Review of the Donald Byrd CD Transition Sessions

One word describes the CD Transition Sessions from Donald Byrd... AWESOME!

It's a rare day indeed that I get a CD from an artist that I can truthfully say does not have a bad track in the bunch. I'm more than happy to announce that’s exactly what I must say about this one. There simply isn’t a bad one in the bunch. No fillers here at all, with each song standing tall on it's own.

These days it’s a very rare CD on which every single song is good or better than the one before it. This CD is certainly one of those rare CDs.

Overall Transition Sessions is an outstanding release. What I call must have music. I give it two thumbs up and is most definitely a worthy addition to any Jazz collection. Truly an outstanding Jazz CD. One of those that is completely void of any wasted time, as each track is simply superb.

While the entire album is outstanding the truly standout tunes are track 4 - Everything Happens To Me, track 8 - Polka Dots And Moonbeams, and track 7 - What's New.

My Bonus Pick, and the one that got Sore [...as in "Stuck On REpeat"] is track 1 - Doug's Blues. Good stuff!

Transition Sessions Release Notes:

Donald Byrd originally released Transition Sessions on October 8, 2002 on the Blue Note Records label.

CD Track List Follows:

DISC 1: 1. Doug's Blues 2. El Sino 3. Crazy Rhythm 4. Everything Happens To Me 5. Hank's Other Tune (Aka The Late Show) 6. Hank's Tune 7. Little Rock Getaway 8. Polka Dots And Moonbeams 9. If I Love Again 10. Stella By Starlight DISC 2: 1. Return To Paradise 2. Phinupi 3. Phil T. McNasty's Blues 4. More Of The Same 5. Panonica 6. People Will Say We're In Love 7. What's New

Personnel: Donald Byrd, Joe Gordon (trumpet); Hank Mobley (tenor saxophone); Horace Silver, Ray Santisi, Duke Jordan (piano); Kenny Burrell (guitar); Doug Watkins (bass); Art Blakey, Art Taylor, Jim Zitano (drums).

Principally recorded at Harvard Square, Cambridge, Massachusetts and Steve Bassett Studios, Boston, Massachusetts between 1955 & 1956. Includes liner notes by Michael Cuscuna.

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