Donald Byrd And The Blackbyrds: The Jazz Funk Collection, 3CD Digipak

• All tracks either written, produced or performed by Donald Byrd; the collection starts in 1973 around the start of the Jazz Funk era.

• With comprehensive notes by Charles Waring.

Donald Byrd started recording in the mid-50s, but by the late-60s his style became more electric and was one of the instigators of the Jazz Funk scene. This package kicks off with ‘Lansana’s Priestess’ from the 1973 album ‘Street Lady’ nearly eight minutes of pure Jazz Funk produced by the legendary Mizell Brothers. Followed by a slew of classic Donald Byrd tracks such as ‘Black Byrd’, ‘Loves So Far Away’ and ‘Flight Time’ to name but a few.

During the 60s Donald was teaching jazz at several universities including Howard University, where he met a few students to start a band with, and the Blackbyrds were formed. The Blackbyrds went on to have a great deal of success and this package includes their biggest hit ‘Walking In Rhythm’ which went on to sell one million copies, and was awarded a Gold Disc and was Grammy nominated, the R&B hits kept on coming with ‘Rock Creek Park’, ‘Time Is Movin’’ and the Top 3 R&B hit ‘Happy Music’ which was written and produced by Donald.

Donald Byrd was also now making his mark on the R&B chart with ‘Change (Makes You Want To Hustle)’ and ‘Dominoes’ and we have also included the version he recorded for the Blue Note 'Live at The Roxy’ album, that was to become the underground club classic.

The Blackbyrds were to record seven albums for Fantasy Records with Donald involved in the bulk of them either as a producer or as a writer, and we have included some of the club classics such as ‘Supernatural Feeling’ and ‘Street Games’ and as a special bonus track ‘Gut Level’ - the only track that Donald Byrd had no involvement in on this package. But as it is a much sought-after track, we felt we just had to include it as it was produced by the Mizell Brothers, who worked so closely with Donald Byrd.

In 1978 Donald Byrd moved label to Elektra, and recorded four albums with them, three with the backing band 125th Street N.Y.C. Included here are the funkiest tracks from those four albums including the Top 20 R&B Hit ‘Love Has Come Around’ and the original 12” version of ‘Sexy Dancer’.

TRACK LISTING

DISC ONE

1  LANSANA'S PRIESTESS – Donald Byrd

2  BLACK BYRD - Donald Byrd

3  LOVE’S SO FAR AWAY – Donald Byrd

4  WITCH HUNT - Donald Byrd

5  FLIGHT-TIME - Donald Byrd

6  BLACKBYRDS' THEME – The Blackbyrds

7  DO IT, FLUID - The Blackbyrds

8  WALKING IN RHYTHM – The Blackbyrds

9  DOMINOES - Donald Byrd

10  ROCK CREEK PARK - The Blackbyrds

11  CHANGE (MAKES YOU WANT TO HUSTLE) - Donald Byrd

12  HAPPY MUSIC - The Blackbyrds

13  STEPPING INTO TOMORROW - Donald Byrd

DISC TWO

1  WIND PARADE - Donald Byrd

2  FLYING HIGH - The Blackbyrds

3  HASH AND EGGS - The Blackbyrds

4  THINK TWICE - Donald Byrd featuring Kay Haith

5  CORNBREAD - The Blackbyrds

6  (FALLIN' LIKE) DOMINOES (LIVE AT THE ROXY) - Donald Byrd

7  SCIENCE FUNKTION - Donald Byrd

8  TIME IS MOVIN' - The Blackbyrds

9  DANCE BAND - Donald Byrd

10  DANCING IN THE STREET - Donald Byrd

11  PARTY LAND - The Blackbyrds

12  ONWARD 'TIL MORNING - Donald Byrd

13  SUPERNATURAL FEELING – The Blackbyrds

DISC THREE

1  STREET GAMES - The Blackbyrds

2  LOOKIN' AHEAD - The Blackbyrds

3  THANK YOU FOR FUNKING UP MY LIFE – Donald Byrd 4 HAVE YOU HEARD THE NEWS – Donald Byrd

5  GIVING IT UP – Donald Byrd

6  PRETTY BABY – Donald Byrd

7  I LOVE YOU – Donald Byrd

8  LOVE HAS COME AROUND – Donald Byrd

9  I FEEL LIKE LOVING YOU TODAY – Donald Byrd

10 I LOVE YOUR LOVE – Donald Byrd

11 SEXY DANCER (ORIGINAL 12” VERSION) – Donald Byrd

12 STAR TRIPPIN’ (ORIGINAL 12” VERSION) – Donald Byrd

BONUS TRACK

13 GUT LEVEL - The Blackbyrds