Dmitry Posted September 6, 2003 Report Share Posted September 6, 2003 AMG lists it as being ...extracted from some of last Blue Note sessions of the 1960s before Byrd's ventures into soul fusion territory. I don't think this is a compilation. A good Rare Groove to have or "skip that one" ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzbo Posted September 6, 2003 Report Share Posted September 6, 2003 I think that Kofi and Electric Byrd are two really solid Byrd dates. I dig 'em. . . I like Ethiopian Nights too, and after that. . . well I have most of the others, and listen to them now and then, but Kofi is a keeper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morganized Posted September 6, 2003 Report Share Posted September 6, 2003 Dmitry, It has been awhile since I listened to this one, but I remember this too be a good session by Byrd. In fact, IMO it is the last real good session that Byrd did. I love his early stuff and have most of it. I kinda stop when he gets to Blackbyrd and his later fusion stuff. Kofi is a good one. Well worth it. Not a compilation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sidewinder Posted September 6, 2003 Report Share Posted September 6, 2003 I like it. This session reminds me a lot of 'Fancy Free'. Characteristic Duke Pearson sound in the arrangements, very nice work from Lew Tabakin and Frank Foster. Well worth getting hold of IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSngry Posted September 6, 2003 Report Share Posted September 6, 2003 I'll EASILY take Kofi over the other sessions that were done and released duting the same time. Like Lon said, a keeper. Definitely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rooster_Ties Posted September 6, 2003 Report Share Posted September 6, 2003 Well worth getting. The "compilation" idea stems from the fact that Kofi is made up of two different but very similar sessions, recorded within a few months of each other. Don't have mine handy, but some of the players are different between the sessions. But the album does hang together quite nicely, and doesn't feel like separate (unrelated) sessions. Get it, by all means. One of Byrd's very last dates before things changed considerably. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Johnson Posted September 6, 2003 Report Share Posted September 6, 2003 Not a lot to say that others haven't; but this record has a very cool groove which dips into the ilk of "Moon Rappin'" (McDuff) at times, if you're into that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSngry Posted September 6, 2003 Report Share Posted September 6, 2003 The invisible but not inaudible hand of Duke Pearson is all over this puppy too, in terms of the grooves and the textures. Honestly, I don't really care for FANCY FREE or ELECTRIC BYRD all that much. Just not much "there" there for me. But KOFI has it to spare. Shoulda been released in it's time, imo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noj Posted September 6, 2003 Report Share Posted September 6, 2003 This one and Electric Byrd were the first of his albums that I owned. Kofi is still my favorite Donald Byrd effort since adding many more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noj Posted September 6, 2003 Report Share Posted September 6, 2003 From the liner notes: "...several of the tracks on Electric Byrd were from these sessions..." Not quite as good, but Ethiopian Knights has similar music. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed S Posted September 6, 2003 Report Share Posted September 6, 2003 Nice groove on this record. I dig it and would recommend picking it up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeweil Posted September 6, 2003 Report Share Posted September 6, 2003 Donald Byrd tp William Campbell tb Lew Tabackin fl,ts Frank Foster ts Duke Pearson elp Ron Carter b Bob Cranshaw elb Airto Moreira d A&R Studio NYC, December 16, 1969 1. Kofi (Byrd) 2. Fufu (Byrd) Donald Byrd tp Frank Foster ts Duke Pearson elp Ron Carter b Wally Richardson elg Mickey Roker d Airto Moreira, Dom Um Romao perc A&R Studio NYC, December 4, 1970 3. Perpetual Love (Byrd) 4. Elmina (Byrd) 5. The Loud Minority (Foster) The 1995 Blue Note CD CDP 7243 8 31875 2 2 was the first issue of this material. Definitely not a compilation, but a vault issue. The sessions for Fancy Free were held on May 9 and June 6, 1969; those for Electric Byrd on May 15, 1970, right between those that remained unreleased. I find all three are good, perhaps Kofi just sound fresher in our ears 'cause we listened to the other two pretty often ..... I'd get Kofi, in any case ! BTW, the titles of the first two tracks are Ghanaian expression, Fufu being a typical dish, some kind of stew. I'll ask a friend from Ghana what Kofi means, probably a weekday's name - children are often named after the weekday they were born. