Listening to Donald Byrd play Trumpet leaves you with the impression that nothing else in life matters quite as much. In a class of his own, whether composing, playing or even singing there is a quality unique to the individual that celebrates the high and lows of daily existence. Remarkable given the longevity of his career which started out recording for the Transition label in the mid-fifties, before arriving at the evolving styles which decorate this newly available digital compilation which span three discs of equal beauty. The title refers to the genre that appeared by the early 1970’s and Donald Byrd was undoubtedly one of its finest components. Sometimes the Funk was more apparent than Jazz, at others the opposite was the case and for me that’s where all the magic is. The big hitting numbers such as Dominoes, Walking In Rhythm and of course Love Has Come Around are all present, sounding as resonate then as now. You will also discover the likes of Change (Makes You Want Hustle), Happy Music through to the later compositions captured here such as 1982’s Star Trippin’. Plus, there is a fascinating set of sleeve notes by Charles Waring explaining the background in detail to all the genius. Priceless.
Release: April 17
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