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Donald Byrd
Born:
Trumpeter Donald Byrd was born in Detroit in 1932, his studies at Wayne State University (1954) were interrupted by military service, during which he played in an Air Force band. He then attended the Manhattan School of Music (MA in music education). At the same time he was the favorite studio trumpeter of the bop label Presitge (1956-58), though he also recorded frequently for Riverside and Blue Note.
He gave performances with George Wallington (1955), Art Blakey (1956), and along with Gigi Gryce was a member of the Jazz Lab Quintet (1957). He also performed with Max Roach, Sonny Rollins, John Coltrane, and others, before settling into a partnership with Pepper Adams (1958-61). After studying composition in Europe (1963-63) Byrd began a career in black music education, teaching at Rutgers, the Hampton Institute, Howard University, and (after receiving a law degree, 1976) North Carolina Central University; in 1982 he was awarded a doctorate by Columbia Teachers College.
Pepper Adams: Pepper Adams Quintet
by Joshua Weiner
Formed in 2025, the Gammaut label has upped the ante on deluxe audiophile reissues of classic jazz with their debut release, Pepper Adams Quintet (Mode Records, 1957). Original master tapes used? Check. Careful lacquer cutting at 45 RPM by Bernie Grundman? Check. Top-notch heavy vinyl pressing by Gotta Groove Records housed in a sturdy Stoughton gatefold? ...
Rez Abbasi, Anat Fort, and the Spike Orchestra
by Jerome Wilson
This show takes in a wide array of sounds, ranging from recent releases by Rez Abbasi and Anat Fort to large ensemble music by the Steve Rosenbloom Big Band and the Spike Orchestra. Playlist Henry Threadgill Sextett “I Can't Wait Till I Get Home" from The Complete Novus & Columbia Recordings of Henry Threadgill ...
Remembering Hermeto Pascoal: The Sorcerer's Spell
by Ian Patterson
Hermeto Pascoal, the one-of-a-kind Brazilian multi-instrumentalist and composer, has gone to the great gig in the sky. Known affectionately as Bruxo (Sorcerer), Pascoal passed away on September 13, 2025. He was 89. Few musicians have traversed as many styles of Brazilian music as Pascoal. His first commercial recording, in 1956, was with Clóvis Pereira--the ...
Opa and The Blackbyrds: Coveted 1970s Jazz-Funk
by Mark Sullivan
Opa released only two albums before disbanding in the early 1980s. While neither of their albums found commercial success during their initial releases (despite the high-profile personalities involved), both titles gained underground followings over the following decades. The Blackbyrds' City Life celebrates its golden anniversary. “Happy Music," the dancefloor-ready title track and the group's heavily sampled ...
Remembering Gigi Gryce
by Larry Slater
Saxophonist and composer Gigi Gryce was a fixture on the East Coast jazz scene in the 1950's and early 1960s, working with many of the giants of the era. A talented saxophonist known for his writing and arranging, he recorded with everyone from Clifford Brown and Donald Byrd to Art Blakey and Benny Golson. In the ...
Introducing Pianist Holly Bean
by Sanford Josephson
For Holly Bean, in her last semester at Juilliard, it was the summit of a long journey that began when, as a three-year-old, she started playing on the piano in her Oak Ridge, TN, home. “I would hop on top of the bench and try to copy my mom, who plays piano and organ," she said. ...
Freddie Hubbard: On Fire--Live From The Blue Morocco
by Jack Kenny
Freddie Hubbard is a conundrum. His style has varied significantly over the years, as though he were unsure of himself at a deep level. There were the Blue Note years, then the funk years, where he gained money and lost credibility. The all-encompassing technique was displayed in so many contexts, with Art Blakey, Ornette Coleman, John ...
Jeff Rupert, 3 Cohens, and Last Exit
by Jerome Wilson
This show features a wide variety of jazz musicians, such as Jeff Rupert, Bobby Kapp, 3 Cohens, Donald Byrd, and Last Exit. Playlist Henry Threadgill Sextett “I Can't Wait Till I Get Home" from The Complete Novus & Columbia Recordings of Henry Threadgill & Air (Mosaic} 00:00 Mathis Picard “The Creation of the World" ...
Christian McBride & Ursa Major at Assembly
by Mike Jurkovic
Christian McBride & Ursa Major Assembly Kingston, New YorkMarch 18, 2025 More than a West Philly kid who fell in love with the city's smooth '70s soul, bassist/bandleader/composer Christian McBride is a true ambassador of the vibe. The man radiates good times and good intent. With over three hundred recordings ...