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeweil Posted September 6, 2003 Report Share Posted September 6, 2003 Just thought these Donald Byrd 1969-1970 sessions would make a nice companion Mosaic Select to the Duke Pearson set, Duke had his hands in all the sessions as player AND arranger AND producer, they partly use the same personnel and have a similar vibe to them. And there is another still unissued Byrd session in the Blue Note vault: Donald Byrd tp William Campbell tb Kenny Rupp frh Al Gibbons fl Duke Pearson elp Wally Richardson elg Roland Wilson b Freddie Waits d unknown vocal on 2. and 3. July 7, 1969 1. Congo 2. Yano 3. Now wrehe de Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dmitry Posted September 7, 2003 Author Report Share Posted September 7, 2003 (edited) Not a lot to say that others haven't; but this record has a very cool groove which dips into the ilk of "Moon Rappin'" (McDuff) at times, if you're into that. I just played it 2x and I know what you mean. An unexpected, but welcome winner. I see what someone meant by the Ron Carter sound, his bass sounds bloated at times, not alive. The last track, Loud Minority ends kinda abruptly, like it was snipped. But wow! I totally can get into it. Edited September 7, 2003 by Dmitry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dmitry Posted September 7, 2003 Author Report Share Posted September 7, 2003 (edited) I really like this cd! It's reminiscent of In a Silent Way at times, but without being a complete clone. And it's got that groove. I didn't expect that kind of music at all. Thanks for making up my mind for me! Why it wasn't released in its time is a mystery. In the liner Byrd elaborates on unwillingness of the Blue Note heads to release his recordings[in the 60s]. Edited September 7, 2003 by Dmitry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzypaul Posted September 8, 2003 Report Share Posted September 8, 2003 Kofi, ELectric Byrd and Fancy Free are all monsters which should be in the collections of anyone with enough of a pulse to tap their feet. This is some bad shit to be sure!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rooster_Ties Posted December 9, 2004 Report Share Posted December 9, 2004 (edited) Was just listening to Kofi this morning, and thought I'd give this thread a bump. Pretty darn good album. Up above, Sangry mentioned Duke Pearson's fingerprints on this one, and my ears have to agree (even if I can'y clearly put in words why). Lovin' Frank Foster on tenor, in particular, in this kind of context. Edited December 9, 2004 by Rooster_Ties Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rooster_Ties Posted December 9, 2004 Report Share Posted December 9, 2004 Just finished the CD ("Kofi"). Damn fine one. Last cut is one of the best, but the whole thing cooks. Listening to "Electric Byrd" now. It's OK, but not as good as "Kofi". Up next, "Fancy Free". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morganized Posted December 9, 2004 Report Share Posted December 9, 2004 Kofi is the last Byrd that I really enjoy. Electric Byrd and Fancy Free have never really done much for me. I can appreciate their historical significance so to speak but other than that I can leave them out of the rotation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sidewinder Posted December 9, 2004 Report Share Posted December 9, 2004 Just giving the 'Rare Groove' vinyl a spin. I really like Lew Tabakin's flute work throughout this LP. Also agree that Duke's paw prints are all over the session, very much in the idiom of his late 60s Liberty-era dates. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ariceffron Posted December 11, 2004 Report Share Posted December 11, 2004 yea yea yea miles miles miles. but db was pioneering fusion too.(and duke pearson too) oh hell yes he was. anyone who has his cd KOFI knows this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morganized Posted December 12, 2004 Report Share Posted December 12, 2004 yea yea yea miles miles miles. but db was pioneering fusion too.(and duke pearson too) oh hell yes he was. anyone who has his cd KOFI knows this I can appreciate their historical significance so to speak but other than that I can leave them out of the rotation. That is what I was refering to. I think there were a number of players moving into fusion at about the same time. Check out the new Bobby Hutcherson Conn. Some seemed to make the shift a lttle more seamlessly than others! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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