Donald Byrd - I'm Tryin' To Get Home (1965/2015) [Official Digital Download 24-bit/192kHz]

Trumpeter Donald Byrd released this interesting and unusual album in 1965 featuring vocalists and a full horn section, building on the experimentation he began on this record's predecessor, "A New Perspective". Byrd is supported here by a typically superb band, notably a young Herbie Hancock on piano. Also playing on these original tunes by Byrd are Stanley Turrentine on tenor saxophone, Freddie Roach on organ, Grant Green on guitar, Bob Cranshaw on bass and Grady Tate on drums. Pianist Duke Pearson, while not appearing on the album, did produce half the songs (Byrd produced the other half) and served as arranger.

A follow-up to trumpeter Donald Byrd's hit A New Perspective, this LP also features an eight-voice choir conducted by Coleridge Perkinson and arrangements by Duke Pearson and the leader. The vocalists have a larger role than in the earlier date and Byrd's quintet (with tenor saxophonist Stanley Turrentine and pianist Herbie Hancock) is augmented by organist Freddie Roach, guitarist Grant Green and a dozen brass players. But despite some strong moments, the date (which resulted in no real hits) does not quite reach the heights of A New Perspective although it has plenty of interesting moments.

Tracklist:

01 - Brother Isaac
02 - Noah
03 - I'm Tryin' To Get Home
04 - I've Longed And Searched For My Mother
05 - March Children
06 - Pearly Gates

Recorded on December 17-18, 1964 at Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ.

Musicians:
Donald Byrd - trumpet, flugelhorn
Joe Ferrante, Jimmy Owens, Ernie Royal, Clark Terry, Snooky Young - trumpet
Jimmy Cleveland, Henry Cocker, J.J. Johnson, Benny Powell - trombone
Jim Buffington, Bob Northern - french horn
Don Butterfield - tuba
Stanley Turrentine - tenor saxophone
Herbie Hancock - piano
Freddie Roach - organ
Grant Green - guitar
Bob Cranshaw - bass
Grady Tate - drums

About the Mastering:
Two years ago, we decided to begin remastering the jewels of the Blue Note catalog in hi-def resolutions of 96k and 192k. In order to develop a guiding artistic philosophy for this delicate endeavor, we donned our lab coats, ran dozens of sonic experiments and carefully referenced every generation of our reissues. Ultimately, we decided that our goal would be to protect the original intentions of the artists, producers and engineers who made these records and that, in the case of pre-digital-era albums, these intentions were best represented by the sound and feel of their first-edition vinyl releases. Working with a team of dedicated and groovy engineers, we found a sound that both captured the feel of the original records while maintaining the depth and transparency of the master tapes… the new remasters are really cool! – Don Was, President, Blue Note Records

Thanks to the Original customer!