1961 Live Jazz Performance - Repressec oN Audiophile Vimnyl Cut Directly From Analog Tapes Gatefold Sleeve 180 gram vinyl
This stereo Tone Poet Vinyl Edition was produced by Joe Harley, mastered by Kevin Gray from the original analogue master tapes, pressed on 180g vinyl at RTI, and packaged in a deluxe gatefold tip-on jacket.
This is one of the most essential hard bop purchases in the canon. The performances of Pearson - of his own four tunes, five by Byrd, and the standards -- showcase his improvisational acumen at its height. His soloing on studio records pales in comparison. This was a hot quintet, one that not only swung hard, but possessed a deep lyricism and an astonishing sense of timing, and one need only this set by them to feel the full measure of their worth. Forget the Riverside date that caught them live early on; this is the one.
Donald Byrd is one of our favourite trumpeters to adorn the Blue Note hall of fame; once more, the eminent label bursts open our doors with a fresh LP documenting an obscure live appearance. This time chronicling his appearance in November 1960 in New York venue Half Note, it hears Byrd feature alongside Pepper Adams, Duke Pearson, Laymon Jackson and Lex Humphries. With inclusions of such Byrd standards and favourites as 'My Shy Girl', 'Cecile' and 'Soulful Kiddy', this is as uptempo yet bluesy a live album as you can possibly get.