The Blackbyrds - The Blackbyrds/Flying Start (1974)

EU import

Twofer reissue on the BGP label. The Blackbyrds were six students of Donald Byrd, then the head of the School of Music at Howard University in Washington, D.C. Talk about your authentic, practical university experience!

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THE BLACKBYRDS (1974)
8 tracks, 37 minutes

MIZELL BROTHERS MONTH (APRIL 2026)

This doesn't sound like a group of college kids. Or, more accurately, it doesn't sound like anything I could have produced when I was a college musician. It's crisp, economical, polished, and most importantly, funky as all get-out. The guidance of Donald Byrd and Mizell Brothers is evident and most welcome. The Allmusic review calls it "some of the finest groove-oriented jazz music ever recorded" and who am I to argue??

Reviews/ratings::

• Record World: "Zesty r&b overtones are set on a stimulating jazz background"
• CashBox: "one of those rare and delightful treats that knocks you out from the very first musical phrase to the last refrain."
• Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide (1985): ★★★★
• The Virgin Encyclopedia of Jazz (1999): ★★★

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard 200: #96
• Billboard R&B: #14
• Billboard Jazz: #6
• Record World Jazz: #5

Tracks: All but two tracks were written or co-written by either Byrd or Larry Mizell. Most are instrumentals. The singles that charted are Do It Fluid (#23 R&B, #69 pop) and the instrumental Gut Level (#9 dance). As for the best cuts, I'm gonna hafta cop out and simply call dealer's choice. 

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FLYING START (1974)
8 tracks, 39 minutes

Kinda the same as above, but different (if that makes any sense). For this release, Byrd himself takes over the production duties and the band members are allowed more of their own original compositions, including their biggest hit, Walking In Rhythm. Plus, a few guest artists are brought in, namely Ernie Watts and Sigidi.

Reviews/ratings::

• DownBeat (★): "there is little space on this album for anything to happen, and nothing does."
• Billboard: "the mix of soul and jazz sounds is not an easy one"
• Record World: "these exceptionally talented musicfolk are ablaze on this recent release"
• CashBox: "The sextet is particularly adept at creating different textures and moods and weaving them into a unified whole"
• Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide (1985): ★★★★
• The Virgin Encyclopedia of Jazz (1999): ★★★★

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard 200: #30
• Billboard R&B: #5
• Billboard Jazz: #2
• Record World Jazz: #1

Tracks: I already mentioned Walking In Rhythm (#6 pop, #4 R&B, #5 AC) and it hits as good now as it did back in 1974 (I'm guessing I heard it '74, but who the hell knows?). It's the cream of this crop, but as for the rest, I'll repeat myself: pick 'em.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None

Previously revisited for the blog:
Action (1977)/Better Days (1980)

Donald Byrd - Caricatures (1976)

Note: the CD I listened to was the 2003 Rare Groove Series Edition.

MIZELL BROTHERS MONTH (APRIL 2026)

More smooth funk-jazz music from Byrd and the Mizells. But by 1976, disco was in full swing and that style of dance music definitely had an impact on this recording. Is it still jazz? Depends who you ask and how seriously they take themselves. But for a guy like me who simply can't stand still as the CD spins, Caricatures is hard to dismiss as it fully commits to the bit. The grooves feel so good and danceable you forget to miss the lack of traditional improv. It may not be jazz in the pure sense, but it is, undeniably, a good time. I guess that was the point and one I can fully support.

The album didn't carry any liner notes, sadly. Caricatures was Byrd's final album for the Blue Note label before moving to Elektra. It was also Byrd's fifth and final release produced by the Mizell Brothers. And if you are of a certain age and inclination, the cover artist is immediately identifiable as Al Hirschfeld.

