donald byrd - a new perspective

emitecaps · January-13th-2005, 08:46 AM

Hi,

I love this album, it's truly amazing, particularly cristo redentor. Can anyone recommend anything on a similar tip? I've heard that "i'm tryin' to get home" is in a similar vein - voices + instruments but any other suggestions would be much appreciated.

thanks

clinthopson · January-13th-2005, 11:22 AM

Donald Byrd's work with Blakey and Pepper Adams deserve a place in anyone's library.

As one of the descendants of Clifford Brown, Byrd has carved himself a small niche in the pantheon.

He was a good, not great, player, IMHO.

Coda · January-13th-2005, 11:41 AM

I only have Slow Drag. I like it a lot but haven't heard it in over a year. Time for another spin.

Squaredancecalling Steve · January-13th-2005, 12:54 PM

Man, we used to play Christo Redentor all the time in college! But I have to confess that few albums have worn worse over the years than this one, which sounds pretty cloying and annoying to me now.

Noj · January-13th-2005, 12:58 PM

Mary Lou Williams - Black Christ Of The Andes

Dr Dave · January-13th-2005, 01:12 PM

This still sounds pretty good:

...and this, too:

Pete C · January-13th-2005, 01:18 PM

I find Christo Redentor to be one of the most mawkish and nauseating "jazz" recordings ever.

Root Doctor · January-13th-2005, 01:20 PM

This is an excellent non-Blue Note Hubbard recording.

Sergio Zamora · January-13th-2005, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by emitecaps

Can anyone recommend anything on a similar tip? I've heard that "i'm tryin' to get home" is in a similar vein - voices + instruments but any other suggestions would be much appreciated.

I haven't heard this one, but Eddie Gale's two albums for Blue Note - "Ghetto Music" and "Black Rhythm Happening" (reissued on the Water label) include a vocal choir. Aside from that, I don't know how much else they have in common.

Pete C · January-13th-2005, 02:13 PM

Max Roach did several albums with vocal choir, It's Time & Lift Every Voice & Sing, the latter being a spirituals album. I'm not familiar with either. Here's Scott Yanow's review of It's Time:

Review

by Scott Yanow

This Max Roach date had been out-of-print for around 30 years when it was finally reissued on CD by Impulse in 1996. An unusual set, this outing featured the drummer's all-star sextet (which consisted of trumpeter Richard Williams, tenor-saxophonist Clifford Jordan, trombonist Julian Priester, pianist Mal Waldron and bassist Art Davis) joined by a vocal choir conducted by Coleridge Perkinson and orchestrated by Roach (who contributed all six originals). Unlike most other collaborations, the choir was not overly gospel-oriented and was utilized as a sort-of jazz ensemble. Each of the horns has a feature or two and singer Abbey Lincoln stars on "Lonesome Lover." But despite the sincerity of this effort, there are times when one wishes the choir would leave altogether and let the quintet really stretch out.

bluenoter · January-13th-2005, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by emitecaps

Hi,

I love this album, it's truly amazing, particularly cristo redentor. Can anyone recommend anything on a similar tip? I've heard that "i'm tryin' to get home" is in a similar vein - voices + instruments but any other suggestions would be much appreciated.

thanks

emitecaps--

Welcome to JC! Take a look at this page on I'm Tryin' to Get Home from Barnes&Noble online (or if the link no longer works, you can look it up). The page also contains AMG online's review of the album. The part about its never having been issued on CD isn't true. Unfortunately, neither B&N nor Amazon is selling the CD; I didn't look further. And I couldn't find a page that has sound samples.

Do you know about AMG online? It's an excellent resource.

http://www.allmusic.com

--Rita

Noj · January-13th-2005, 10:23 PM

I like Cristo Redentor.

Then again, I've been known to enjoy a Mizzell production or two.

bluenoter · January-13th-2005, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Noj

I like Cristo Redentor.

I heard it for the first time fairly recently, and I have to say that I feel the same way that Pete does (well, I wouldn't go as far as "nauseating"). But I've heard very little Donald Byrd stuff.

Monte Smith · January-13th-2005, 10:29 PM

Two things are great about this record: "Cristo Redentor" and the cover.
And "Cristo Redentor" wears on you.

Try the very different:

Noj · January-13th-2005, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluenoter

I heard it for the first time fairly recently, and I have to say that I feel the same way that Pete does (well, I wouldn't go as far as "nauseating"). But I've heard very little Donald Byrd stuff.

Monte and Dr. Dave have recommended Donald Byrd at his best. I also like the recordings with Pepper Adams. There is also the Muse (32 Jazz) album Landmark that is good. He's on Herbie Hancock's My Point Of View, a decent album.

Cristo Redentor was among the first jazz recordings I ever owned, I love it.

bluenoter · January-13th-2005, 10:59 PM

Thanks, y'all. For anyone else who doesn't know this album in Monte's post and can't read the title, it's called Kofi.

Richardo Caerleoni · January-14th-2005, 06:15 AM

....With Bobby Jasper...Live...

Also, "Freeform" (Bluenote) is a nice album.

RC.

Noj · January-14th-2005, 10:54 AM

Several people over at another board have been listening to Royal Flush, another Blue Note. It has a cool cover, I bet it's another good one.

Sergio Zamora · January-14th-2005, 11:44 PM

What's the JC consensus on Byrd's 70's Funk/R&B stuff? I like 'Electric Byrd' quite a bit, though I do realize it's different from the releases that followed which I have not heard. I'm kinda curious, though.

