Byrd, Donald "Electric Byrd" [Indie Exclusive Blue Vinyl, 313 Series]

Recorded at Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ 1970 by Rudy Van Gelder. Produced by Duke Pearson.

The experimentations taking shape in music at the end of the 60’s with Miles Davis leading the pack pushed jazz in many new directions. Released six months after Bitches Brew, Electric Byrd shows renowned Detroit hard bop trumpet player Donald Byrd was listening to, but not necessarily following concurrent paths. Backed by a diverse group of players including several hard bop legends with Brazilians Moreira and Pascoal lending a fresh sound. Shimmering percussion, wind instruments and electric piano and guitar set the backdrop for Byrd’s dramatic flight into a psychedelic space with his echo-laden trumpet blasts. The LP concludes with a classic funk number that foreshadows the gold he would soon mine with the Mizell Brothers on his string of hit records recorded shortly after. An important glimpse of an artist in transition and an astounding album.