Donald Byrd – Byrd in Flight: Blue Note Tone Poet Series (180g Vinyl LP)

Blue Note was very lucky to have their Three Trumpeteers; Donald Byrd, Lee Morgan and Freddie Hubbard on the roster at the same time. Their combined, prolific output of albums, many of which attained classic status, is legendary. One constantly near the top of most lists is 1960’s Byrd In Flight. Byrd decided to mix it up, with Jackie McLean (alto) on one date and Hank Mobley (tenor) on the second. Duke Pearson’s signature smooth piano work appears across the board as does the reliable drumming of Lex Humphries. Reggie Workman and Doug Watkins split duties on bass. Both sessions resulted in classic be-bop romps, mostly on originals such as Byrd’s Afro-Cuban tinged “Ghana” and “Lex,” a song dedicated to drummer Humphries. Pearson contributes three solid cuts with “Gate City,” “Bo and My Girl Shirl.” The lone standard tackled, “Little Boy Blue” is given an intelligent yet playful injection of the quintet’s personalities.

Musicians:
Donald Byrd, trumpet
Hank Mobley, tenor saxophone
Jackie McLean, alto saxophone
Duke Pearson, piano
Doug Watkins / Reginald Workman, bass
Lex Humphries, drums

1. Ghana
2. Little Boy Blue
3. Gate City
4. Lex
5. Bo
6. My Girl Shirl