• Track Listing

Three CDs. Donald Byrd & The Blackbyrds' The Jazz Funk Collection is the first time you have been able to acquire a collection of tracks by these artists on a CD package. All tracks on The Jazz Funk Collection are either written, produced or performed by Donald Byrd; the collection starts in 1973 around the start of the jazz funk era. Our package kicks off with 'Lansana's Priestess' from the 1973 album Street Lady nearly eight minutes of pure jazz funk produced by the legendary Mizell Brothers. Followed by a slew of classic Donald Byrd tracks such as 'Black Byrd', 'Loves So Far Away' and 'Flight Time' to name but a few. During the sixties Donald was now teaching Jazz at several Universities including Howard University, this is where he met a few students to start a band with, and the Blackbyrds were formed. The Blackbyrds went on to have a great deal of success and our package kicks off with the 'Blackbyrds Theme', but the big success they were to have was with 'Walking In Rhythm' which was produced by Donald. Donald Byrd was also now making his mark on the R&B chart with 'Change (Makes You Want To Hustle)' and 'Dominoes' and we have also included the version he recorded for the Blue Note Live at The Roxy album, that was to become the underground club classic. The Blackbyrds were to record seven albums for Fantasy Records with Donald involved in the bulk of them either as a producer or as a writer. In 1978 Donald Byrd moved label to Elektra, and recorded four albums with them, three with the backing Band 125th Street N. Y. C. we have included the funkiest tracks from those four albums.