"Black Byrd" is the pivotal 1973 masterpiece by jazz legend Donald Byrd. This monumental album presented Byrd’s acclaimed brand of fusion. Black Byrd is one of Blue Note’s bestselling albums of all time and highlights Byrd’s undeniable knack for sound. It reached #1 on Billboard’s Top Jazz Albums and #2 on Billboard’s Top R&B Albums. It features the thrilling self-titled single, which reached the Top Twenty on Billboard’s Top R&B Singles.

"Blackjack" was originally released in 1967 and features performances by Byrd with Sonny Red, Hank Mobley, Cedar Walton, Walter Booker, and Billy Higgins. It was produced by Alfred Lion and recorded at Van Gelder Studio in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey.

No Room For Squares is comprised of two unforgettable 1963 sessions by Hank Mobley. The star-studded performances feature Lee Morgan, Donald Byrd, Andrew Hill, Herbie Hancock, John Ore, Butch Warren and Philly Joe Jones. Standouts include “Me 'N You”, “Carolyn” and the title-track. This is gritty hard-bop at its finest. Essential.

Mobley's Message is an album by jazz saxophonist Hank Mobley. It was recorded on July 20, 1956 and features performances by Mobley, Donald Byrd, Barry Harris, Doug Watkins and Art Taylor, with Jackie McLean guesting on one track.

This 1958 release marks a period in Lou Donaldson's development prior to a stylistic shift away from bop and toward a stronger rhythm and blues emphasis. Three uptempo tunes here are pure bebop; the remaining number is a medium blues piece, quite characteristic of the hard bop period. The front line on this set includes Donald Byrd and Curtis Fuller with the rhythm section of Sonny Clark, George Joyner and Art Taylor.

All Mornin' Long is a jazz album by pianist Red Garland and his quintet. It was originally issued in 1958 on the Prestige label and catalogued as PRLP 7130. It features only three pieces, which belong to the hard bop subgenre and distinguish themselves by being fast-paced and bluesy. Critic Ira Gitler found the album satisfactory and said that the eponymous first piece was a "many-splendored, deep-dish demonstration of feeling, mood and melody".

Jackie's Bag is an album by American saxophonist Jackie McLean recorded in 1959 and 1960 and released in June 1961 by Blue Note. The Allmusic review by Steve Huey awarded the album 4½ stars and stated "the music on Jackie's Bag finds McLean in a staunchly hard bop mode, with occasional hints of adventurousness".

"A New Perspective" was released in 1963 on Blue Note Records. Considered to be one of the best and most successful uses of a gospel choir in a jazz context. Byrd himself said about the album, "I mean this album seriously. Because of my own background, I've always wanted to write an entire album of spiritual-like pieces. The most accurate way I can describe what we were all trying to do is that this is a modern hymnal. In an earlier period, the New Orleans jazzmen would often play religious music for exactly what it was - but with their own jazz textures and techniques added. Now, as modern jazzmen, we're also approaching this tradition with respect and great pleasure".

Sonny Rollins' first outing for Blue Note label was recorded at that label's last session of 1956. The album features Rollins playing with Gene Ramey (bass), Max Roach (drums), Donald Byrd (trumpet), and Wynton Kelly (piano). The original LP record, Blue Note release BLP-1542, did not distinguish the volume number in the title. It was simply called "Sonny Rollins".

Altoist Jackie McLean's second session as a leader is reissued on this SACD. The music that he makes with trumpeter Donald Byrd, pianist Elmo Hope, bassist Doug Watkins and drummer Art Taylor is essentially hard bop with fairly simple (or in some cases nonexistent) melody statements preceding two romps through the "I Got Rhythm" chord changes, a pair of blues, a thinly disguised "Embraceable You" and a straightforward version of "A Foggy Day". Enjoyable if not really essential music from the up-and-coming altoist.

The influence of Charlie Parker can be heard in virtually every modern jazz musician, particularly players of the alto saxophone. Although considered to be one of "Bird's Children", Lou Donaldson absorbed and synthesized other pre-Parker influences, such as Johnny Hodges and Benny Carter. This recording marks a period in his development prior to a stylistic shift away from bop and toward a stronger rhythm and blues emphasis.

"No Room For Squares" is comprised of two unforgettable 1963 sessions by Hank Mobley. The star-studded performances feature Lee Morgan, Donald Byrd, Andrew Hill, Herbie Hancock, John Ore, Butch Warren and Philly Joe Jones. Standouts include “Me 'N You”, “Carolyn” and the title-track. This is gritty hard-bop at its finest. Essential.

With a veritable All-Star lineup in tow, pianist Red Garland turns in a relaxed session that highlights his deft, tasteful touch. 'Soul Junction' features tenor saxophonist John Coltrane in fine form joined by trumpeter Donald Byrd, bassist George Joyner and drummer Art Taylor. Highlights include Garland's 15-minute blues workout on the title cut and Coltrane's masterful "sheets of sound" soloing on the bouncy, breezy "Woody'n You".

The title says it all: the six young jazz musicians featured here represented the best of the best from the Detroit area, although all were based in New York City by the time this was recorded in 1960. Saxophonist Pepper Adams and trumpeter Donald Byrd coaxed great performances and memorable solos from the band, most notably from guitarist Kenny Burrell and bassist Paul Chambers.

This all-star session was put together by Down Beat magazine featuring the winners and runners-up from the magazine's critic's poll in 1957. While John Coltrane's name may leap out at you from the cover art, he only plays his tenor sax on half the songs here. On the remaining material Coltrane leads the orchestra, a new step for him at the time and a glimpse at an interesting early chapter of his history. And what an orchestra it was: composed of the best of the up-and-coming New York jazz scene, the other musicians in the Winner's Circle here include Donald Byrd on trumpet, Al Cohn on baritone sax, Eddie Costa on piano and vibes, Kenny Burrell on guitar, Oscar Pettiford on bass and Ed Thigpen on drums.