Here we have four of trumpeter Donald Byrd’s albums recorded for Blue Note, before his transition to the funk so mysteriously popular from the 70s onwards. During the late 50s and 60s he recorded a huge amount of material for the label, as leader and sideman, his Clifford Brown-inspired playing a feature of the house style.
Off To The Races was his first date for the label and sees Byrd with his usual partner at the time, baritone saxophonist Pepper Adams, in a hard-bop outfit that included altoist Jackie McLean and a top-notch rhythm section guided by Art Taylor. It’s a blowing session of mixed tempos with four original compositions, of which the ballad When Your Lover Has Gone features Byrd’s extended lone horn statement and the attractive blues, Down Tempo.
That’s followed by Byrd In Hand, with Walter Davis Jr. replacing Wynton Kelly and Charlie Rouse added. Rouse’s tenor in tandem with Adams’ baritone gives a full collective sound. Articulate and expressive solos are heard from all and on Witchcraft and Here Am I in particular.
The second disc starts with The Cat Walk, Byrd’s sensitive side shown through his muted playing on Duke Pearson’s Say You’re Mine. The quicksilver Cute shows Byrd’s fluency and is driven by Philly Joe, who contributes a fine solo; his shuffle beat and stops on the title track are a treat. A good enough session, although there are times when the musicians seem to be just going through the motions.
However, next comes Royal Flush, with strong playing from the leader and particularly from Adams, who by this time had developed his broad and earthy, low-register tone to perfection. Byrd is impressive, clear as a bell, on I’m A Fool To Want You, complemented by Herbie Hancock’s sensitive accompaniment, here on his first Blue Note session, and Higgins’ thoughtful brushwork.
The influence of Miles Davis is heard on some of the tracks – the attractive Shangri-La, with Higgins’ busy drumming, and Byrd’s tune Jorgie’s (a take on Witchcraft) as they settle into a modal approach.
The young Hancock is immediately recognisable, from his support and first solo on Hush. He introduces the relaxed blues 6 M’s, laying down a platform for the horns, and contributing his early composition Requiem.
A fine release, especially for anyone wanting to become familiar with early Blue Note releases, Byrd’s technique and clarity, or the warmth and richness of Pepper Adams’ baritone.
Discography
CD1: [Off To The Races] Lover Come Back To Me; When Your Lover Has Gone; Sudwest Funk; Paul’s Pal; Off To The Races; Down Tempo; [Byrd In Hand] Witchcraft; Here Am I; Devil Whip; Bronze Dance; Clarion Calls; The Injuns. (78.10)
CD2: [The Cat Walk] Say You’re Mine; Duke’s Mixture; Each Time I Think Of You; The Cat Walk; Cute; Hello Bright Sunflower; [Royal Flush] Hush; I’m A Fool To Want You; Jorgie’s; Shangri-La; 6 M’s; Requiem (81.38)
CD1: Tks 1-6: Byrd (t); Jackie McLean (as); Pepper Adams (bar); Wynton Kelly (p); Sam Jones (b); Art Taylor (d). New Jersey, 21 December 1958. Tks 7-12: Byrd, Adams, Jones, Taylor plus Charlie Rouse (ts); Walter Davis Jr. (p). NJ, 31 May 1959.
CD2: Tks 1-6: Byrd, Adams plus Duke Pearson (p); Laymon Jackson (b); Philly Joe Jones (d). NJ, 2 May 1961. Tks 7-12: Byrd, Adams plus Herbie Hancock (p); Butch Warren (b); Billy Higgins (d). NJ, 21 Sept 1961.
Avid AMSC1422
