Donald Byrd

Donald Byrd – “Places And Spaces” (Blue Note Japan, UCCQ 9747) arrives as an audiophile UHQCD reissue using Kevin Gray’s 2024 remaster derived from the Classic/Tone Poet analog chain. The Mizell Brothers’ production turned Byrd’s horn into a sleek, dance floor soul instrument—“Change (Makes You Want To Hustle),” “Dominoes,” “Wind Parade” and “Places and Spaces” remain gold standard jazz funk. This Japanese pressing leans into clarity and punch: string and horn stacks pop, bass is defined yet plush, and Harvey Mason’s drums lock the groove. A jewel for Blue Note collectors seeking a high fidelity, bookshelf friendly edition that honors the 1975 original while benefiting from 2024 mastering rigor.