DONALD BYRD — A New Perspective (review)

DONALD BYRD — A New Perspective album cover Album · 1964 · Hard Bop Buy this album from MMA partners
4/5 ·
Sean Trane
A fairly different Byrd affair with this New Perspective. Indeed, Bohn’s usual suspects are absent (or almost, to allow stars like Mobley, Hancock, Burrell’s guitar and Best’s vibraphone and some choral artistes. Only the usual side-kick Duke Pearson is presenting the composition and at the production desk. It must’ve felt weird for him to let Herbie sit down on his piano stool, but I take it the sound-desk’s armchairs were definitely more comfy, especially next to Van Gelder’s presence to oversee the sessions.

In its own genre, ANP must be some kind of classic in its own genre, but exactly what is that genre? Indeed, this album has got a religious/spiritual direction, using the female choirs section. It is actually the choir that opens the album on the 9-mins Elijah, before the vibes and piano kick in, and the tune plays mid-tempo. Once Burrell’s guitar solos away, but gets cut by Best’s vibes interplaying with the scatting choirs, giving the whole an enthralling and joyous happy-go-lucky feel. Great stuff, dudes!! The following 10-mins Beast Of Burden fails to match the optimism of the previous track, but then again you were warned by the title. Indeed the tempo is much slower, the choirs more soulful, Herbie’s piano pensive and Byrd’s trumpet more thoughtful.

The flipside opens on the stupendous Pearson composition Cristo Redentor soulful blues, so beautiful. Indeed Perkinson’s choral arrangements are spine-chilling and breathtakingly beautiful over a slow Hancock piano, Byrd’s solemn trumpet taking it up to the next floor. I can sense that Gregg and Carlos inspired themselves from here for that superlative Treat track on Santana’s debut album. The Black Disciple clutches-in the superior upbeat gear, with the horn players acting big-band style (at first, but here, the choirs actually bring/slow down the music, despite the rapid beat and Humphries thankfully-short drum solo is not helping, but Herbie plays up a storm.

A rather different Byrd flying up in the sky, but one that’s definitely worth checking out and even owning. I’d rank this one along with Kind Of Blue, Time Out, Black Saint or Eastern Sounds, Africa/Brass, so go run for it before the cds become too rare on the shelves of stores.

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