Noj · January-15th-2005, 12:43 AM

I like Kofi the best. Electric Byrd and Ethiopian Knights are both cool to me. Stepping Into Tomorrow has its moments. And although I like them, Places & Spaces and Street Lady are Mizell disco funk. Some react to that as if allergic, but I dig the over-produced stuff for some reason.

Richardo Caerleoni · January-15th-2005, 07:04 AM

[QUOTE=Noj]Several people over at another board have been listening to Royal Flush, another Blue Note. It has a cool cover, I bet it's another good one.[/QUOTE]...A fine album...

"Donald Byrd was at his peak as a straight-ahead hard bop band leader in the early '60s, turning a series of remarkably solid, enjoyable sessions for Blue Note. Royal Flush is no exception to the rule. Recorded in the fall of 1961, Royal Flush finds Byrd once again working with baritionist Pepper Adams, but adding bassist Butch Warren, drummer Billy Higgins, and, most importantly, a young pianist named Herbie Hancock. For the most part, the quintet plays a set of vital hard bop, swinging hard on the bluesy groove "Hush" and laying back on the pop standard "I'm a Fool to Want You." But what's really interesting is when they begin pushing the boundaries of bop. All three of Byrd's original pieces -- "Jorgie's," "Shangri-La," "6M's" -- are harmonically complex and have subtly shifting rhythms; all three are successful, but "Shangri-La" is particularly noteworthy. Similarly, Hancock's graceful "Requiem" calls attention to its fluid melodic lines and rhythm. Throughout the date, Byrd and Adams are typically impressive, alternating between punchy, hard-hitting, and graceful solos, but Hancock is just as good, signaling early on in his career his deep, unique talent. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

I think his "fusion" material is ....well, not for me! But that's just my taste.

RC.

hearsay · January-15th-2005, 01:13 PM

I always liked "A New Perspective", but I can also see why people would say it's corny. In genral the Jazz with choir concept is pretty weak, or at least on most of the stuff I've heard. Andrew Hill's "Lift Every Voice" is another one with a great band, great compositions and really annoying singing.

chuckyd4 · January-15th-2005, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richardo Caerleoni

....With Bobby Jasper...Live...

Also, "Freeform" (Bluenote) is a nice album.

RC.

Damn, I only got this one in the "Jazz in Paris" reissue series that came out a few years ago.... I wish they would have slapped this cover back on it, it's much cooler.

Was that the original?

And why is there not more Bobby Jaspar on the market? That guy tears up just about every session I have him on.

Richardo Caerleoni · January-15th-2005, 02:16 PM

Byrd In Paris/CD/LPs...

Donald Byrd : Byrd in Paris (Bobby Jaspar, WALTER Davis JR;, DOUG Watkins, ART Taylor), 22/10/1958, 833 394-2 ; Photo : Jean-Pierre Leloir ; Liner notes : François Postif/CD.

- Byrd D/Parisian/LP

- Byrd D/Parisian/Agr1/LP

- Byrd D/Parisian/Agr2/LP

Byrd Donald : Byrd in Paris, Vol 2 (Boby Jaspar, Walter Davis Jr., Doug Wtkins, Arthur Taylor), 22/10/1958, 833 395-1 ; Polydor ; Photo : Jean-Pierre Leloir-François Postif ; Liner notes : François Postif/LP*.

Bobby Jasper was a great Belgian tenor player - out of Lester, but influenced by 50s Rollins and Getz...but better known in the US on flute? He married Blossom Dearie and moved to the States....worked with Miles (during Trane's time out - 1957) for a while...recorded with Hank Jones, Wynton Kelly (Kelly Blue) etc.etc. ....died New York 1963 - far too young - following the "usual causes". Ck/out his album at Ronnie Scott's with Rene Thomas...and the amazing European sextet in Rome with Chet Baker c.1962 (RCA)...Chet's greatest album IMHO. RC.

* Pour les collectionneur : il s'agit de la réedition (1987) du très rare LP Brunswick 87 904.

Squaredancecalling Steve · January-15th-2005, 02:26 PM

This is probably my favorite with Donald Byrd, playing with Pepper Adams, Elvin Jones, Bobby Timmons and Doug Watkins.

stonemonkts · January-15th-2005, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Noj

Several people over at another board have been listening to Royal Flush, another Blue Note. It has a cool cover, I bet it's another good one.

I have it as part of the Byrd-Adams Mosaic box set, which is excellent overall.

"Free Form" with Wayne Shorter, Hancock, Butch Warren, and Billy Higgins (1961) is also quite good.

chuckyd4 · January-15th-2005, 02:53 PM

Bobby Jaspar has one great moment after another on the Mosaic box as part of J.J. Johnson's Columbia years. He was the great discovery of that box for me. He has another decent session under his own name in that Jazz in Paris series, and then I don't have much else he plays on. But I always pick something up when I see his name now.

Richardo Caerleoni · January-15th-2005, 07:10 PM

I'd forgotten that Donald Byrd takes a really nice solo on this...for me Trane's best version of Lush Life...and one his best ballad perfomances - full stop.

And Byrd was in that Quintet with Red Garland and Trane when Miles wasn't working...All on Prestige. Maybe he recorded so much, it now gets taken for granted?

RC.