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Donald Byrd – First Flight
Delmark DD 407
Compact Disc

With Yusef Lateef and Barry Harris.

The names and musical reputations of Donald Byrd and Yusef are well known where ever jazz is played. When this live concert was recorded, in Detroit at the New World Stage, August 23, 1955, their fame had not yet reached the heights they now enjoy.

Donald Byrd may very well have been making his recorded debut at this concert. Although his style here is quite different and not as individually developed as his present one, it is full of exuberance, swing, good taste, and very pure of sound. Byrd also emerged from the endless stream of talent that is Detroit, about the time this album was cut.

This album was originally issued by Transition Records as Byrd Jazz

Recorded from a live concert in Detroit at the New World Stage, August 23, 1955

© ℗ 1990, Delmark Records

Trumpet – Donald Byrd
Tenor Saxophone – Yusef Lateef
Piano – Barry Harris (2)
Bass – Alvin Jackson
Drums – Frank Gant
Euphonium – Bernard McKinney
MC [Emcee] – Willie Bowen


Producer – Robert G. Koester

1 Blues 7:01 (Donald Byrd)
2 Tortion Level 6:31
3 Woodyn' You (Dizzy Gillespie) 7:20
4 Dancing In The Dark
(Arthur Schwartz & Howard Dietz) 7:45
5 Parisian Thoroughfare (Bud Powell) 14:50
6 Yusef (Barry Harris) 5:35
7 Shaw Nuff (Dizzy Gillespie/Ray Brown/Gil Fuller) 6:25