Fancy Free (Donald Byrd album)
1969 studio album by Donald Byrd
Professional ratings Review scores Source Rating AllMusic [ 2]
Fancy Free is an album by American jazz trumpeter Donald Byrd that was recorded and released in 1969 by Blue Note Records .
Reception
AllMusic awarded the album with 3 stars and its review by Steve Huey says, "Recorded just a few months after Miles Davis' In a Silent Way , Fancy Free finds Byrd leading a large ensemble prominently featuring Frank Foster on tenor, Lew Tabackin or Jerry Dodgion on flute, and several percussionists. But the most important piece of the puzzle is Duke Pearson's electric piano, the first time Byrd utilized the instrument."[ 2] Critic Marc Myers described the album in 2018 as "decades ahead of its time".[ 3] Myers also wrote that the album began a new period in Byrd's career, in which, "Unlike rock fusion, which was popular with sit-down audiences in college dorm rooms and events, Byrd focused more on grooves and beats, accompanying them on his trumpet rather than being driven by them."[ 3]
Track listing
"Fancy Free" (Donald Byrd ) – 12:06
"I Love the Girl" (Byrd) – 8:48
"The Uptowner" (Mitch Farber) – 9:16
"Weasil" (Charles Hendricks) – 9:00
Note
Recorded on May 9 (#2, 4) and June 6, 1969. (#1, 3)
Personnel
References
Years indicated are for the recording(s), not first release .
As leader WithPepper Adams WithThe Jazz Messengers WithGigi Gryce WithJackie McLean WithHank Mobley With others
Discoveries /Presenting Cannonball Adderley (Cannonball Adderley , 1955)
Jammin' with Gene (Gene Ammons , 1956)
All Night Long (Kenny Burrell , 1956)
All Day Long (Kenny Burrell, 1957)
2 Guitars (Kenny Burrell & Jimmy Raney , 1957)
Whims of Chambers (Paul Chambers , 1956)
Paul Chambers Quintet (1957)
Sonny's Crib (Sonny Clark , 1957)
My Conception (Sonny Clark, 1959)
Bohemia After Dark (Kenny Clarke , 1955)
Lush Life (John Coltrane , 1957–58)
The Believer (John Coltrane, 1957–58)
The Last Trane (John Coltrane, 1957–58)
Black Pearls (John Coltrane, 1957–58)
Davis Cup (Walter Davis Jr. , 1959)
Wailing With Lou (Lou Donaldson , 1957)
Lou Takes Off (Lou Donaldson, 1957)
This Is New (Kenny Drew , 1957)
All Mornin' Long (Red Garland , 1957)
Soul Junction (Red Garland, 1957)
High Pressure (Red Garland, 1957)
One Flight Up (Dexter Gordon , 1964)
Ladybird (Dexter Gordon, 1965)
Snap Your Fingers (Al Grey , 1962)
Johnny Griffin Sextet (1958)
Jazzmatazz, Vol. 1 (Guru , 1993)
Jazzmatazz, Vol. 2: The New Reality (Guru, 1994–95)
My Point of View (Herbie Hancock , 1993)
Tone Tantrum (Gene Harris, 1977)
Swamp Seed (Jimmy Heath , 1963)
Informal Jazz (Elmo Hope , 1956)
African High Life (Solomon Ilori , 1963)
Big Byrd: The Essence Part 2 (Ahmad Jamal , 1994 or 1995)
Quartet-Quintet (Hank Jones , 1955)
Bluebird (Hank Jones, 1955)
TV Action Jazz! (Mundell Lowe , 1959)
The Thelonious Monk Orchestra at Town Hall (1959)
Goin' Out of My Head (Wes Montgomery , 1965)
Hush! (Duke Pearson , 1962)
Wahoo! (Duke Pearson, 1964)
Another One /Oscar Pettiford Volume 2 (1955)
Winner's Circle (Oscar Pettiford , et al, 1957)
Blues in Trinity (Dizzy Reece , 1958)
The Cool Voice of Rita Reys (1956)
Dimensions & Extensions (Sam Rivers , 1967)
Sonny Rollins, Volume 1 (1956)
Don't Stop the Carnival (Sonny Rollins , 1978)
Silver's Blue (Horace Silver , 1956)
6 Pieces of Silver (Horace Silver, 1956–58)
A Date with Jimmy Smith Volume One (1957)
A Date with Jimmy Smith Volume Two (1957)
Taylor's Wailers (Art Taylor , 1957)
Soul Sauce (Cal Tjader , 1964)
A Bluish Bag (Stanley Turrentine , 1967)
Top Brass (Ernie Wilkins , 1955)
Pairing Off (Phil Woods , 1956)
Years given are for the recording(s), not first release.
As leader or co-leader WithDonald Byrd With others Arranger only
I'm Tryin' to Get Home (for Donald Byrd]], 1964)
Lush Life (for Lou Donaldson , 1967)
Am I Blue (for Grant Green, 1963)
Boss Horn (for Blue Mitchell , 1966)
Heads Up! (for Blue Mitchell, 1968)
A Slice of the Top (for Hank Mobley , 1966)
Standards (for Lee Morgan , 1967)
Rough 'n' Tumble (for Stanley Turrentine , 1966)
A Bluish Bag (for Stanley Turrentine, 1967)
The Return of the Prodigal Son (for Stanley Turrentine, 1967)
The Look of Love (for Stanley Turrentine, 1968)