Donald Byrd • Royal Flush

 

Review
by Stephen Thomas Erlewine  
Donald Byrd was at his peak as a straight-ahead hard bop band leader in the early '60s, turning a series of remarkably solid, enjoyable sessions for Blue Note. Royal Flush is no exception to the rule. Recorded in the fall of 1961, Royal Flush finds Byrd once again working with baritionist Pepper Adams, but adding bassist Butch Warren, drummer Billy Higgins, and, most importantly, a young pianist named Herbie Hancock. For the most part, the quintet plays a set of vital hard bop, swinging hard on the bluesy groove "Hush" and laying back on the pop standard "I'm a Fool to Want You." But what's really interesting is when they begin pushing the boundaries of bop. All three of Byrd's original pieces -- "Jorgie's," "Shangri-La," "6M's" -- are harmonically complex and have subtly shifting rhythms; all three are successful, but "Shangri-La" is particularly noteworthy. Similarly, Hancock's graceful "Requiem" calls attention to its fluid melodic lines and rhythm. Throughout the date, Byrd and Adams are typically impressive, alternating between punchy, hard-hitting, and graceful solos, but Hancock is just as good, signaling early on in his career his deep, unique talent.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/royal-flush-mw0000581289

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Reseña
por Stephen Thomas Erlewine  
Donald Byrd estaba en su apogeo como líder de una banda de hard bop directo a principios de los 60, realizando una serie de sesiones notablemente sólidas y agradables para Blue Note. Royal Flush no es una excepción a la regla. Grabado en el otoño de 1961, Royal Flush encuentra a Byrd una vez más trabajando con el barista Pepper Adams, pero añadiendo al bajista Butch Warren, al baterista Billy Higgins y, lo más importante, a un joven pianista llamado Herbie Hancock. En su mayor parte, el quinteto toca un conjunto de hard bop vital, balanceándose con fuerza en el groove bluesero "Hush" y recostándose en el estándar pop "I'm a Fool to Want You". Pero lo realmente interesante es cuando empiezan a empujar los límites del bop. Las tres piezas originales de Byrd - "Jorgie's", "Shangri-La", "6M's"- son armónicamente complejas y tienen ritmos sutilmente cambiantes; las tres son exitosas, pero "Shangri-La" es particularmente notable. Del mismo modo, el elegante "Requiem" de Hancock llama la atención por sus fluidas líneas melódicas y su ritmo. A lo largo de la fecha, Byrd y Adams son típicamente impresionantes, alternando entre solos punzantes y contundentes y elegantes, pero Hancock es igual de bueno, señalando desde el principio de su carrera su profundo y único talento.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/royal-flush-mw0000581289

Tracks:
1 - Hush 6:24
2 - I'm A Fool To Want You 6:17
3 - Jorgie's 8:09
4 - Shangri-La 6:38
5 - 6 M's 6:31
6 - Requiem 7:11


Credits:
    Baritone Saxophone – Pepper Adams
    Bass – Butch Warren
    Design [Cover] – Reid Miles
    Drums – Billy Higgins
    Liner Notes – ボブ・ベルデン*, Leonard Feather, 上田篤
    Liner Notes [Translated By] – 林田ひめじ*
    Photography By [Cover Photo] – Francis Wolff
    Piano – Herbie Hancock
    Producer – Alfred Lion
    Recorded By – Rudy Van Gelder
    Trumpet – Donald Byrd

Recorded on September 21, 1961.

Label: Blue Note – ST-84101, Blue Note – BST 84101
Released: 1961
Genre: Jazz
Style: Hard Bop, Soul-Jazz, Post Bop
https://www.discogs.com/release/1807085-Donald-Byrd-Royal-Flush

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