R.I.P. DONALDSON TOUSSAINT L’OUVERTURE BYRD II (DECEMBER 9, 1932 – FEBRUARY 4, 2013) Guru Featuring Donald Byrd - Loungin'

Donaldson Toussaint L'Ouverture Byrd II (December 9, 1932 – February 4, 2013) was an American jazz and rhythm and blues trumpeter. A sideman for many other jazz musicians of his generation, Byrd was best known as one of the only bebop jazz musicians who successfully pioneered the funk and soul genres while simultaneously remaining a jazz artist. Read More


Dr. Donald Byrd's deeply rooted jazz background never stopped him from constantly pushing jazz forward, opening the minds of his listeners in the process. Produced by Larry Mizell in 1973, Black Byrd is filled with beautiful music that captures his passion for sound. The sophisticated, uptempo instrumentals are funky and danceable, but also extremely smooth. Byrd's impeccable trumpet meshes perfectly with the African-influenced beats and rhythms. Jazz purists may want to look into earlier Blue Note recordings such as Royal Flush and Byrd in Flight. --Shane Hunt


You can almost feel the heat off the Harlem (or neighbourhood) pavement from these tunes. There's a sultriness to these vibes that recalls hot summer breezes, just hanging out, and the natural horniness that days like that arouses. A very outdoor groove abounds here, with instrumentation and chord progressions that recall blaxploitation soundtracks, but with greater flair and always with the lightness of spirit and sheer delight in life that Byrd exhibits so flawlessly in his more upbeat offerings. Easy perhaps to overlook as a funky background music, it's actually an accomplished affair and another example of Byrd's mastery of creating atmosphere.


Donald Byrd & Pepper Adams produced some of the greatest hard-bop albums in the 60's that there ever was, comparable to some of Lee Morgan's best efforts. If you want to one album to buy, check this one out!! It is unfortunately one of their last albums in the studio and also the last featuring Duke Pearson who would go on as Blue Note's a&r man and also lead his own big band. In fact Pearson along with drummer Philly Jo Jones provide the spark that Byrd-Adams needs!! From the title tune to the late Neal Hefti's classic "Cute" (a drum piece for the great Philly Jo), this album will leave you smiling. Their next album with a young newcomer by the name of Herbie Hancock would feature more modally based tunes rather the usual hard bop repetoire but you should check that out as well. Recommended for hard boppers and Byrd/Adams alike!!


DONALD BYRD is truly a music-master. He has done numerous great albums over the years. This CD is undoubtedly one of the best ways to appreciate the 'Godfather of JazzFunk'. Not only is this disc packed with cool, funky and deep timeless trax (buy this disc and it will never go out of date), it also provides the blue-print for future jazz and dance-orientated music. In other words, THE BOMB! The majority of the tracks are produced by the wizard-like production duo the MIZELL BROTHERS, who are responsible for JOHNNY HAMMOND's and BOBBI HUMPHREY's best material. The collection of tracks will move your body (eg. CHANGE, DOMINOES) as well as your soul (WIND PARADE, YOU AND THE MUSIC, LANASANA'S PRIESTESS). Which is why you can't fail. I'd put this disc up there will the best of my Soul/Jazz/Funk collection, and believe me my collection is big.