Night Grooves [2007]

by The Blackbyrds

Overview

Despite the fact that 1989's Greatest Hits rendered this earlier Fantasy compilation obsolete -- Greatest Hits contains all seven songs found here, plus four others -- Fantasy continued to keep this disc in circulation. This is a tighter and more discerning collection, sticking to the absolute essential material that Donald Byrd's proteges churned out during the '70s, but simple mathematics places its value below the later, more inclusive anthology. Those who want to dig deeper can start with any of the group's first four proper LPs; each one peaked in the Top Ten of Billboard's jazz album chart, and they all have their charms beyond the singles. Anyone who bet on the Blackbyrds' material to die a disposable pop death must feel foolish now, as cuts like "Rock Creek Park," "Happy Music," and "Walking in Rhythm" remain completely unironic fixtures in the record crates of many house DJs. ~ Andy Kellman

Product Details

Release Date:	04/24/2007
Label:	Burger Records
UPC:	0029667514712
Rank:	48948

Tracks

1. Happy Music
2. Gut Level
3. Walking in Rhythm
4. Do It, Fluid
5. Rock Creek Park
6. Supernatural Feeling
7. Soft and Easy

Album Credits

Performance Credits

The Blackbyrds   Primary Artist,Vocals
Kenny Dorham   Primary Artist,Trumpet
Johnny Lytle   Primary Artist,Vibraphone
Phil Upchurch   Primary Artist,Guitar
Joe Dukes   Primary Artist,Drums
Gary Bartz   Primary Artist,Sax (Alto)
Gene Ammons   Primary Artist,Sax (Tenor)
George Braith   Primary Artist,Sax,Sax (Tenor),Sax (Soprano)
Cannonball Adderley   Primary Artist,Sax (Alto)
Willis Jackson   Primary Artist
Joe Henderson   Primary Artist
Yusef Lateef   Primary Artist,Oboe,Flute,Sax (Tenor)
Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers   Primary Artist
Willis "Gator" Jackson   Primary Artist,Sax (Tenor)
Frank Robinson   Trumpet
Pat Martino   Guitar
Freddie Hubbard   Trumpet
Grachan Moncur III   Trombone
Victor Sproles   Bass
John Lehman   Vocals
Jim Gilstrap   Vocals
Richard Davis   Bass
Merry Clayton   Vocals
Reggie Workman   Bass
Art Blakey   Drums
Al Williams   Piano
George Bohannon   Trombone
Peppy Hinnant   Drums
Ed Pazant   Reeds
Milton Bland   Conductor
Steve Johnson   Saxophone
Allan Curtis Barnes   Flute,Sax (Tenor),Sax (Soprano)
Norman Edge   Bass
Joseph Hall III   Bass
Keith Killgo   Drums
Ronnie Mayez   Vocals
Milt Harris   Organ
Perk Jacobs   Percussion
David Williams   Bass
Al Hayes   Bongos
Joe Hadrick   Drums
Big John Patton   Organ
Louis Hayes   Drums
Sam Jones   Bass
Tommy Flanagan   Piano
Kevin Toney   Piano,Keyboards,Synthesizer
Sigidi   Vocals
Wayne Shorter   Sax (Tenor)
Ron Carter   Bass
Ray Armando   Percussion
Richard Landrum   Congas
Nat Adderley   Cornet
Oliver Jackson   Drums
Ray Parker, Jr.   Guitar
Oscar Brashear   Trumpet,Flugelhorn
Red Holloway   Sax (Tenor)
Ollie E. Brown   Drums,Vocals,Percussion
Mike Lawrence   Trumpet
Orville Saunders   Guitar
Art Taylor   Drums
Eddie Diehl   Guitar (Rhythm)
Carl Wilson   Organ
Barry Harris   Piano
Bernard "Pretty" Purdie   Drums
Bob Cranshaw   Bass
Kenny Burrell   Guitar
Billy Higgins   Drums
Kenny Barron   Piano
Jimmy Owens   Trumpet
Eddie "Bongo" Brown   Congas
Chuck Rainey   Bass (Electric)
Barney Perry   Guitar
Jack McDuff   Organ
Curtis Fuller   Trombone
Pat Patrick   Reeds
Wallace Davenport   Trumpet
Joe Zawinul   Piano
George Benson   Guitar
Ernie Watts   Saxophone,Sax (Tenor),Sax (Soprano)
John Gilmore   Reeds
Bucky Pizzarelli   Guitar
Hank Jones   Piano
Willie Rodriguez   Percussion
Ernie Farrow   Drums
David Sheilds   Bass
Grant Green   Guitar
Cedar Walton   Piano
Paul Chambers   Bass
Bill Thedford   Vocals

Technical Credits

Orrin Keepnews   Producer
Lincoln Ross   Composer
Milton Bland   Arranger
Howard Sochurek   Photography
Keith Killgo   Composer
Joe Hall   Composer
Joe Thomas   Composer
Toney Saunders   Composer
Stephen Johnson   Composer
Joe Hadrick   Composer
Dean Rudland   Archive Research,Liner Notes
Wade Marcus   Arranger
Arthur Johnston   Composer
Kevin Toney   Composer
Leonard Brown   Composer
Johnny Lytle   Composer
Wayne Shorter   Composer
Sam Coslow   Composer
Ozzie Cadena   Recording Supervision
Orville Saunders   Composer
Barney Perry   Composer
Jack McDuff   Composer
Joe Henderson   Composer,Performer
Donald Byrd   Composer
Ben Dixon   Composer
Esmond Edwards   Recording Supervision
Duncan Cowell   Mastering
Willis "Gator" Jackson   Composer
Yusef Lateef   Composer
Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers   Performer
Alex North   Composer
Cal Lampley   Recording Supervision
Gary Bartz   Composer