Donald Byrd - Transition Sessions (I hear Brownie!)

Xenoman · Heavyweight Member Joined: 19 Nov 2001 Posts: 1209

I purchased Donald Byrd's "Transition Sessions" and I am very happy that I did. There is some great playing on this 2 disk set and I highly suggest that you go pick it up if you haven't already. The musicians include Horace Silver, Hank Mobley, Art Blakey, Kenny Burrell and Art Taylor.

The thing that stuck me immediately as how much Byrd and another trumpet player (Joe Gordon) sound like Clifford Brown. Tone, articulation, phrasing, insertion of those wonderful triplets... especially on a song called "Hank's Tune". I think I recall reading a post where someone was talking about the number of players who were influenced by Brownie. I think Byrd is certainly in that number.

Anyone else have this album? Did you notice the same thing? I LOVE Donald Byrd.

_________________
-Eric M. Brewington
http://www.jazzician.org

[ This Message was edited by: Xenoman on 2002-12-06 14:50 ]

ZeroMan · Heavyweight Member Joined: 21 Jul 2002 Posts: 1112

I dig Byrd too. It's too bad he isn't mentioned more when the conversation turns towards the lving legends of jazz. I don't have the Transition Sessions, but a few years ago I ran across not one, but three of his CDs at a used CD shop. I bought all three I never regretted splurging so much money at once, albeit on used CDs.

All three were rather recent (in the last 15 years), with sidemen like Kenny Garrett and Mulgrew Miller. On two of them he also plays with Joe Henderson and Bobby Hutcherson. Whew!

"Getting Down to Buisness" (Henderson plays on all the tunes)
"Harlem Blues" (Byrd plays cornet, trumpet and flügel on this one)
"A City Called Heaven" (Bryd arranges a tune by Henry Purcell for small jazz ensemble and vocalist!)

I also have "Byrd in Flight", one of those Blue Note session albums that have fallen through the cracks but make great finds. "Byrd's Word" is an early session he did for Savoy, and his playing is very Brownie-like. Finally, I have "Two Trumpets" (Byrd with Art Farmer) and "Three Trumpets" (Byrd, Farmer with Idrees Sullieman) which are MUST HAVES for anyone who likes the uncommon sound of a small jazz combo fronted by the unusual lineup of several trumpets.

[ This Message was edited by: ZeroMan on 2002-12-06 19:29 ]

[ This Message was edited by: ZeroMan on 2002-12-06 19:29 ]

brenter · Veteran Member Joined: 14 Nov 2001 Posts: 135

Glad to see people are also talking about Donald Byrd and not just whether Monettes are any good. I might recommend the Mosaic series of Donald Byrd with Pepper Adams. I've always really liked Donald's album "Byrd in Hand." Donald's solo on "the Injuns" (same changes as Cherokee) is one of my all time favorites. Everytime I work on Cherokee, I have that solo in my head. Also, there's a Hank Mobley CD called "Messages" that has some great Byrd playing.

[ This Message was edited by: brenter on 2002-12-06 21:20 ]

wiseone2 · Posted: Sat Dec 07, 2002 3:16 pm Post subject:

It's getting close to Donald's birthday, December 9,1932.
Joe Gordan was born in 1928.
Brownie in 1930.
Remember in those days LPs were barely around.
They were all working musicians at the time,so it is unlikely Brownie had much influence on those guys.
Donald was to play in Max Roach band right after the car accident that took Brownie.
Donald is a good friend of mine, I will convey all your feelings to him.
Jimmy Owens, Donald Byrd,Clark Terry and I will get to hang next week .
All Sagittarius, all trumpet players.
Tell you all about it next week.
Wilmer

Xenoman · Heavyweight Member Joined: 19 Nov 2001 Posts: 1209

Hey Wiseone! I'm green with envy... Enjoy that experience.

Definitely let Byrd know that I love his work. Also tell him that I know a friend of his named Marshall Hawkins. Marshall plays baritone and tuba in my community band. He also plays bass in our swing band. He often spoke of what a "bad cat" Byrd was (and still is).

PH · Posted: Sun Dec 08, 2002 4:52 am Post subject:

Byrd probably appears on more Blue Note records from the '50s & '60s than any other trumpet player. He was/is definitely influenced by Clifford, but some of his recordings also show a lyrical approach that seems to come from Miles.

My personal favorites:

"Off to the Races"
"The Cat Walk"
"Royal Flush"
"Fancy Free"

Also, as a sideman...
w/Pepper Adams-"10 to 4 at the Five Spot"
w/Lou Donaldson-"Lou Takes Off"
w/Paul Chambers-"Whims of Chambers"
w/John Coltrane-"Black Pearls"
w/Dexter Gordon-"One Flight Up"
w/Hank Mobley-"No Room for Squares"
w/Jimmy Smith-"A Date with Jimmy Smith, vol. 1 & 2"

Xenoman · Heavyweight Member Joined: 19 Nov 2001 Posts: 1209

ZeroMan · Heavyweight Member Joined: 21 Jul 2002 Posts: 1112

Mr. Harbison (or anyone else who would know),

Did Donald Byrd also do a bunch of sessions for the Prestige label with a group led by Red Garland?

I have "All Morning Long", featuring Garland with Byrd, Trane, George Joyner (bass) and Art Taylor (drums).

I really dig Byrd's playing on "They Can't Take That Away from Me".

PH · Posted: Sun Dec 08, 2002 4:45 pm Post subject:

Yes, Byrd did at least a couple of other sessions with Garland for Prestige. Byrd & Garland also appear together on several other Prestige sessions led by Coltrane and others.

brenter · Veteran Member Joined: 14 Nov 2001 Posts: 135

PH:

I agree with you on Miles being an influence on Donald Byrd. I think a really good example of that would be Byrd's album 'Fuego'. The title cut is totally reminiscent of Miles.