Requisites

Donald Byrd at The Half Note Café, Volume 2 | By Eddie Carter

I enjoyed listening to the first set of Donald Byrd at The Half Note Café so much that I decided to hear the second set as well, which inspired this morning’s discussion. So, as the quintet makes their way back to the stage, let’s all sit back in our seats to enjoy Donald Byrd at The Half Note Café, Volume 2 (Blue Note BLP 4061/BST 84061). Donald Byrd is on trumpet, Pepper Adams is on baritone sax, Duke Pearson is on piano, Laymon Jackson is on bass, and Lex Humphries is on the drums. My copy is the King Record Company Japanese Stereo reissue (Blue Note BST 84061 – GYK-8105).

The rhythm section lays the foundation to begin Jeannine by Duke Pearson with their introduction ahead of the front line’s opening chorus. Donald lights the first solo like a shining beacon. Pepper succeeds him with a briskly exciting performance; then Duke keeps your foot tapping with swinging precision ahead of the ensemble’s closing chorus and trio ending softly. The leader then introduces the group’s theme, Pure D. Funk, before leading the trio through the bluesy theme. Pepper is up first with a relaxing interpretation. Duke has a very fine spot next, and then Donald is as smooth as Tennessee Whiskey preceding the group’s reprise and climax.

Side Two starts with Lex’s percussive introduction to the quintet’s medium melody of Donald’s second tune, Kimyas. Pepper swings easily in an impressive opening statement. Donald follows with another equally blissful gem. Duke completes the solos at a leisurely pace anchored by Laymon and Lex until the quintet’s ending theme. When Sonny Gets Blue by Marvin Fisher and Jack Segal opens with the front line delivering a very pretty opening chorus. Duke gets the song’s only solo and delivers a wonderful expression of incredible beauty and solace, leading to the quintet’s theme restatement. Donald ends the evening by thanking the crowd for being a receptive audience.

Alfred Lion produced this live date, and Rudy Van Gelder was the recording engineer. The sound quality possesses a top-notch soundstage that truly makes you feel like you’re right there in the Half Note Café audience. King Record Company has beautifully remastered the original mono tapes, enhancing the experience. If you’re new to the music of Donald Byrd or only know of his later ’70s jazz-funk releases, I invite you to check out Donald Byrd at The Half Note Café, Volume 2, on your next record hunt. Like its companion, Volume 1, the musicians are wonderful. The music has stood the test of time and both albums are excellent documents of a live jazz performance the listener can revisit anytime!

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JON BAUER QUARTET

Jonathan Bauer is a multi-talented trumpeter, singer and composer, most notably of the Grammy award-winning New Orleans Jazz Orchestra. In 2019, he burst onto the scene with his highly acclaimed debut album, “Walk Don’t Run.” Jonathan returns with his sophomore release, “Sings and Plays”, introducing him self to the world as part of the rich lineage of trumpeters who front their bands as singers.

 An internationally recognized and touring artist, Jonathan is widely celebrated for his dark and buttery sound. While earning his Master’s at the University of New Orleans, Jonathan quickly became arising talent in one of the world’s most important musical communities. He has had the opportunity to study and perform with living legends Nicholas Payton, Robert Glasper, Ellis Marsalis and Wendell Brunious among others. A versatile musician, Jonathan enthusiastically crosses genres performing with R&B titans, such as Sheila E., Ledisi, and Eric Benét.

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MIKE VAX QUINTET FEATURING DENNIS ROWLAND

Mike Vax played with Art Pepper, Freddie Hubbard, Clark Terry, and the Glen Miller and Jimmy Dorsey Orchestras. But he is acclaimed as the first trumpet and co-leader of the historic “ahead of its time” Stan Kenton Orchestra and the ongoing Stan Kenton Alumni Band.

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THE ABNEY EFFECT

Chicago born and raised jazz trumpeter Mario Abney now of New Orleans fuses traditional and extended trumpet techniques in a most inventive way; his strikingly personal instrumental vision endows the music with an infinite array of tonal color. Recognized for his ability to create pure musical dialog, and hear music in a universally spiritual way, he is definitely one of New Orleans most pioneering young jazz musicians.

