{"product_id":"donald-byrd-stepping-into-tomorrow-cd","title":"Byrd, Donald: Stepping Into Tomorrow (CD)","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe width=\"full\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/0D-GGaM6ofM?si=Ze7F4siD-b0uVhsR\" title=\"YouTube video player\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDonald Byrd’s 1974 fusion masterpiece \u003cem\u003eStepping Into Tomorrow\u003c\/em\u003e 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\u0026amp;B\/Funk fusion, leading the label’s own creative direction along a similar path.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eByrd began to introduce elements of fusion to his music with his 1969 album \u003cem\u003eFancy Free\u003c\/em\u003e and shadowed Miles Davis’s early-1970s moves with experimental sessions like \u003cem\u003eElectric Byrd\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eEthiopian Knights\u003c\/em\u003e. When Byrd hooked up with visionary producer Larry Mizell for his landmark 1972 album \u003cem\u003eBlack Byrd\u003c\/em\u003e a new sound coalesced: funky and sultry, sophisticated yet accessible, with intricate arrangements that allowed Byrd’s trumpet to soar over top.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA string of commercial successes followed, the third of which was \u003cem\u003eStepping Into Tomorrow\u003c\/em\u003e 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 \u0026amp; others.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStepping Into Tomorrow\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDesign A Nation\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWe're Together\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThink Twice\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMakin' It\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRock And Roll Again\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYou Are The World\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eI Love The Girl\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e","brand":"Blue Note","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49952263536986,"sku":"UCCU-8121","price":14.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1481\/5374\/files\/donald-byrd-stepping-into-tomorrow_ff8f5718-3236-4c16-9ed9-204aff66a6b7.jpg?v=1768671307","url":"https:\/\/freebirdrecords.com\/products\/donald-byrd-stepping-into-tomorrow-cd","provider":"Freebird Records","version":"1.0","type":"link"}