Jazz Articles about Winston Byrd

About Winston Byrd

Album Review

Winston Byrd: Once Upon a Time Right Now

Read "Once Upon a Time Right Now" reviewed by Nicholas F. Mondello

by Nicholas F. Mondello
July 29, 2016

"Once Upon A Time" usually prefaces a fairy tale, Aesopian fable, or, a Hollywood action movie. While no tale of witches, Princess Brides, or cigar-chomping cowboys, this recording from trumpeter Winston Byrd and his magnificent more-than-seven is an overall right now hoot. An aural feast where Byrd is Exec Chef, the production delivers superbly-performed ass-kicking funk, cognac-smooth contemporary, and white-hot straight-ahead jazz for take-out. The sheer diversity of the material, all performed with high energy and outstanding musicianship, ...

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Album Review

T.S. Monk: Higher Ground

Read "Higher Ground" reviewed by Franz A. Matzner

by Franz A. Matzner
July 25, 2003

T.S. Monk's new album Higher Ground serves up a decidedly challenging musical concoction. With this release, Monk has not only solidified a highly personal sound, he has done something rare and infinitely appealing: he has created idiosyncratic, confounding music. Released in conjunction with the founding of Thelonious Records, and coinciding with the long awaited opening of the Thelonious Monk Archives, Higher Ground consists of nine tracks presented by the younger T.S. Monk's septet, a standing group of ...