Jazz
Byrd's third session with Pepper Adams, their second on Blue Note, was a Down Beat 5 star album when it was released, and I think it's worn well. As much as anything this might be accounted for by the fact that all members of the quintet were used to playing together.It shows. Rouse, Jones and Taylor had been with Thelonious Monk, and Adams and Byrd had already done the album "Off to the races" for Blue Note.Apart from "Witchcraft" all the tunes are by Byrd (tracks 2,3&6) or Davis (4&6), and have diverse styles and rhythms.Outstanding for me are "Here I am", a plaintiff piece with some excellent blowing from Byrd, and "Bronze Dance" which has changes of moods and meters, as well as a mistake from Rouse, seamlessly made good by Davis. The playing throughout the album is gutsy, with some wonderfully inventive solo's and an intimate understanding of what everybody in the ensemble was doing.The remastering on this session is good ( perhaps a pity there weren't any out-takes to include). An excellent and interesting re-release, that will hopefully presage the release of more material from Byrd from this period.As usual the advice is buy it now before Blue Note delete it!
By Dr.D.Treharne.
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Donald Byrd's "Byrd In Hand" is another one of those Blue Note discs deleted in the early 90s now making a comeback in the RVG Series. Unfortunately this one isn't as essential as some of the others that are resurfacing. Byrd is joined on this May 1959 session by Pepper Adams on baritone sax (someone with whom he had a lasting partnership in the late 50s and early 60s on Blue Note), Charlie Rouse on tenor sax, Walter Davis Jr. on piano, Sam Jones on bass and Art Taylor on drums. The lineup is impressive but I've always found this date to basically be an average jam session. Though Byrd's piercing trumpet and Pepper's rich baritone blend wonderfully on tracks like "Devil Whip" and "Bronze Dance." If you are truly interested in this title, I would suggest you look into the limited edition box set "The Complete Donald Byrd/Pepper Adams Blue Note Sessions" on Mosaic instead. "Byrd In Hand" is probably the weakest album of the six on that set which includes the long out of print classics "Royal Flush," "The Cat Walk" and Herbie Hancock's debut recording "Chant." Don't get me wrong, it's nice to see any Blue Note title back in print, but there are better ways to currently get this "Byrd in Hand."
By Michael B. Richman.
**
Before he became one of the major crossover performers in jazz, trumpeter Donald Byrd also typified American hard bop. His bright, melodious, quick-witted tone shone in all contexts (including John Coltrane, Jackie McLean, and others), but especially ... Full Descriptionhis own. The cleverly titled BYRD IN HAND, from 1959, features Byrd fronting an exceptional group--saxophonists Charlie Rouse (Thelonious Monk's right-hand man) and Pepper Adams (baritone), Walter Davis Jr. on piano, bassist Sam Jones (from Cannonball Adderley), and bop drum king Art Taylor. Byrd's trumpet with these two sax giants makes for a truly distinctive front-line sound, and everyone plays with class and verve.
From Cd Universe.
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Donald Byrd- Trumpet
Charlie Rouse- Tenor Sax
Pepper Adams- Baritone Sax
Walter Davis Jr.- Piano
Sam Jones- Bass
Art Taylor- Drums
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01. Witchcraft (8:29)
02. Here Am I (8:25)
03. Devil Whip (4:42)
04. Bronze Dance (6:42)
05. Clarion Calls (5:41)
06. The Injuns (6:11)
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