Donald Byrd

This release presents the complete October 22, 1958 concert by the Donald Byrd Quintet with Bobby Jaspar, performed at the famous Olympia Theatre. It contains both volumes of Byrd in Paris in their entirety, plus a rare version of “More of the Same” that is from the same performance but was only previously available on a long out of print compilation. Further tunes by the same group recorded at a Paris club a few days later (including three versions of songs that were also performed at the Olympia) have been added as a bonus.

Phil Woods & Donald Byrd - The Young Bloods (1956) {2014 Japan Prestige 7000 Chronicle SHM-CD HR Cutting Series UCCO-5280}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 141 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 87 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 328 Mb | 5% repair rar | DSD / HR Cutting Remaster
© 1956, 2014 Prestige / Concord / Universal Japan | UCCO-5280 | Mono | PRLP 7080
Jazz / Bop / Hard Bop / Saxophone / Trumpet

Reissue features the latest DSD / HR Cutting remastering and the high-fidelity SHM-CD format (compatible with standard CD player). Comes with a description. Features the original LP designs. For this early hard bop date, altoist Phil Woods and trumpeter Donald Byrd were co-leaders. In fact, the music had at one point earlier on been released with Byrd getting first billing. Since the spirited altoist contributed four of the six tunes (including "House of Chan" and "In Walked George") and consistently takes solo honors, it is only right that the date finally appeared under Woods' name. With pianist Al Haig (who did not record that extensively during this period), bassist Teddy Kotick, and drummer Charlie Persip offering stimulating accompaniment, this is an easily recommended release (despite its brief LP length) for straight-ahead jazz collectors.

A follow-up to trumpeter Donald Byrd's hit A New Perspective, this LP also features an eight-voice choir conducted by Coleridge Perkinson and arrangements by Duke Pearson and the leader. The vocalists have a larger role than in the earlier date and Byrd's quintet (with tenor saxophonist Stanley Turrentine and pianist Herbie Hancock) is augmented by organist Freddie Roach, guitarist Grant Green and a dozen brass players.

One of the great jam session recordings of the 1950s, All Night Long was under the relaxed direction of Kenny Burrell. The guitarist gathered together some of the finest young players on the New York scene, including Donald Byrd on trumpet and tenor saxophonists Hank Mobley and Jerome Richardson, one of the unsung heroes of the flute in jazz. Mal Waldron, Doug Watkins and Arthur Taylor were the rhythm section. The musical formats were uncomplicated; "All Night Long" a blues with a bridge, Waldron's "Flickers" a 16-bar pattern, Mobley's two originals based on familiar 32-bar chord sequences. From these simple, classic bases were launched performances with the hallmarks that have long identified any Burrell project: Relaxation, swing and high standards of musicianship.

This release contains all existing live performances by the Donald Byrd- Pepper Adams Quintet taped at Jorgie’s on June 24, 1961, and appearing on CD here for the first time ever. The quintet on that engagement featured Herbie Hancock on piano (both leaders had recently recorded the Blue Note album Chant with the pianist, and would make the LP Royal Flush with him a few months later). The fifth title at Jorgie’s is an extended trio version of “Like Someone in Love” on which both horns sit out. No other version of this tune by Hancock is known to exist!

Recorded for Jubilee records in 1957 and not to be confused with the Columbia record album also titled Jazz Lab. Hank Jones is the pianist for this one, as he was for New Formulas From The Jazz Lab and contributes a original tune. Donald Byrd is featured on "Isn't It Romantic" and Gigi's feature is "Imagination".

Art Farmer & Donald Byrd - 2 Trumpets (1956) {Prestige OJCCD-018-2 rel 1992}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 252 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 100 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 10 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1956, 1992 Prestige Records / Fantasy | OJCCD-018-2
Jazz / Bop / Trumpet

Art and Donald are in fine form, and if there is any competition it serves only to increase the musical yield. Jackie Mclean adds just the right note of astringency and variety of tone. Barrie Harris provides solid foundations for the improvisations while Doug Watkins and Art Taylor maintain impeccable pace. An excellent bop session and two trumpets is just the right number when its Farmer and Byrd.