Donald Byrd

· THE FRANCIS WOLFF COLLECTION

· DELUXE GATEFOLD SLEEVE

· 180-gram pure virgin vinyl LP in Gatefold packaging

· IMAGES BY ICONIC JAZZ PHOTOGRAPHER FRANCIS WOLF

· INCLUDES 1 BONUS TRACK

Recorded in the fall of 1961, Royal Flush showcases Donald Byrd (1932-2013) playing with baritonesaxophonist Pepper Adams, bassist Butch Warren, drummer Billy Higgins, and, most importantly, a young Herbie Hancock on piano. For the most part, the quintet plays a set of vital hard bop, swinging away on the bluesy groove “Hush” and laying back on the pop standard “I’m a Fool to Want You”. But what’s really interesting is when they begin pushing the boundaries of bop. All three of Byrd’s original piecesare harmonically complex and have subtly shifting rhythms. Hancock’s “Requiem” calls attention to its fluid melodic lines and rhythm. This was Hancock’s first Blue Note session to be released.

PERSONNEL:

• DONALD BYRD, trumpet
• PEPPER ADAMS, baritone sax
• HERBIE HANCOCK, piano
• BUTCH WARREN, bass
• BILLY HIGGINS, drums

Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, September 21, 1961.

• BONUS TRACK:
• Donald Byrd (tp), Charlie Rouse (ts), Pepper Adams (bar),
• Walter Davis, Jr. (p), Sam Jones (b), Art Taylor (d).
• Hackensack, New Jersey, May 31, 1959.

SIDE A:

• 1 HUSH
• 2 I’M A FOOL TO WANT YOU
• 3 JORGIE’S

SIDE B:

• 1 SHANGRI-LA
• 2 6 M’s
• 3 REQUIEM
• 4 CLARION CALLS