Donald Byrd

Art by Tim Foley

Donald Byrd

Trumpet, Flugelhorn · born 9 December 1932 – died 4 February 2013

▸ Click for Richard Cook Bio

Byrd was in some ways the archetypal hard-bop trumpeter: very prolific in the recording studio, adaptable to any set of material, he epitomized reliability, from his first dates with Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers in 1956. The trumpeter worked alongside a huge number of leaders, and was recording for Savoy, Prestige and Riverside alike, but it is his Blue Note dates which are best remembered, mainly as he did most of his leadership records there. He spent some time in Europe (recording in Paris) in 1958, and back in the US he struck up a partnership with Pepper Adams. But his interest turned increasingly towards education, and he has secured several distinguished qualifications, as well as a degree in law. A New Perspective (1963) was a hit record for him, but his biggest success came with Black Byrd (1972), cleverly produced by Larry Mizell to tap into the funk audience, and thereafter Byrd drifted into poor music (clearly patterned after the thinnest areas of Miles Davis's electric period), where his trumpet playing counted for very little. Perhaps sensibly, he has since then spent most of his time away from actual music-making, and a couple of late-80s albums for Landmark suggested that a comeback of any sort was ill-advised. Fine tone, excellent technique, but even in his glory years Byrd missed out on the token of individuality which could have put him amongst the music's immortals.

Biography from Richard Cook's Jazz Encyclopedia (2005).

If you'd like more information, check out The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz (2002) or The Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz (2007), both of which are still in print.

As leader

  • Art Farmer / Donald Byrd – Two TrumpetsArt Farmer / Donald Byrd – Two Trumpets
  • Phil Woods / Donald Byrd – The Young BloodsPhil Woods / Donald Byrd – The Young Bloods
  • Art Farmer / Donald Byrd / Idrees Sulieman – Three TrumpetsArt Farmer / Donald Byrd / Idrees Sulieman – Three Trumpets
  • Donald Byrd – Off to the RacesDonald Byrd – Off to the Races
  • Donald Byrd – Byrd in HandDonald Byrd – Byrd in Hand
  • Donald Byrd – FuegoDonald Byrd – Fuego

Plays on

  • Kenny Clarke – Bohemia After DarkKenny Clarke – Bohemia After Dark
  • The Jazz Messengers – The Jazz MessengersThe Jazz Messengers – The Jazz Messengers
  • George Wallington – Jazz for the Carriage TradeGeorge Wallington – Jazz for the Carriage Trade
  • Jackie McLean Quintet – Lights Out!Jackie McLean Quintet – Lights Out!
  • Elmo Hope Sextet – Informal JazzElmo Hope Sextet – Informal Jazz
  • Phil Woods Septet – Pairing OffPhil Woods Septet – Pairing Off
  • Jackie McLean – 4, 5, and 6Jackie McLean – 4, 5, and 6
  • Gene Ammons All-Stars – Jammin’ With GeneGene Ammons All-Stars – Jammin’ With Gene
  • Hank Mobley – Mobley’s MessageHank Mobley – Mobley’s Message
  • Paul Chambers Sextet – Whims of ChambersPaul Chambers Sextet – Whims of Chambers
  • Horace Silver – 6 Pieces of SilverHorace Silver – 6 Pieces of Silver
  • Hank Mobley – With Donald Byrd and Lee MorganHank Mobley – With Donald Byrd and Lee Morgan
  • Sonny Rollins – Sonny Rollins, Volume OneSonny Rollins – Sonny Rollins, Volume One
  • Lou Donaldson Quintet – Wailing With LouLou Donaldson Quintet – Wailing With Lou
  • Jimmy Smith – A Date With Jimmy Smith, Volume OneJimmy Smith – A Date With Jimmy Smith, Volume One
  • Jimmy Smith – A Date With Jimmy Smith, Volume TwoJimmy Smith – A Date With Jimmy Smith, Volume Two
  • Don Byrd / Gigi Gryce – Jazz LabDon Byrd / Gigi Gryce – Jazz Lab
  • Horace Silver – Silver’s BlueHorace Silver – Silver’s Blue
  • Prestige All-Stars – All Night LongPrestige All-Stars – All Night Long
  • Prestige All-Stars – All Day LongPrestige All-Stars – All Day Long
  • Art Taylor – Taylor’s WailersArt Taylor – Taylor’s Wailers
  • Gigi Gryce – Jazz Lab QuintetGigi Gryce – Jazz Lab Quintet
  • Kenny Drew – This Is NewKenny Drew – This Is New
  • Hank Mobley – Jazz Message #2Hank Mobley – Jazz Message #2
  • Hank Mobley Sextet – HankHank Mobley Sextet – Hank
  • Paul Chambers – Paul Chambers QuintetPaul Chambers – Paul Chambers Quintet
  • Sonny Clark – Sonny’s CribSonny Clark – Sonny’s Crib
  • Lou Donaldson – Lou Takes OffLou Donaldson – Lou Takes Off
  • Kenny Burrell / Jimmy Raney – 2 GuitarsKenny Burrell / Jimmy Raney – 2 Guitars
  • Red Garland Quintet – All Mornin’ LongRed Garland Quintet – All Mornin’ Long
  • Johnny Griffin – Johnny Griffin SextetJohnny Griffin – Johnny Griffin Sextet
  • Pepper Adams – 10 to 4 at the 5 SpotPepper Adams – 10 to 4 at the 5 Spot
  • Art Blakey – Holiday for Skins, Volume 1Art Blakey – Holiday for Skins, Volume 1
  • Art Blakey – Holiday for Skins, Volume 2Art Blakey – Holiday for Skins, Volume 2
  • Dizzy Reece – Blues in TrinityDizzy Reece – Blues in Trinity
  • Jackie McLean – New SoilJackie McLean – New Soil
  • Walter Davis, Jr. – Davis CupWalter Davis, Jr. – Davis Cup
  • Dexter Gordon – One Flight UpDexter Gordon – One Flight Up

