Donald Byrd
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Donaldson Toussaint L’Ouverture Byrd II (born December 9, 1932) is an American jazz and rhythm and blues trumpeter, born in Detroit, Michigan. He performed with Lionel Hampton before finishing high school. After playing in a military band during a term in the United States Air Force, he obtained a bachelor’s degree in music from Wayne State University and a master’s degree from Manhattan School of Music. While still at the Manhattan School he joined Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, replacing Clifford Brown. After leaving the Jazz Messengers in 1956 he performed with a wide variety of highly regarded jazz musicians.
In the 1970s, he moved away from his previous hard-bop jazz base and began to record jazz fusion and rhythm and blues. Teaming up with the Mizell Brothers, he produced Black Byrd, which was enormously successful and became Blue Note Records’ highest-ever selling album. The follow-up albums, Places and Spaces, Steppin’ Into Tomorrow and Street Lady were also big sellers, and have subsequently provided a rich source of samples for hip-hop artists such as Us3.
He has taught music at Rutgers University, the Hampton Institute, New York University, Howard University, and Oberlin College. In 1974 he created the Blackbyrds, a fusion group consisting of his best students. They scored several major hits, including “Walking In Rhythm” and “Blackbyrds Theme”.
In the 1970s, he moved away from his previous hard-bop jazz base and began to record jazz fusion and rhythm and blues. Teaming up with the Mizell Brothers, he produced Black Byrd, which was enormously successful and became Blue Note Records’ highest-ever selling album. The follow-up albums, Places and Spaces, Steppin’ Into Tomorrow and Street Lady were also big sellers, and have subsequently provided a rich source of samples for hip-hop artists such as Us3.
He has taught music at Rutgers University, the Hampton Institute, New York University, Howard University, and Oberlin College. In 1974 he created the Blackbyrds, a fusion group consisting of his best students. They scored several major hits, including “Walking In Rhythm” and “Blackbyrds Theme”.
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The Best Of Donald Byrd
Donald Byrd
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Places and Spaces
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Stepping Into Tomorrow
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A New Perspective
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Shoutbox
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IllumoHorizon wrote:
that rhythm, 'at a loss for words....' [2]
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HipHop1984 wrote:
at a loss for words....
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Androstanolone wrote:
Too high for the familiarity of the denominations.
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kaly_ wrote:
Happy Birthday !!!
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Chayilwoman wrote:
This is what I cut my 'jazz-teeth' on! Classic!!!!! (:
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rm508 wrote:
Product placement from two angles.
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otsukaretimu wrote:
Check out the cover of Off To The Races then look at A New Perspective. Pretty clevaaaarr!
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Ignat-kanat wrote:
genius
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Dj-BlackJack wrote:
Another J Dilla recommendation... :)
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Pero-V-bok-tebe wrote:
good jazzик
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cadaver11 wrote:
He has one of the coolest names ever. I bet his music is just as cool.
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ColonelTheSlav wrote:
Free Form indeed.
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Davincimans wrote:
Free Form
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MuzzzzzOn wrote:
это ахуеннно!!!
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TemuryanVadim wrote:
мужик блеать!!!
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Priest_Loins wrote:
Excellent!
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musicgodlything wrote:
Fuego. That means fire.
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ceiliog wrote:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_New_Perspective Apropos the project, Byrd said: "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, the New Orleans jazzmen would often play religious music for exactly what it was - but with their own jazz textures and techniques added. Now, as modern jazzmen, we're also approaching this tradition with respect and great pleasure." (this and other excerpts can be found in the CD booklet).
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rottmadgers wrote:
'A New Perspective' is revelatory.
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Szczotkowsky wrote:
my fav jazzman,I adore his work. Very inspirational music.
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21 May 2007 | from blog.myspace.com/donaldbyrdjazzfunk
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21 May 2007 | from blog.myspace.com/donaldbyrdjazzfunk -
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3 Jan 2006 | from blog.myspace.com/donaldbyrdjazzfunk -
3 Jan 2006 | from blog.myspace.com/donaldbyrdjazzfunk
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Blessedkingdom tagged Donald Byrd with smooth jazz, soul and funky. 1 hour ago
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