Description
– A TAV Essential Listening Album –
Drawn from two sessions recorded in December 1969 and December 1970, and not first released until 1995, Kofi found Donald Byrd in the early stages of his transformation from top-notch hard bop trumpeter to fusion pioneer.
Byrd had already begun to move away from a pure hard bop sound with his album Fancy Free in the Spring of 1969, and the two Kofi sessions straddled the recording of his adventurous fusion album Electric Byrd. The first Kofi session subtly explored a new realm of sounds on Byrds originals Kofi and Fufu with producer Duke Pearsons electric piano shimmering underneath textured arrangements featuring Lew Tabackin on flute and tenor saxophone, Frank Foster on tenor saxophone, William Campbell on trombone, Ron Carter on acoustic bass, Bob Cranshaw on electric bass, and Airto Moreira on drums. The following 1970 session produced two more vibey Byrd originalsPerpetual Love and Elminaadding Wally Richardson on guitar and Mickey Roker on drums with Moreira playing percussion along with Dom Um Romo. via Label
Kofi was extracted from some of last Blue Note sessions of the 1960s before Byrd’s ventures into soul fusion territory. The playing here is no less than stellar, with seasoned veterans such asRon CarterandAirto Moreiragiving Byrd more than ample support to stretch out and soulfully foreshadow elements of future recordings.Lew Tabackineasily shares the spotlight with his beautiful flute passages on the title track, whileFrank Fosterand the rest of the supporting group complement Byrd’s playing with a grace that emulates the early chemistry between the earlyMiles Davisgroups of the early ’60s.
The subtle relaxed tones of this album make it truly one of the essential releases in Byrd’s catalog, not only from a historical standpoint (his future collaborations with the Mizell brothers would take him to an entirely different plane of thought), but from a casual listening standpoint as well. via AllMusic
Label: Blue Note
Series: Blue Note Tone Poet Series
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo, 180g
Reissued: 2024 / Original Release: 1995
Genre: Jazz
Style: Modal, Fusion, Latin Jazz
File under: Blue Note Tone Poet Series
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