Reviews/ratings:

• Record World: "disco arrangements expertly performed"
• High Fidelity: "Byrd's trumpet playing has indeed become a caricature of the crisp inventiveness of his earlier years."
• The Virgin Encyclopedia of Jazz (1999): ★★★

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard 200: #60
• Billboard Jazz: #7
• Billboard R&B: #12
• CashBox: #133
• CashBox Jazz: #6
• Record World Jazz: #5

Tracks: Granted, Blue Note didn't know anything about 12" dance remixes nor marketing to the disco crowd, but some of these tracks should have charted on Billboard's dance charts. Ah, well. My top picks are the title track, Return Of the King, and Onward 'Til Morning. Plus I'd love an instrumental version of Dance Band, because with that title, those grooves, and a tasty solo from Ernie Watts, the track is more of a command than a suggestion. There's nothing to skip, but the disc has a lull in the middle with Science Funktion and a cover of Dancing In the Street. 

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None.

Previously revisited for the blog:
Love Byrd (1981)
Stepping Into Tomorrow (1975)
Street Lady (1974)
Black Byrd (1973)
A New Perspective (1964)

A Taste Of Honey (1978)

EU import with 3 bonus tracks

MIZELL BROTHERS MONTH (APRIL 2026)

If you listened to Top 40 radio in 1978, you're familiar with the hit song Boogie Oogie Oogie. At age 12, I loved the song but didn't think much of the band behind the hit and boy-oh-boy was that ever a mistake. This duo was the whole package: they could write, play, and sing. As a result, all the Mizell brothers needed to do was discover them and get the hell out of the way (more on that timely discovery in these album liner notes). There's only one track written by Fonce Mizell and neither Mizell is listed is a performer. But their disco production fully leans into the mirror ball sounds of the time with lots of rhythm guitar and string arrangements. Sure the hit with the silly title was massive, but active listening to all nine tracks is rewarded with subtlety, groove, and tasty songwriting with hooks aplenty. Do I wish I had bought this album in 1978? Heck yeah.

Despite my indifference back in '78, the album went platinum and won the duo the (cursed? infamous? jinxed?) Best New Artist Grammy award, beating The Cars, Elvis Costello, and Toto. The hit single Boogie Oogie Oogie was nominated in the now-defunct category of Best R&B Vocal Performance By A Duo, Group Or Chorus, eventually losing to All 'N All by Earth, Wind & Fire.

Press of the time:

• Robert Christgau: C+
• Stereo Review: Recording of Special Merit
• CashBox: "Rarely does one find the versatile singing and instrumental skills exhibited by this R&B/disco foursome."
• Billboard: "smooth, harmonic vocal sound"
• Record World: "a female version of the Brothers Johnson"

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard 200: #6
• Billboard R&B: #2
• CashBox: #11
• Rolling Stone: #72

Tracks: Two singles charted in Billboard: Boogie Oogie Oogie (#1 pop, #1 R&B, #1 dance) and Disco Dancin' (#69 R&B). Boogie Oogie Oogie is the best cut on the album in terms of chart position, danceability, groove, performance, smoothness, and nostalgia. But there's lots of good stuff throughout, including Distant, the aforementioned Disco Dancin', If We Loved, Sky High, and the most Mizell-sounding cut, World Spin. But there's nothing to skip here. The single written by Fonce Mizell, You're In Good Hands, sounds like a '50s throwback ballad and is a great way to finish the album.

Bonus tracks: the single mix of Boogie Oogie Oogie, the 12" disco mix of Disco Dancin', and the 'New Boogie Mix' of Boogie Oogie Oogie, remixed in 1984 by John Luongo.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None.

Donald Byrd - Black Byrd (1973)

MIZELL BROTHERS MONTH (APRIL 2026)

This album marks the first collaboration between Donald Byrd and the Mizells. In 1973, after years of more traditional hard bop and post-bop jazz, Byrd, who by then was teaching at Howard University, decided to reinvent himself. The collaborative took the current commercial trends in soul & funk music and used those grooves with jazz instrumentation. It wasn't quite 'Dylan goes electric at the Newport Folk Festival' but it was quite a departure. I'm forever grateful for Byrd's pivot here because I deeply dig this groove-first, hook-driven music built around electric piano and rhythm section with a smattering of familiar jazz tropes. This initial album has quite a bit of Byrd's playing and singing; those particular contributions seemed to become less and less prevalent as the Byrd/Mizell collaboration continued. The album is more about creating an environment than showing off technical skills and I am certainly mighty comfy in such environs.

