Customer Reviews

Lovebyrds: Soft & Easy

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

 

 

It's funny what can fly by: for years I knew of the polished funk jazz invented in the 1970s on albums like Black Byrd, which was anti-matter to Miles' brooding electric essays. But I had no idea the unit on that album went and formed a band.

Given that albums success, though--you would hear the title track on 1970s New York TV during "technical difficulties,"-it makes sense. This music was smooth jazz when smooth meant funky and polished.

"Smooth" jazz now has a negative rap due digital iodine milk toast players like Kenny G: but in the 1970s, what we now label "smooth" was nothing different than what you would hear on any high quality, mellow funk album.

Which this is, basically, but that does not tell the whole story. This album is similar to Byrdland proper, but their are variations.

In general, the coral vocals, the subtle grooves, and the upbeat spice of the music is like Byrd. But this album is more experimental, at times using classical elements. There is also less of an emphasis on solos: these are session cats, top ones, but sans a visionary lead player like the Don himself, the Blackbyrds, smartly, let the grooves is simmer slow and easy.

So it takes awhile for this to sink in: this is music that you actually can glean a lot from playing it in the background, digesting as you would a small butterscotch.

Slowly, the melodies, and fantastic playing gets in the head, under the skin, and if you are fortunate enough to be a musician, you realize: time will show you how good these players are in their subtlety, and their subtlety will show you how good they are.


Its not Impulse Coltrane, but Impulse Coltrane is not the Blackbyrds. Let's play both

My my! Goodness! What a stroke of luck to find these Guys on CD? I never knew they had them on CD? I always love their Music growing up? Thank You for giving me the chance to purchase something that I grew up from and Dance from their Music? Thank You early B-Day Gift for me?

This CD is classic Blackbyrds . . . takes me back in a nostalgic journey!

Zan

Don't get me wrong folks! I am a serious Blackbyrds fan from 1974! If they were to re-title this "Blackbyrds: An Introduction," or, "Blackbryds: Mellow" that would've been perfect packaging. But the Title of the disc and the contents therein clash to a degree, as there are:

1. Dance Cuts (Lady, Time is Movin', Flying High)
2. Mellow Instrumentals (Love is Love, All I Ask)
3. Mellow tunes with Vocals (Soft and Easy, Summer Love, April Showers)

with several other tunes that fall somewhere, "in between." Finally, the one BIG omission, "A Love So Fine" from the City Life LP. How could they have possibly left that one off this collection? Absolutely, CRIMINAL!

However, I still recommend this collection to newbies ($11.98/US is a good price!), everyone else - save your money and get the CD's!

My rating: 5 stars - 1 star (omitting A Love So Fine) = 4 Stars!