Donald Byrd - Cristo Redentor

Na nana naaaa

wikipedia info about Mr. Byrd

Early life and education

Born in Detroit, Michigan, Byrd attended Cass Technical High School. He performed with Lionel Hampton before finishing high school. After playing in a military band during a term in the United States Air Force, he obtained a bachelor's degree in music from Wayne State University and a master's degree from Manhattan School of Music.

Playing career

While still at the Manhattan School he joined Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, replacing Clifford Brown. In 1955, he recorded with Jackie McLean and Mal Waldron. After leaving the Jazz Messengers in 1956 he performed with a wide variety of highly regarded jazz musicians, including John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins, Herbie Hancock, and Thelonious Monk. In June 1964, Byrd jammed with jazz legend Eric Dolphy in Paris just two weeks before Dolphy's tragic death from insulin shock.

In the 1970s, he moved away from his previous hard-bop jazz base and began to record jazz fusion, Jazz-funk, soul-Jazz, and rhythm and blues. Teaming up with the Mizell Brothers, they produced Black Byrd, which was enormously successful and became Blue Note Records' highest-ever selling album. The Mizell Brothers follow-up production albums for Byrd, Places and Spaces, Steppin' Into Tomorrow and Street Lady were also big sellers, and have subsequently provided a rich source of samples for acid jazz artists such as Us3.

In 1993, Byrd teamed up with Gang Starr MC Guru for the track "Loungin'" on the Jazzmatazz project.

As a music educator

He has taught music at Rutgers University, the Hampton Institute, New York University, Howard University, and Oberlin College. In 1974 he created the Blackbyrds, a fusion group consisting of his best students. They scored several major hits including "Rock Creek Park", "Walking In Rhythm" and "Blackbyrds Theme".

Byrd lives in Teaneck, New Jersey.

Category:

Music

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• donald
• byrd
• cristo
• rendentor
• trumpet

[Philtration]

"A Bronx Tale" has such a killer soundtrack.

[jossiegal]

we played this at my dad's funeral-he was a hugh jazz buff and it seemed so right as part homegoing ceremony

[GailChasin]

Gorgeous and timeless. The musicians are also brilliant especially the keyboard player.

[Tigarapld]

@jossiegal I'm sure he would've loved it!

[ceilinggod]

This is such a beautiful piece . I first heard it on the "A Bronx Tale " soundtrack . Never new it was Donald Bryd . It is filled with so much emotion . If you like this one , you should listen to Booker T. and the MGs version of "Summertime ". Both hit me the same way .

[Concepcion8able]

@jossiegal Sorry about your Dad..I know he enjoy It..*

[roadschokar]

@Concepcion8able I just read your post again, I too was 17 in 65

[roadschokar]

@Concepcion8able Y repecto a que mi amigo lo siento , who could ever forget the Watermelon Man, but as I said there were so many, it was just a really cool time to be alive. There seem to be a few of us still around that truly appreciate that era. Peace

[Concepcion8able]

@roadschokar Muy Bien Amigo..Good old Latin Jazz I feel where you are coming from..I grew up Soul And Latin Jazz You forgot Mongo Santamaria..That mean Conga Player...Bless Them all..Amen!..*

[Concepcion8able]

@dudahead100 He knew how to blow that Horn..This piece of great music gets into your Soul..*

[Concepcion8able]

Back in 65s I lived in the South Bronx On Prospect Ave ..Downstairs in a Pizza Store They had a Jukebox ..And This side was always beening playd...I was seventeen years old..And I still love it today..Many Thanks bystandemusic for the memories..*