Mentioned in text

  • Cannonball Adderley – Presenting CannonballCannonball Adderley – Presenting Cannonball
  • The Jazz Messengers – At the Café Bohemia, Volume OneThe Jazz Messengers – At the Café Bohemia, Volume One
  • Kenny Burrell – Introducing Kenny BurrellKenny Burrell – Introducing Kenny Burrell
  • Clifford Brown and Max Roach – At Basin StreetClifford Brown and Max Roach – At Basin Street
  • Elmo Hope – Hope Meets FosterElmo Hope – Hope Meets Foster
  • Jon Eardley – Jon Eardley SevenJon Eardley – Jon Eardley Seven
  • Sonny Rollins – Plus FourSonny Rollins – Plus Four
  • Various Artists – Jazz Men DetroitVarious Artists – Jazz Men Detroit
  • Charles Mingus – East CoastingCharles Mingus – East Coasting
  • J.R. Monterose – J.R. MonteroseJ.R. Monterose – J.R. Monterose
  • Lee Morgan – Indeed!Lee Morgan – Indeed!
  • Hank Mobley – And His All StarsHank Mobley – And His All Stars
  • Horace Silver – The Stylings of SilverHorace Silver – The Stylings of Silver
  • Warne Marsh – Jazz of Two CitiesWarne Marsh – Jazz of Two Cities
  • The Jazz Messengers – RitualThe Jazz Messengers – Ritual
  • Hank Mobley Quintet – Mobley’s 2nd MessageHank Mobley Quintet – Mobley’s 2nd Message
  • Gene Ammons – FunkyGene Ammons – Funky
  • Curtis Fuller – New TromboneCurtis Fuller – New Trombone
  • Gene Ammons – Jammin’ In Hi FiGene Ammons – Jammin’ In Hi Fi
  • Mal Waldron – Mal/2Mal Waldron – Mal/2
  • Idrees Sulieman / Webster Young / John Coltrane / Bobby Jaspar – Interplay for 2 Trumpets and 2 TenorsIdrees Sulieman / Webster Young / John Coltrane / Bobby Jaspar – Interplay for 2 Trumpets and 2 Tenors
  • Red Garland – GroovyRed Garland – Groovy
  • Phil Woods / Gene Quill / Sahib Shihab / Hal Stein – Four AltosPhil Woods / Gene Quill / Sahib Shihab / Hal Stein – Four Altos
  • Prestige All-Stars – After HoursPrestige All-Stars – After Hours
  • Clark Terry – Serenade to a Bus SeatClark Terry – Serenade to a Bus Seat
  • Art Pepper – Return of Art PepperArt Pepper – Return of Art Pepper
  • John Coltrane – Blue TrainJohn Coltrane – Blue Train
  • Sonny Clark – Sonny Clark TrioSonny Clark – Sonny Clark Trio
  • Louis Smith – Here Comes Louis SmithLouis Smith – Here Comes Louis Smith
  • Horace Silver Quintet – Further ExplorationsHorace Silver Quintet – Further Explorations
  • Lee Morgan – CandyLee Morgan – Candy
  • Louis Smith – SmithvilleLouis Smith – Smithville
  • Jackie McLean / John Jenkins – Alto MadnessJackie McLean / John Jenkins – Alto Madness
  • John Coltrane – Traneing InJohn Coltrane – Traneing In
  • Frank Wess – Wheelin’ & Dealin’Frank Wess – Wheelin’ & Dealin’
  • Red Garland Trio – MantecaRed Garland Trio – Manteca
  • Thelonious Monk Quartet – MisteriosoThelonious Monk Quartet – Misterioso
  • Jimmy Smith – The SermonJimmy Smith – The Sermon
  • Gene Ammons – Blue GeneGene Ammons – Blue Gene
  • Young Men from Memphis – Down Home ReunionYoung Men from Memphis – Down Home Reunion
  • Duke Pearson – ProfileDuke Pearson – Profile
  • Dizzy Reece – Star BrightDizzy Reece – Star Bright
  • Lou Donaldson – The Time is RightLou Donaldson – The Time is Right
  • Art Blakey – The Big BeatArt Blakey – The Big Beat
  • Sonny Red – Out of the BlueSonny Red – Out of the Blue
  • Paul Chambers – 1st BassmanPaul Chambers – 1st Bassman
  • John Coltrane – Coltrane JazzJohn Coltrane – Coltrane Jazz
  • Curtis Fuller – Curtis Fuller, Volume ThreeCurtis Fuller – Curtis Fuller, Volume Three
  • Duke Pearson – Tender Feelin’sDuke Pearson – Tender Feelin’s
  • Lou Donaldson – Sunny Side UpLou Donaldson – Sunny Side Up
  • Art Blakey – Impulse / Art Blakey / Jazz MessengersArt Blakey – Impulse / Art Blakey / Jazz Messengers
  • Elvin Jones – And Then AgainElvin Jones – And Then Again
  • Jimmy Heath – Picture of HeathJimmy Heath – Picture of Heath
  • Dexter Gordon – Homecoming: Live at the Village VanguardDexter Gordon – Homecoming: Live at the Village Vanguard
  • Richard Davis – Way Out WestRichard Davis – Way Out West