Donald Byrd is Jazzy Beyond the Music

Bill Clark 8/5/2010

bclarkmedia@yahoo.com

            Donald Byrd is one musician that I grew to admire even more after meeting him.  There are some truly great musicians, who shall remain nameless for now, that have created some masterpieces only to be found lacking in interpersonal skills. There are so many Byrd tunes that have become a virtual soundtrack of my life.  One of my “gateways” into jazz as a teenager was the “Places and Spaces” album. Yes, album. I rode with Dr. Byrd through the seventies with “Blackbyrd” the album and the Blackyrds group.  As I got deeper into jazz, I discovered his early work with Art Blakey. I consider the “Harlem Blues” session with Kenny Garrett a true classic, and one of favorites of all time. Call me naive, but I expect an artist capable of such creativity to be a truly beautiful person.

            First of all: the name.  His full name is Dr. Donaldson Toussaint L’Overture Byrd II.  How cool is that?  Byrd is known to many jazz purists as the seminal hard bop trumpeter who played with Lionel Hampton at a young age and followed Clifford Brown as trumpeter with the Jazz Messengers.   He is known to R & B and fusion fans as one of the key figures in the 70‘s funk/jazz movement. He is also lauded for taking talented music students at Howard University, and turning them into the hit making BlackByrds. Recent years have seen his music reemerge via samples contained in acid jazz remixes.  “The Donald” also contributed to various hip-hop/jazz projects including “Jazzmatazz” with Guru and Ganstarr. Most people are aware of his talents as a musician, but are unacquainted with his background in education.

            Byrd‘s credentials in education are nothing short of astounding. He progressed to an earned doctorate.  A law degree is also part of his resume. He has taught at Oberlin College, Howard University, Delaware State University, and other institutions of higher learning. With personal contact, one gains even further insight into the personality of this influential educator and musician.

            I had the great pleasure of speaking with Dr. Byrd on several occasions while working at WRTI in Philadelphia. He was teaching at Delaware State at the time.  I remember his accounts of attempts to recreate the magic of the Blackbyrds with Del state students. “Kids just aren’t the same,” he would say.  That was just one of his insights on the state of society and music. Who was I to disagree? During our conversations he would talk about history, politics, and of course, music.  I was so impressed by his knowledge of seemingly everything and his relaxed personality, I wished that I had taken one of his courses. Byrd also designed horns and wrote on a number of subjects. My hope is that Donald Byrd gets the recognition he truly deserves. 

            Here‘s to Dr. Donaldson Toussaint L ‘Overture Byrd II, a true renaissance man, and one of the Jazziest dudes that I have ever met.

For more from Bill, visit www.jazzness.com.