Donald Byrd - Blackjack (APE+CUE)

Donald Byrd - Blackjack (APE+CUE)



Please keep seeding as long as you can.



One of three Donald Byrd albums from 1967 (the end of his hard bop period), this recording features the trumpeter/leader with altoist Sonny Red, tenor saxophonist Hank Mobley, pianist Cedar Walton, bassist Walter Booker, and drummer Billy Higgins. The six tunes (five of which are originals by Byrd or Red) are all quite obscure and to one extent or another quite explorative. One can sense that Byrd wanted to break through the boundaries and rules of hard bop but had not yet decided on his future directions. The music does swing and highlights include "West of the Pecos" and "Beale Street"; Byrd and Red in particular are in excellent form throughout the date.



Personnel: Donald Byrd (trumpet); Sonny Red (alto saxophone); Hank Mobley, Jimmy Heath (tenor saxophone); Herbie Hancock, Cedar Walton (piano); Walter Booker, Eddie Khan (bass); Billy Higgins, Albert "Tootie" Heath (drums).



Track Listings:

01 Blackjack

02 West of Pecos

03 Loki

04 Eldorado

05 Beale Street

06 Pentatonic

07 All Members