Donald Byrd

• HIGH DEFINITION 180 GRAM VINYL

These recordings were made during the spring and early autumn of 1957. At 24 years old, Donald Byrd was already among the greatest trumpeters alive at that time. Alto saxophonist Gigi Gryce, who wrote the charts for everything heard on this disc , was an exceptionally talented arranger as well as a gifted composer.

Unlike the rest of the Byrd/Gryce recordings from 1957, these have extra horns: Benny Powell's trombone, Julius Watkins' French horn, Don Butterfield's tuba, and Sahib Shihab's baritone sax. The rhythm section players were exceptionally solid: pianists Tommy Flanagan, Wade Legge, and Wynton Kelly; bassist Wendell Marshall; and master percussionist Art Taylor. Each track is a masterpiece of immaculately hip precision.

PERSONNEL:

• Donald Byrd - (trumpet)
• Gigi Gryce - (alto sax)
• Tommy Flanagan - (piano)
• Wendell Marshall - (bass)
• Art Taylor - (drums)

• Also featuring:
• Benny Powell - (trombone)
• Julius Watkins - (horn)
• Don Butterfield - (tuba)
• Sahib Shibab - (baritone sax)
• Jimmy Cleveland - (trombone)
• Wade Legge - (piano)

TRACKS:

• SIDE A
• A1. Speculation
• A2. Over the Rainbow
• A3. Nica's Tempo

• SIDE B
• B1. Little Niles
• B2. Sans Souci
• B3. I Remember Clifford
• B4. Blue Concept