Donald Byrd (1932-2013) was an American jazz trumpeter, composer and educator, born in Detroit. He came up in hard bop in the 1950s, recording widely for Blue Note, and in the 1970s moved into jazz-funk with Black Byrd, produced by Larry and Fonce Mizell, which was for many years the best-selling album in Blue Note's history. He taught at universities for much of his life and died in Dover, Delaware. Byrd joined Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers in the mid-1950s as Clifford Brown's successor and later played with John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins and Thelonious Monk.
Recorded at Rudy Van Gelder’s studio in Hackensack, New Jersey, on May 19, 1957, Paul Chambers Quintet captures bassist Paul Chambers leading an exceptional ensemble at the height of the hard-bop era. Released by Blue Note in 1958, the album brings t…
Blue Note Records proudly unveils a stunning all-analog reissue of Donald Byrd's seminal 1961 hard bop masterpiece, The Cat Walk, as part of its acclaimed Classic Vinyl Series. Scheduled for release on May 15th, 2026, this limited-edition pressing on…
** Special Time-Limited Offer ** On A New Perspective, Donald Byrd imagines hard bop through stained glass, fronting a band with Hank Mobley on tenor saxophone, Herbie Hancock on piano, Kenny Burrell on guitar, Donald Best on vibraphone, Butch Warren…
** Special Time-Limited Offer ** Byrd in Flight finds Donald Byrd’s trumpet carried aloft by shifting combinations of Jackie McLean on alto sax, Hank Mobley on tenor, Duke Pearson at the piano, Doug Watkins and Reggie Workman sharing bass duties, and…
** Deluxe edition, Tip-on jacket, 12 pp booklet ** Sam Records returns with a significant archival gem: the long-awaited reissue of Donald Byrd's Byrd Jazz, originally released on Transition Records in 1955. Capturing the Donald Byrd Sextet's electri…
Donald Byrd was an American jazz and rhythm & blues trumpeter, vocalist, composer and bandleader. In his early career he was one of the few hard bop musicians exploring funk and soul while remaining true to his jazz roots. His 1973 album Street Lady …
"I mean this album seriously. Because of my own background, I've always wanted to write an entire album of spiritual-like pieces. The most accurate way I can describe what we were all trying to do is that this is a modern hymnal. In an earlier period…
Considered by some to be trumpeter Donald Byrd's last worthwhile jazz recording, Electric Byrd is a high-flying relic from 1970. This album can be understood as Byrd's formidable response to the musical challenges set down by trumpet-rival Miles Davi…
A never-before released Donald Byrd & Bobby Jaspar 1958 studio recordings. First official release with the full permission and cooperation INA (Institut National de l’Audiovisuel). Available on vinyl only. No CD, No Digital is scheduled.In July 1958,…
*2022 stock. In process of stocking* Trumpeter Donald Byrd spent a few months in France in 1958, and a Paris concert resulted in two LPs' worth of material. Byrd's quintet at the time included Bobby Jaspar (on tenor and flute), pianist Walter Davis, …
*Blue vinyl limited edition* In 1973 the Blue Note Records label landed at the Montreux Jazz Festival, showcasing some of the showcasing some of the top artists of those years under the banner of the soulful and muscular jazz of which the blue label …
WBCN-FM broadcast from the Jazz Workshop, Boston, September 4th, 1973. Bass – David Williams, Congas – Ray Armando, Drums – Keith Kilgo, Guitar – Bernard Perry, Piano – Kevin Toney, Saxophone, Flute – Alan Barnes, Trumpet – Donald Byrd.
Byrd attended…
Recorded in November 1957 and released in 1960 on Prestige Records, "Soul Junction" is the highly celebrated Red Garland's release featuring the young John Coltrane on tenor sax and Donald Byrd on trumpet. Garland's ultra-relaxed piano fits perfectly…
*tiny bump on corners, discounted copies* Donald Byrd’s residency in Paris in 1958 to study with composer Nadia Boulanger gave rise to one of the greatest bands of his career with Bobby Jaspar on tenor sax and flute, Walter Davis, Jr. on piano, Doug …
Right from the stop-start bass groove that opens The Emperor, it's immediately clear that Ethiopian Knights is more indebted to funk - not just funky jazz, but the straight-up James Brown / Sly Stone variety - than any previous Donald Byrd project. A…