Customer Reviews

Ethiopian Knights

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I don't know why, if its my imagination, or the folks next door, but there seems to be a hint of the scent of oregeno whenever I flip this one on... its definitely a funked out mind trip. Extended grooves, but a lot going on that holds you through the cuts. You bump, grind... and never know what's in store. The rhythm section hold you down, are very funky even adventurous at times (Wilton Felder on bass, Edward Greene on drums), the solos take you higher... and Bobby Hutcherson shines... Harold Land is schweeeeet and no complaints about any of the sessionaires.... most who happen to be ascended Jazzmasters like Byrd himself (even Joe Sample) who must have been soothesayers, because even though it was only August of '71, they pretty laid out the funk agenda as best it would be heard in the '70s. Overall, this is an incredible 35 or so minutes of tripped out, yet tight electric funk. If The Blackbyrds are too "sweet" for you, and early Byrd is too straight for you, and you're looking for a groove that's wicked, mean, "black" and bumping... you won't be let down... and one not to be merciless, the "short" middle track will give you a brief breather after the 15 minute Emperor before once again they lay it on strong.

If you like this groove, in addition to the obvious Headhunters, Crusaders type stuff, check out Fela Anikulapo Kuti's stuff (especially circa that era) - - another master of the extended instrumental afro-funk, dance/jazz groove... think you'll dig it ! ! !

Donald Byrd takes you with him on this "trip!" Buy it, and mellow out! I need say no more! Five stars!

This is one of those albums everytime I put it on I hit repeat. It has the perfect mix of jazz with a "Funky as Hell" backbeat that puts a smile from ear to ear. My favorite is "Little Rasti" with the drum intro. (courtesy of Ed Green) and watch out! here comes Wilton Felder's funky ass bass line right behind him. Tasty! Man, why is great stuff like this always out of print. The world needs music like this- I know I do! Thank god for the internet, because I wouldn't have half the classic-soul/jazz-jazz/funk collection that I do and I love every bit of it. Get on it and search the world for the goods-they're out there!

thought i was gonbe original and reference this thang to some fela funk... but brotha landsberg done beat me to it!

daggonit... *sighs-to-self*

isaac hayes owns the best four track soul album with 'hot buttered soul' and now brotha byrd has the best three track funkjazz disc.
he opens this thang with some neo-nearly-psychodelica-jazz isht, 'the emperor' holds the body down and lets the mind out for fi'teen minutes plus some seconds... a definite trip (return tickets are now available!) and bobby and his horn does with 'jamie' what bob james and his keys did with 'angela/theme from taxi' - jus exploitin the helloutta his talents. it tracks in just under four minutes and i aint never wisht so hard for a song to continue/not like i wisht for this one to.
but then byrd rolls out into 'the little rasti' and thats where the fela-isms really appear. and given the title of the album, im left with visions of a buncha brothas in berbers and dashikis /wrapped in kente and cotton and burlap perhaps, with they instruments held weapon-like across shoulders, waitin for the dawn to come so they can sneak attack um, kenny g or somebody...
damn.

you know this has jus GOTTA be a pretty good cd solely because it done got my review word-count up! cause i been real lazy/cuttin to the chase with my reviews lately.

this is classic.

Words cannot adequately convey how good this record SOUNDS. While I could describing the notes, arrangements, and lyric phrasing you are better served by reading an excerpt from a poem featured on the CD inlay:

"It was the music / Bound the torn rag-red black backs / Lifted the battered wooly cotton-dotted heads and squared the sagging shoulders / Against the million suns of Macon and Martinique / Slowed the whipman's hands `til the lash only killed fine outta ten / And sometimes made the strawboss go home and cry in his nightbed / `Cause even niggahs need nice every leap year" - Bill Quinn

Byrd's decision to include this poem says more about the music than I ever could. This record, like all true Soul Music, is born of the black American desire to celebrate life despite every effort to render us life-less - literally and figuratively.

This is the sound of hope.

Noah Stephens
msu_hiphop@yahoo.com

One of jazz's true individualists, Donald Byrd only copied Miles Davis twice. Once in 1970 Electric Byrd, and here. Byrd's breezy, melodic funk was anti-matter to Miles' The Complte On the Corner Sessions, full of dark nuance from the Dark Magus.

On Eithiopian Knights, Byrds streches and improvises on tough grooves. This is the street funk Miles arrived at when he got on the corner. Fantastic, tough, tight wha wha grooves.

You are rarely going to hear Donald Byrd like this, and this taunt killer funk is essential to obtain

This is a wonderful album. Donald Byrd is surrounded by a group of musicians who know how to create a mood and let him come to prominence within it. The '70s has never sounded so mature and complex as it does on this album. Track 2 in particular is beautiful. This song is a *song* but it evokes such rhythms and tones as complicated as the more free-form tracks do. Yes, track 2 moves me and I want to hear it again and again--it speaks to me of loss, of the coming of the end of the hopefulness and audacity that was funk and the '70s multicultural, pluralistic experience, long since pushed aside for either emptiness or anger. I dare you not to cry after you listen to it--whether from tears of nostalgia or resentment or joy or loss. These guys sound great together!

Donald Byrd's 70's Funk is like drinking Lemonade with a Foxy lady&chilling on the Beach with a FUll Sunny Sky&Clear Blue Skies.once I got this Album&others by Him it dawned on me How bad this Cat is.Now He totally Re-Vamped His whole Style&Image&got Funky Oh I miss the days when Real Artists&Groups would challenge themselves¬ worry.Donald Byrd didn't miss a Beat Here instead He was one of the Cats Leading the Grooves for the Decade.this is a solid Place ot start&Explore the Genius that is Donald Byrd.

I write this review because I 'm sick hearing so rediculus "critics" about D.Byrd himself and Funk/ Acid Jazz in general.The worse of all is yours so called "biography" of Donald Byrd.Ethiopian Knights was his best recording ever,this is not only my opinion but this LP is one THE standards for us,the 90's generation of Acid-jazzers.The main problem is that Donald Byrd was(and still is) oriented to the young Afro-americans and the white critics never forgived him. This comment is not specific but tells all about the music.