Byrd in Hand

Recorded in 1959 at the legendary Van Gelder Studios in Hackensack, New Jersey, this is considered one of Donald Byrd's finest LPs. Byrd had a fruitful run in the late '50s with the great baritone saxophonist Pepper Adams and here they are joined by tenor-man Charlie Rouse, and a great rhythm section like on "Devil Whip", an energetic tune with a nice call-andresponse theme between the horns and the rhythm section. Here Byrd impresses with a few incredibly long phrases in his solo, however he still manages to play with very clear and logical phrasing. Other highlights are Frank Sinatra's "Witchcraft", the self-penned blues "Here I Am" and the Walter Davis written grooves "Bronze Dance" and "Clarion Calls".