Marioʼs first experience hearing jazz was the music of trumpeter Wynton Marsalis. After jazz trumpet peaked his interest in music Mario began to absorb the music of Louis Armstrong, Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, and all the great trumpeters who pioneered the music.

With a band scholarship in hand, Mario attended Central State University, Ohio, majoring in Music Education with a minor in jazz studies. “During my college years I became involved in the jazz scene in Dayton playing trumpet in several professional ensembles such as the Afro-Cuban Jazz ensemble, Babalu, the Chicago based House of Twang, The Afro-Rican Ensemble, SYM, and several other ensembles. I

n 2001, after several years of playing as a side man Abney was inspired to lead his own Quintet. During a performance at the Dayton RiverWalk festival in 2007 Mario became interested in going to New Orleans after hearing the Hot 8 Brass Band perform. By spring of 2008 Abney and two members from his quintet moved to New Orleans to absorb its rich musical culture and become part of the music scene.

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Requisites

Donald Byrd at The Half Note Café, Volume 1 | By Eddie Carter

I was still in the mood to hear another trumpet album after listening to Harry “Sweets” Edison when my search led me to another of my Mom’s favorite records. Donald Byrd and Pepper Adams were two musicians she enjoyed listening to and this morning’s record from the library brings them together in a great live date. Donald Byrd at The Half Note Café, Volume 1 (Blue Note BLP 4060/BST 84060) captures the trumpeter’s quintet featuring Pepper Adams (tracks: A1, A2, B2, B3) on baritone sax, Duke Pearson on piano, Laymon Jackson on bass and Lex Humphries on drums in performance at one of New York’s best jazz clubs. This album holds a special place in my heart because it reminds me of the music my Mom and I used to enjoy together during Sunday dinner. My copy is the 1978 King Record Company Japanese Stereo reissue (Blue Note BST 84060 – GXK-8104).

Ruth Mason is our Mistress of Ceremonies for the evening and starts the set with the musician’s introductions. The quintet then launches into the upbeat melody of My Girl Shirl by Duke Pearson. Donald kicks off the solos with an invigorating statement; then Pepper succeeds him with a joyfully spirited solo. Duke emerges next for a brisk presentation, and the front line cooks with Lex ahead of the close. Donald introduces the next tune, his own Soulful Kiddy, a blues that slows the beat down for the ensemble’s marching melody. Pepper serves up some down-home cooking in the opening solo. Donald comes into the second reading with carefree enthusiasm; then Duke eases into the spotlight last, leading to the theme’s restatement and climax.

Side Two opens with Donald’s introduction to A Portrait of Jennie by J. Russel Robinson and Gordon Burdge. The quartet showcase begins with the trumpeter’s romantically warm introduction to the melody. He continues mining a rich vein of sentimentality in the first solo. Duke takes over to deliver a very pretty reading until Donald’s return to add a few more comments into the reprise and close. Cecile by Donald Byrd brings the quintet back for a medium blues that commences with the trio’s introduction to the front line, taking the lead in the melody. Pepper takes off first, cruising at a comfortable pace. Donald gets to work next with an impressive interpretation, and then Duke completes the infectious beat in the finale ahead of the quintet’s closing moments.

The set climaxes with the group’s theme, Pure D. Funk. Donald has the showcase to himself in a concise theme and the song’s only solo into the ensemble’s conclusion. Alfred Lion produced Donald Byrd at The Half Note Café, Volume 1, and Rudy Van Gelder was behind the dials. The reissue has an excellent soundstage transporting the listener to the club audience with excellent fidelity. The unique sound of this album, with its stellar rhythm section and the great chemistry between Donald Byrd and Pepper Adams, is sure to captivate any jazz enthusiast. I invite you to pick up Donald Byrd at The Half Note Café, Volume 1, on your next record shopping trip. It’s a delightful live album that is sure to enjoy repeated plays on the turntable!

Postscript: For those who are unaware, Ruth Mason was a singer and WOV on-air personality who would become Mrs. Alfred Lion. She is also the lovely young woman who appears on the cover of Moods by The Three Sounds.

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