Donald Byrd - Fuego

Top of the hard bop pecking order

A true jazz legend, Donald Byrd’s honed his hard bop trumpet rhythms when he recorded for Blue Note. A year after signing an exclusive contract with the label in 1958, this, his third release for the company, saw Byrd team up with Jackie McLean on alto sax, Duke Pearson on piano, Doug Watkins on bass and Lex Humphries on drums. Packed with original music, such as Amen, a creative and spirited track, this album, featuring Classic’s superb mastering and quiet, dynamic vinyl mixture, still exudes force and vigour. Remarkably, it doesn’t sound dated, though whilst not a classic Blue Note release, it is a shining example of the art of hard bop.

4 stars 4 stars 4 stars 4 stars

Classic/Blue Note | B 246534

Reviewed by Paul Rigby
<< Back to Issue 349

Login Here