis Barnes (Saxophone), Kevin Toney (Piano), Chuck Davis (Mixing Assistant), Joe Sample (Piano), Roger Glenn (Saxophone), Freddie Perren (Piano (Electric)), Bobbye Hall (Percussion), Stephanie Spruill (Percussion), Barney Perry (Guitar), Allan Curtis Barnes (Flute), Allan Curtis Barnes (Oboe), Donald Byrd (Vocals), Fonce Mizell (Vocals), Keith Killgo (Drums), Joe Hill (Bass), Donald Byrd (Trumpet), Harvey Mason, Sr. (Drums), Larry Mizell (Arranger)

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