There's quite a few familiar names among the session players, including some Crusaders:

The album was nominated for a Grammy Award in the now-defunct category of Best R&B Instrumental Performance. It was best-selling album of all time on the Blue Note label until surpassed by Come Away With Me by Norah Jones.

Original liner notes by noted syndicated columnist Gertrude Gipson.

Reviews/ratings:

• Billboard: "melodically flowing and perfect for grooving at home"
• The Penguin Guide to Jazz (5th ed., 2000): ★★★
• The Rolling Stone Jazz & Blues Album Guide (1999): ★★★
• The Virgin Encyclopedia of Jazz (1999): ★★★

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard 200: #36
• Billboard Jazz: #1
• Billboard R&B: #2
• Record World Jazz: #1

All tracks written or co-written, produced, and arranged by Larry Mizell. Ranked in order of personal preference:

1. Flight Time
2. Sky High
3. Love's So Far Away
4. Black Byrd (#19 R&B, #88 pop) I'm guessing this was chosen for a single release because of its similarity to the 1971 smash hit, Theme From Shaft.
5. Mr. Thomas
6. Where Are We Going?
7. Slop Jar Blues

Yes, I generally prefer the tracks that have very few or no vocals. At least I'm consistent.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None.

Previously revisited for the blog:
Love Byrd (1981)
Stepping Into Tomorrow (1975)
Street Lady (1974)
A New Perspective (1964)

L.T.D. - Love to The World (1976)

MIZELL BROTHERS MONTH (APRIL 2026)

The Mizell-produced releases I usually enjoy are mostly jazzy instrumentals, but this album is soulful R&B leaning towards disco. Instrumentals are replaced by vocals, but when the vocals come from Jeffrey Osborne and his brother Billy, I can't complain. However, I can (and will) complain about the brevity of the album - 7 tracks, 33½ minutes. And the forgettable final track shouldn't even count in those numbers. Nevertheless, the stuff I like I really like, and that's a majority of the tracks. The Mizell touch is less pronounced on this album, but it's still there.

Press of the time:

• CashBox: "a fine representation of this jazz-funk group"
• Billboard: "Good example of ability to combine contemporary funk and general musical sophistication"

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard 200: #52
• Billboard R&B: #7
• CashBox: #81

Tracks:

1. Love To The World (#91 pop, #27 R&B) - not much to the verse, but the simple chorus with soaring strings is glorious. And I certainly can't argue with the sentiment.
2. Time For Pleasure - featuring some tasty horn licks, this is the funkiest track on the album. Just the opposite of the previous tune, the syncopated verse is much better than the smoother chorus.
3. Love Ballad (#20 pop, #1 R&B) - The band's second biggest single and the best track on the album. The tune has often been covered (by Gary Bartz on another Mizell Brothers album, for example), but nobody completely owns it like Jeffrey Osborne.
4. Get Your It Together - I guess "it" is cleaner (safer?) than "shit" but they ain't foolin' nobody. This one reminds me of Crackin' in a good way.
5. Let The Music Keep Playing - another ballad, this one less successful. Obvious filler, they didn't even bother coming up with a complete set of lyrics.
6. The Word - straight-up disco so of course I dig it.
7. Love To The World Prayer - a slower rehash of the lead track with children's choir. I'm out.

If I owned this one on vinyl, side 1 would be getting the majority of playing time.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None

Donald Byrd - Street Lady (1974)

Note: the CD I listened to was the 1997 release in Blue Note's Rare Groove Series.

