Harlem Blues is an album by trumpeter Donald Byrd featuring performances recorded in 1987 and released on the Landmark label the following year.[1][2][3]
| Harlem Blues | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1988 | |||
| Recorded | September 22 & 24, 1987 | |||
| Studio | Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ | |||
| Genre | Jazz | |||
| Length | 52:24 CD release with bonus track | |||
| Label | Landmark LLP/LCD 1516 | |||
| Producer | Orrin Keepnews, Donald Byrd | |||
| Donald Byrd chronology | ||||
| ||||
Reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    [4] |
| The Penguin Guide to Jazz | [5] |
On AllMusic, Scott Yanow observed: "This Landmark release was trumpeter Donald Byrd's first jazz album in over 15 years after a long (and commercially if not artistically successful) detour into poppish R&B/funk. In the 1980s Byrd had neglected his trumpet playing in order to direct The Blackbyrds and teach. The period away from his instrument shows in spots on this well-intentioned set ... Ironically Byrd's own playing was not at this point up to the level of his sidemen although his chops would improve during the next couple of years".[4] The Penguin Guide to Jazz praised Byrd's younger sidemen, while suggesting that the trumpeter's own playing had declined.[5]
Track listing
editAll compositions by Donald Byrd except where noted.
- "Harlem Blues" (W. C. Handy) – 5:30
- "Fly Little Bird Fly" – 6:13
- "Voyage À Deux (Journey for Two)" (Kenny Garrett) – 7:44
- "Blue Monk" (Thelonious Monk) – 9:22
- "Alter Ego" (James Williams) – 7:36
- "Sir Master Kool Guy" – 5:03
- "Hi-Fly" (Randy Weston) – 10:56 Additional track on CD release
Personnel
edit- Donald Byrd – trumpet, flugelhorn
- Kenny Garrett – alto saxophone
- Mulgrew Miller - piano
- Rufus Reid – bass
- Marvin "Smitty" Smith – drums
- Michael Daugherty – synthesizer (tracks 1 & 5)
References
edit- ^ Fitzgerald, M., Landmark Records listing accessed December 7, 2017
- ^ Donald Byrd Catalog, accessed December 7, 2017
- ^ Jazzlists: Landmark 1500 series discography, accessed February 4, 2019
- ^ a b Yanow, Scott. Donald Byrd: Harlem Blues – Review at AllMusic. Retrieved December 7, 2017.
- ^ a b Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (1992). The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD, LP & Cassette (1st ed.). Penguin. p. 172. ISBN 978-0-14-015364-4.