We received the news yesterday that Jazz legend Donald Byrd has flown home to heaven.
Donald Byrd broke from the traditional constraints of jazz into the fusion of funk and rhythm and blues music. His collaborations with the Mizell brothers transformed the R & B sound of the late 1960s early 1970s.
You might recognize that song as the sample source from Black Moon’s ‘Buck ‘Em Down’.
Byrd was born in Detroit and his music served as inspiration for another legendary Michigan musician. Peep the song ‘Think Twice’…
We will celebrate Jay ‘Dilla’ Dee’s homegoing this weekend as well as Donald Byrd’s passing. All I know is that heaven is jamming hard this Sunday.
Excellent post, DP… What’s interesting about Donald Byrd is that he was far from the most ‘talented’ trumpeter of his time (Lee Morgan, who recorded “Night of the Cookers” with Freddie Hubbard on Fulton St might have been) BUT…
He was a very smart, self-effacing guy with big ears who applied his musicianship in all sortsa creative ways. Uber-jazz nerds– bless them, in their way– scoff some at those Mizell brothers sides but there’s definitely some funk and poetry there too.
On the jazz tip, I like Donald’s mid-late ’60s material a lot, where he goes from a street level hard bop to sorta alternate world electric Miles and what the hell, let’s give Guru/Jazzmatazz some too–
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_tBymadvVI
p/s– from 1967, Donald Byrd “Early Sunday Morning”–
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuFrs6-OTrQ
Preach!!
Donald Byrd – trumpet
Sonny Red – alto saxophone
Pepper Adams – baritone saxophone
Chick Corea – piano
Miroslav Vitous – bass
Mickey Roker – drums
i can dig it
think twice – 1:46
My and a producer friend of mine (Elimence) put together this tribute to Donald Byrd. Using only samples of Mr. Byrds work we created a 6 piece set to commemorate his life and his contributions both direct, and indirect to hip hop culture.
The album can be streamed and or downloaded here, 100% free of course…
agonyc.bandcamp.com