{"title":"The Blackbyrds","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Blackbyrds are an American rhythm and blues and jazz-funk fusion group, formed in Washington, D.C., in 1973. Inspired by trumpeter Donald Byrd, they released seven original albums and one remixes compilation between 1974 and 1980. The group was reformed in 2012 by Keith Killgo.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSome of the talented members of The Blackbyrds include Allan Barnes on reeds, Barney Perry on guitar, Kevin Toney on keyboards, Joseph Hall III on bass, Pericles Jacobs Jr. on percussion, and Keith Killgo on drums.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you enjoy the music of *Ronnie Laws*, *Bobbi Humphrey*, *The Jones Girls*, or other artists like *Donald Byrd* or *Roy Ayers Ubiquity*, then you will definitely appreciate the unique sound of The Blackbyrds.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"night-grooves","title":"Night Grooves","description":"\u003cp\u003eCall the dance doctor - there's an outbreak of fever in the funkhouse! And here's the reason why - after more than two decades of deletion, Ace is once again making available the final piece in the splendid musical jigsaw that comprises the Blackbyrds' Fantasy Records catalogue - the original, seminal 1978 dance-floor aimed compilation,\u003ci\u003e Night Grooves. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cbr\u003eActually, to refer to\u003ci\u003e Night Grooves\u003c\/i\u003e as just a compilation is to undersell it big time. Granted, it does collect up a bunch of the Blackbyrds most eminent club cuts, all of which were originally released across five of the six Fantasy albums that came out between 1974 and 1978. And, technically, that does make it a compilation. But - then and now - \u003ci\u003eNight Grooves\u003c\/i\u003e offers the potential punter much more than merely a repackaging of a bunch of classy cuts that they could just as easily find on other records.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"BGP","offers":[{"title":"Black | LP.","offer_id":50390552281419,"sku":"1125426","price":17.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/80b028a0-f9cb-43ae-ba0b-18313f80a361_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1726392117"},{"product_id":"best-of-the-blackbyrds","title":"Best Of The Blackbyrds","description":"\u003cp\u003efeaturing legendary trumpeter donald byrd, this washington dc based group produced seven albums of amazing jazz funk fusion between 1973 and 1978, of which this cd selects the cream, including 'blackbyrds theme', 'do it fluid' and the mighty 'rock creek park'.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"No Label","offers":[{"title":"CD","offer_id":50437973377355,"sku":"310367","price":16.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/cd1eda50-34f6-4d64-8738-b8fa64b7dad0_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1726936853"},{"product_id":"flying-start","title":"Flying Start","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Blackbyrds were a legendary 70s combo that were discovered by Donald Byrd while he was teaching at Howard University and they had a tight style that mixed raw funk influences with smoother jazz playing, creating a sound that was different from many of their contemporaries, and which pushed funk and soul into a whole new level. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis, their second album features the classic cuts \"Blackbyrds Theme\" , \"Walking In Rhythm\" as well as the epic and perfectly titled, \"Spaced Out\".\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"No Label","offers":[{"title":"Black | LP","offer_id":50446369423691,"sku":"320152","price":17.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/Flying_Start_859f29ab_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727058628"},{"product_id":"rock-creek-park-gut-level","title":"Rock Creek Park \/ Gut Level","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Blackbyrds are an American soul and jazz-funk fusion group from Washington DC, inspired by their mentor and trumpeter Donald Byrd. They signed to the Fantasy label in 1973, and released seven original albums and one remixes compilation between 1974 and 1980. Members include drummer Keith Kilgo (who reformed the group in 2012) and keyboard player Kevin Toney. Both “Rock Creek Park” and “Gut Level” are among their most classic recordings, signature tracks which still resonate with UK and international audiences today. “Rock Creek Park” was written by the group and produced by Donald Byrd; “Gut Level” was composed by trombonist Lincoln Ross of The Three Pieces and produced by the legendary Larry Mizell.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Expansion","offers":[{"title":"Black | 7\"","offer_id":50486010413387,"sku":"1169137","price":14.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/93075482-b4df-4260-aa92-030d892ce6ab_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727605301"},{"product_id":"the-blackbyrds-hjr56y","title":"The Blackbyrds","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis amazing album is the product of six full-time Howard University students taking the direction of department head and jazz great Donald Byrd into the Fantasy Studios along with the aid of production wizard Larry Mizell.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe result is some of the finest groove-oriented jazz music ever recorded. The rhythm section of Joe Hall on bass and Keith Killgo on drums provides a tight foundation for the Blackbyrds to enhance any dancefloor with their soulful explorations.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWith Kevin Toney supplying beautiful keyboard work and Barney Perry hitting listeners up with his chicken-scratch guitar, the skeletal framework for what could be called optimistic funk was firmly established by this debut record. Recommended songs include \"Do It, Fluid,\" \"Reggins,\" and \"Summer Love,\" although the overall consistency of quality tracks on The Blackbyrds is reason enough to give the album a complete listen.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"BGP","offers":[{"title":"Black LP","offer_id":50531022242123,"sku":"2180057","price":24.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/CS202139-01A-BIG_800x_213f9191_thumbnail_4096.webp?v=1728090284"},{"product_id":"city-life-jazz-dispensary-top-shelf-series","title":"City Life (Jazz Dispensary Top Shelf Series)","description":"\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eThe Billboard Jazz Chart-topping album\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eCity Life\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eby the legendary jazz-funk ensemble The Blackbyrds gets a Jazz Dispensary Top Shelf reissue! Featuring “Happy Music,” and “Rock Creek Park,” described by AllMusic as “one of the pinnacles of ‘70s jazz-funk” and sampled by the likes of De La Soul and Nas, the album finds the band at the height of their hitmaking powers. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Concord","offers":[{"title":"LP - Black","offer_id":51523079307595,"sku":"R4741-9996","price":39.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/CR00846Blackbyrds-CityLifeFrontCover.jpg?v=1742926876"}],"url":"https:\/\/shop.roughtrade.com\/fr\/collections\/the-blackbyrds.oembed","provider":"Rough Trade","version":"1.0","type":"link"}