Customer Reviews

Blackjack

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.


Track Listing:

Blackjack
West of Pecos
Loki
Eldorado
Beale Street
Pentatonic

The Sextet

Donald Byrd - Trumpet
Sonny Red - Alto Sax
Hank Mobley - Tenor Sax
Cedar Walton - Piano
Walter Booker - Bass
Billy Higgins - Drums


Recorded 1967 Blue Note BST 84259 and is a Rudy Van Gelder recording.

Liner Notes by Nat Hentoff

One of the solid finds in his canon. Blackjack proved that he was still totally on top of his craft and this bop album with some of the greats as his sidemen are sheer testament to that fact.

This album is pure Byrd captured just before his excursion into fusion, funk and avant garde, which left many of his fans wondering what the hell is going on with Byrd?? Bur he needed to explore those concepts and that he did for most of the 70's and some of the 80's. Then later on he returned to his bebop roots.

Donald Byrd is still with us and keeps punching out the music he so loves and we as jazz fans have come to embrace.

This is one of those must have albums in his canon. For me this album has that magic touch, that has survived all these years and none of it sound dated at all.

Donald Byrd (trumpet), with Hank Mobley (Tenor sax), Sonny Red (Alto sax), Billy Higgins (Drums), Cedar Walton (Piano) and Walter Booker (Bass).
This was Donald's working band at the time of the recording, and the tunes are their favourite 'gigging' tunes.
Highlights: (1)'BlackJack' is an incredibly funky piece of music.
(2)- Billy Higgins - He's on fire for the entire album.
(3)- Sonny Red - excellent swinging alto madness in a James Spaulding manner!

If you only own one Donald Byrd collection, this is a solid musician at the top of his craft.

Donald Byrd has the touch here.very relaxing&great talent all the way around.Mr.Byrd always put out Quality Material.His Albums have a Richness about them.He feels into so many different styles but here he is Mellow&Chill.I always dig his Arrangements.