For the latest songs, albums, videos, playlists, and artist news, bite into our music blog Crossfade.
Donald Byrd
- Avg user rating:
Out of 30 votes - Similar Artists: Miles Davis, Lee Morgan, Freddie Hubbard
Out of 30 votes
- Location: United States
- Genre: Jazz » Hard Bop
Editor's review
The other "Bird" has gotten the lion's share of the fame, but the new remastering of 1958's "Off to the Races" reminds us of this breathy trumpeter's power as both a bandleader and composer. Aided by Jackie McLean and other notables, these tracks swing strong over hard bop's trademark roiling drums.
Biography
Donald Byrd was no stranger to Blue Note sessions by December 1958 when this album was made, but this was his first for the label as a leader and the beginning of a relationship that lasted until 1976. For the occasion, the trumpeter brought in two of his closest associates, Jackie McLean and Pepper Adams. Like all Blue Note sessions, the rhythm section of Wynton Kelly, Sam Jones, and Art Taylor is first-rate. The material, mostly from Donald Byrd's pen, is prime hard-bop with variety and imagination. The RVG Series consists of classic blue note albums newly remastered in 24-bit by the original engineer, legendary Rudy Van Gelder, with state-of-the-art equipment.
