Donald Byrd was considered one of the finest hard bop trumpeters of the post-Clifford Brown era. He recorded prolifically as both a leader and sideman from the mid-’50s into the mid-’60s and established a reputation as a solid stylist, with a clean tone and clear articulation. Toward the end of the 1960s, Byrd experimented with funk, fusion, and even dipped a toe into the waters of gospel. Jazz purists utterly despised it, but enraptured fans regard it as some of the most innovative, enduring work of its kind.

Cristo Redentor is reflective of his father’s ministerial influence, and features Byrd on trumpet, Hank Mobley on tenor sax, Herbie Hancock playing piano, Lex Humphries at the drums, Butch Warren on bass, Donald Best on vibes, and Kenny Burrell playing guitar –– talk about a stellar lineup!  (Below) the video is Stevie Wonder’s You’ve Got It Bad Girl, with Donald Byrd playing flugelhorn and trumpet; Fonce Mizell, trumpet; Allan Barnes, tenor and flute; Nathan Davis, soprano sax; Kevin Toney, electric piano; Larry Mizell, synthesizers; Barney Perry, electric guitar; Henry Franklin, electric bass; Keith Killgo, drums, and Ray Armando, congas and percussion –– all recorded live at Montreux on July 5th, 1973.