Byrd, Donald: Stepping Into Tomorrow (CD)

Donald Byrd’s 1974 fusion masterpiece Stepping Into Tomorrow was a high-water mark of the legendary trumpeter’s vibrant latter Blue Note years. Byrd had begun recording for Blue Note in 1958, and over the course of his tenure evolved from a top-notch hard bop trumpeter into a pioneer of R&B/Funk fusion, leading the label’s own creative direction along a similar path.

Byrd began to introduce elements of fusion to his music with his 1969 album Fancy Free and shadowed Miles Davis’s early-1970s moves with experimental sessions like Electric Byrd and Ethiopian Knights. When Byrd hooked up with visionary producer Larry Mizell for his landmark 1972 album Black Byrd a new sound coalesced: funky and sultry, sophisticated yet accessible, with intricate arrangements that allowed Byrd’s trumpet to soar over top.

A string of commercial successes followed, the third of which was Stepping Into Tomorrow featuring the standout title track and 'Think Twice', which would become touchstones for future hip-hop generations including artists like J Dilla, Madlib, and A Tribe Called Quest. The album featured contributions from saxophonist Gary Bartz, multi-instrumentalist/vocalist Fonce Mizell, bassist Chuck Rainey, drummer Harvey Mason & others.

1. Stepping Into Tomorrow
2. Design A Nation
3. We're Together
4. Think Twice
5. Makin' It
6. Rock And Roll Again
7. You Are The World
8. I Love The Girl