Donald Byrd Off To The Races CD

Before trumpeter Donald Byrd began his flirtations with fusion, funk, and pop in the 1960s and '70s, he was one of hard bop's most satisfying practitioners. 1958's OFF TO THE RACES is one of his finest dates from the period, and a stellar personnel list (including baritone saxophonist Pepper Adams, alto saxophonist Jackie McLean, and pianist Wynton Kelly) helps get things cooking. There is the usual Blue Note assortment of ballads, blues, and up-tempo numbers, but it's the musicianship, particularly the fine, fluid soloing of Byrd and McLean, that makes this a keeper.

From the crackling opening notes of "Lover Come Back to Me," it's clear that Off to the Races is one of Donald Byrd's most invigorating sessions of the late '50s. Working with a stellar supporting band -- Jackie McLean (alto sax), Wynton Kelly (piano), Pepper Adams (bari sax), Sam Jones (bass), Art Taylor (drums) -- Byrd turns in one of his strongest recordings of the era. Throughout the album, Byrd switches between hard bop, ballads, laid-back blues, and soul-jazz. Two of the numbers are standards, one is a cover, and three are Byrd originals, but what matters is the playing. Over the course of the album, Byrd proves he has matured greatly as a soloist, capable of sweet, melodic solos on the slower numbers and blistering runs of notes on the faster songs. McLean is just as vigorous and lyrical, contributing some fine moments to the record, as do Adams and Kelly. There's nothing surprising about Off to the Races; it's simply a set of well-performed, enjoyable hard bop, but sometimes that's enough. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Liner Note Authors: Joe Goldberg; Bob Blumenthal.

Recording information: Van Gelder Studios, Hackensack, NJ (12/21/1958).

Photographer: Francis Wolff.

Personnel: Donald Byrd (trumpet); Donald Byrd; Sam Jones (bass instrument); Jackie McLean (alto saxophone); Pepper Adams (baritone saxophone); Wynton Kelly (piano); Art Taylor (drums).

Audio Remasterer: Rudy Van Gelder.