Name: Slow Drag (Tone Poet Series)
Brand: Donald Byrd

Bonus disc

Bonus disc: No

Catalogue number

3856842

Colour

Black

Colour details

Discogs ID

Format multiplier

Download code

Download code: No

Rough Trade Exclusive

Rough Trade Exclusive: No

Extended format

Extended format: No

Format detail

Remastered from Original Analogue Tapes. 180 Gram housed in deluxe Gatefold Tip On Sleeve.

Format Music GB

Limited edition

Release date

2023-06-02

Signed copies

Signed copies: No

Supplier GB

Universal

Tax rate GB

Standard:20

UPC / Barcode

0602438568420

Total Cap

Black LP

Artist

Donald Byrd

Genre GB

Jazz

Label GB

Blue Note

Donald Byrd was an American jazz trumpeter, composer, bandleader, and educator. Born on December 9, 1932 in Detroit, Michigan, he had a prolific career that spanned several decades. Byrd's musical journey began at Cass Tech where he studied classical music under the mentorship of Dr. Harry Begian. He honed his skills playing trumpet in military bands during his time in the Air Force and later graduated from Wayne State University with a degree in music.

Byrd's unique style blended Clifford Brown's warm sound and fluent technique with his own rhythmically loose phrasing. He recorded extensively as both a sideman and leader for labels such as Savoy Records, Prestige, Riverside Records, and Blue Note. Byrd also played alongside baritone saxophonist Pepper Adams and gave pianist Herbie Hancock his first major exposure.

As a composer, Byrd showcased his versatility through church-inspired shouts, blues forms, and structurally interesting originals. His influential album "A New Perspective" merged his small group with a gospel choir. Despite his success in the music industry, Byrd never stopped pursuing education; he earned multiple degrees including a master's degree in music education from Manhattan School of Music and a law degree from Howard University.

In addition to his musical achievements, Byrd taught at various universities including Rutgers, Howard University,and North Carolina Central University. In the early 1970s, he

Blue Note is a record label that has made a significant impact in the jazz genre. Founded in 1939 by Alfred Lion and Max Margulis, Blue Note focused on traditional jazz and swing recordings, producing timeless classics. In the 1950s, it became one of the first labels to feature bop musicians. After being acquired by *Universal Music Group* in 1965, Blue Note expanded its repertoire to include more commercially-oriented music like jazz-fusion. Throughout the years, Blue Note underwent various changes in ownership and reissue programs but continued to release new recordings and previously unreleased material.

In 1982, Blue Note catalog reissues began appearing on *United Artists Records*, which was owned by Michael Cuscuna who oversaw the UA-era reissue program. The label was later relaunched as part of *Capitol-EMI's* subsidiary *Manhattan Records* in 1985. It was during this time that Blue Note released key albums from its history and introduced previously unissued material.

In 1989, Blue Note became the division under which all of Capitol-EMI's jazz activities were organized. However, two years later, *Manhattan Records* was revived for smooth jazz and pop-jazz releases while Blue Note continued to thrive as a prominent label within Capitol-EMI's roster.

Newest Listed Items

Donald Byrd’s 1967 album Slow Drag was one of the last pure hard bop records the trumpeter would make before his music began evolving towards fusion. Byrd flies high on this gratifying set featuring alto saxophonist Sonny Red, pianist Cedar Walton, bassist Walter Booker and drummer Billy Higgins.

This stereo Tone Poet Vinyl Edition was produced by Joe Harley, mastered by Kevin Gray from the original analog master tapes, pressed on 180g vinyl at RTI, and packaged in a deluxe gatefold tip-on sleeve.

Slow Drag (Tone Poet Series)

Music GB