2-in-1 CD of flowing jazz funk from original albums both originally released in 1974
Trumpeter Donald Byrd was born in 1932 in Detroit. He initially played hard bop with George Wallington, Art Blakey, Max Roach and Pepper Adams, appearing on approximately sixty albums made for Prestige, Blue Note and Savoy between 1955 and 58 alone. As fusion began to make its mark in the late 60s, Byrd became one of its most successful practitioners. He cut Black Byrd for Blue Note and it became the label's first million-selling album, catching a tide of jazz fusion changes that were propelling other jazz players like Herbie Hancock into successful cross-overs to both soul and rock audiences. From that album title, Byrd formed his own fusion outfit The Blackbyrds and the albums The Blackbyrds and Flying Start (both from 1974) feature some of his most memorable pieces, among them two classics in Do It Fluid and Walking In Rhythm. There's no point waxing any more lyrical or getting too analytical about these sides. Your feet just need to hear the beat, so quite simply.........get to it!