MIZELL BROTHERS MONTH (APRIL 2026)

The second album collaboration between Byrd and the Mizells. Yes, it's loaded with plenty of the same sort of smooth funk-lite music that meets at the intersection of jazz and R&B. From looking at the cover, one might expect a concept album about prostitution, but I'm just not hearing it. I think it was more of a marketing move made to capitalize on the trendy blaxploitation-film aesthetic of the time. If it was meant to convey a gritty-but-polished urban feel, I think they've done that. In any case, it's definitely Mizell music with the support of players such as Roger Glenn (flute), Chuck Rainey (bass), Harvey Mason (drums), and Freddie Perren (ARP synthesizer). Perren was a part of "The Corporation" at Motown Records along with Fonce Mizell. I'll admit that at times some of the grooves get unnecessarily repetitive and this is my least favorite of the albums Byrd did with Larry Mizell producing, but the tracks certainly fit in well with any Mizell Brothers playlist you might be putting together.

Reviews/ratings:

• Record World: "very strong"
• Billboard: "fine musical experience"
• DownBeat (★★): "depthless one-chord showcases, replete with monotony"
• The Penguin Guide to Jazz (5th ed., 2000): ★★½
• The Virgin Encyclopedia of Jazz (1999): ★★★

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard 200: #33
• Billboard Jazz: #2
• Billboard R&B: #6
• Record World Jazz: #1

Tracks: 6 tracks, all written, arranged, and produced by Larry Mizell. My favorites are Sister Love and Woman Of The World.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None, but since this music is already putting me in "summer mode," I'm making my favorite baked bean recipe today. I'm in a good mood, so I'll share my recipe so you can take your next backyard grillfest up a notch:

DOC'S FAMOUS BRISKET BEANS

Ingredients:

• 28 oz can baked beans (I use Bush's Original)
• 8 oz smoked brisket, chopped or diced
• 1/3 cup BBQ sauce (I use Sweet Baby Ray's)
• 2.5 oz sweet onion, finely chopped
• 3 Tbsp brown sugar
• salt and pepper to taste (if your brisket has a peppery bark, you might not need any pepper)

Lightly sauté the onions in a skillet. Throw all ingredients in a slow cooker, cook on low for around 4 hours, stirring occasionally. Serves 4-6. Easily doubled (and should be often because the leftovers reheat beautifully). I suppose the recipe could be made substituting other smoked meats, so if you live in a part of the country that prefers BBQ pork and a mustard-based sauce, give it a try and please report back. Sweet mama my house smells fantastic.

Printable recipe card.

current view of the official CDP HQ slow cooker

Well, that certainly took me beyond the scope of this blog. As you were.

Previously revisited for the blog:
Stepping Into Tomorrow (1975)
Love Byrd (1981)
A New Perspective (1964)

Roger Glenn - Reachin' (1976)

EU import

MIZELL BROTHERS MONTH (APRIL 2026)

From the back CD insert: "Sought-after jazz funk rarity from reed-master Roger Glenn. Produced by the Mizell brothers and featuring Bill Summers and Paul Jackson from the Headhunters." I recognized Glenn's name from his work with Mongo Santamaria and Donald Byrd, but I had no idea he ever released an album as a leader until I started my Mizell Brothers deep-dive. Disco was all the rage in 1976 but this thing is a jazz-fusion/Latin-funk gem.

Glenn is a multi-instrumentalist specializing in woodwind and percussion instruments; on this album he focuses on flute and vibraphone. The music has a Latin flair, especially when compared to other Mizell Brothers albums. Great grooves are present, the bass lines are pumpin', and the Hohner Clavinet is making the funk funkier. There's an overall relaxing feeling like you're sitting on the porch, cool breeze blowing, cold drink in hand, and the sun is permanently setting. I'm not normally a fan of jazz flute, but I'll make an exception for Glenn and Bobbi Humphrey.

This 2010 CD reissue includes liner notes from Dean Rudland.

Press of the time:

• DownBeat (★★★½): "This pleasing, danceable product is hopefully only a first step."
• Walrus: "hot R&B fusion music which features near relentless rhythm"

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: Did not chart

Tracks: The album didn’t have a clear hit single for commercial radio, but my top picks today are the appropriately titled Rio, and Kick (co-written by Sheila E.), and the title track. The final track, Rezo Chango, just doesn't fit in with the rest of the album and, not coincidently, is the least Mizell-sounding track here.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None