With Strings
Donald Byrd's Only Recording With Strings For The First Time Ever On CD!   Includes The Complete Album:   Discovery's LP September Afternoon   Also Contains As Bonus Tracks:   The Complete Transition LP Byrd Blows On Beacon Hill   Total Time: 70:15   Donald Byrd and Clare Fischer's 1957 New York studio collaboration is important for several reasons. For one, it marks Fischer's first recording since January 1953, as well as his debut as the sole arranger for an album. It is equally important for Donald Byrd, as it remains the only album that the trumpeter ever made with string accompaniment. While the majority of the personnel for the orchestra remains unknown, we do know that in addition to Byrd's trumpet and Clare scher's piano and arrangements, the concert master was Gene Orloff, Harry Lookofsky played violin, Julius Baker was on the flute, Romeo Penque played clarinet, Milt Hinton was on the bass and Osie Johnson played drums. Also included on this outstanding release is a New York, May 7, 1956 quartet session featuring the trumpeter backed by pianist Ray Santisi, bassist Doug Watkins and drummer Jimmy Zitano. Although this date varies greatly from Donald Byrd & Clare Fischer's session with strings, we have decided to include it here in its entirety as bonus tracks, due to the date's equally unusual format. While Byrd recorded countless CDs in a quintet or sextet setting, the May 7,1956 date is one of only two sessions that Byrd recorded as a leader in a quartet setting. Lonehilljazz. 2006