Jazz for aficionados

A good attempt at a Donald Byrd retrospective recently. His most creative period was conspicuously given short shrift, imo. As Rok points out, he strayed off the jazz reservation quite often.  Most of his work during his more "commercial" period doesn’t do it for me, and the stuff bordering on "disco" I find to be kinda lame and was considered at the time and by many hardcore jazz fans to be "selling out". I will leave the validity of that criticism to others as this was a crticism directed at many of the players that went in that direction (think CTI) and the period did produce some interesting projects. I do think that this thread’s "jazz police" is showing a kinder, gentler side 😌; a good thing, I think. What is interesting about that period of Byrd’s, as O-10 points out, is the apparent influence he had on Herbie Hancock; something that wasn’t clear to me previously. I do think that Herbie went on to do far more interesting and sophisticated things in the jazz/funk vein (Headhunters). For me, the very best work by Byrd was connected to his affiliation to the great Pepper Adams; and this work was squarely in a more traditional or straight-ahead bag; both as sideman and as leader:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HCPv54Js3ak

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=YKyMVrIvKfE

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xNk3qtzNM_s

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Y23YPy-8o7c

This last clip relates to Roy Hargrove. The best test of a jazz player’s mettle is the ballad or the slow blues; iow, music in which "high energy" can’t be used to hide behind and the player’s ability and creativity is laid bare. I like Hargrove and think he is a very good player. He has been discussed before and my contention has always been that his place in the pantheon is pretty much where it belongs; he is very good, but not of the caliber of a Donald Byrd. The second tune in the Hargrove video is a ballad and the contrast between what he and Byrd can do is, for me, pretty obvious. Even more obvious is how the young tenor player Sanchez sounds good when he plays fast and furious, but falls flat when he tries and play simple figures. Perhaps time and maturity will help.

Byrd and "Stardust":

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=cdrypHFVq8A

Donald Byrd: there is one cut that's an absolute must, and that's "Here Am I".


        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CewhwrPi044

Maybe you already have it.


Speaking of Miles; a long time ago when Miles was still alive, I ran into someone who loved him like a brother, and I asked him if he had Miles latest, he looked me straight in the eyes and asked "Have you" I had to laugh because he knew what I thought about the electrifying new Miles.

I don't think Byrd went as far off the reservation as Miles.



Enjoy the music

Rok, I concur on Byrd; everything with Pepper Adams is the best, and I'm sure you'll like it.

When Byrd's trolley first jumped the tracks, I was offended, "How could he do that"? I sold it, then years later decided it wasn't so bad, and now I'm buying some of it back.


Enjoy the music.

Frogman, glad you're back with a most concise post, plus I've posted something you were unaware of; that's a first. (no rib intended)

Roy Hargrove: That is the most energized group I've ever seen; I think they had enough percussionists, those guys really propelled the music. Without a doubt, I will have to add Roy Hargrove to my shopping list.



Enjoy the music.

Byrd sounds superb on "Here Am I". Great cut and great composition. One of the things that should be mentioned is Byrd’s beautiful tone on the trumpet. He was a really great trumpet player from a technical standpoint whose tone didn’t get fuzzy when he played softly. I love the clarity of his tone with just the right amount (for me) of brightness. One gets the sense that he could play in the stratosphere if he wanted to (not all trumpet players can) but refused to resort to gimmicky playing and gratuitous "high energy". Because of this restraint in his playing I find some of his genre choices later in his career especially curious.