Donald Byrd/Johnny Coles “Groovin’ For Nat”

Donald Byrd/Johnny Coles

“Groovin’ For Nat”
( LP Black Lion Records, 1962 )
Catalog # BLCD 760134
** Reissue of Jazzline JAZ 33-02 entitled “Duke Pearson – Hush!” + 4 bonus tracks
** Also issued on 1201 Music 9030-2

Tracklisting :
01 Hush [Take 2] (Byrd) 6:17
02 Child’s Play [Take 3] (Byrd, Pearson) 5:38
03 Angel Eyes [Take 4] (Brent, Dennis) 2:42
04 Smoothie [Take 4] (Stevenson) 5:55
05 Sudel [Take 2] (Pearson) 7:11
06 Friday’s Child (Mitchell) 6:33
07 Out of This World (Arlen, Mercer) 7:16
08 Groovin’ for Nat (Wilkins) 3:45
09 Hush [Take 1] (Byrd) 7:35
10 Child’s Play [Take 2] (Byrd, Pearson) 6:46
11 Sudel [Take 4] (Pearson) 6:09

Personnel :
Donald Byrd Trumpet
Johnny Coles Trumpet
Bob Cranshaw Bass
Duke Pearson Piano
Walter Perkins Drums

Notes:
Recorded in NYC, January 12, 1962

Review :
On this somewhat obscure Black Lion release (which has been reissued), Donald Byrd teams up with fellow trumpeter Johnny Coles, pianist Duke Pearson, bassist Bob Cranshaw and drummer Walter Perkins for a set of music dominated by hard bop originals; “Angel Eyes” and “Out Of This World” are the only standards. Augmented by three previously unreleased alternate takes, this straightahead session finds Cole’s brittle tone sounding more distinctive than Byrd’s (who is in more of a Lee Morgan vein) but everyone plays well. Recommended.
By Scott Yanow (AMG)

By Rob