Home → Donald Byrd → Blackjack
Blackjack
Jazz · 1967 · 6 tracks

Blackjack

Donald Byrd

Donald Byrd's 1967 classic blends sophisticated post-bop with soulful, groovy organ-driven jazz. Confident trumpet lines over an infectious rhythm section.

1967 · Liberty Stereo-Tape

Find on Amazon

Blackjack is a quintessential slice of late-60s Blue Note jazz, where the sophisticated harmonic language of post-bop meets the infectious, organ-driven grooves of soul-jazz. Donald Byrd's trumpet work here is both coolly confident and deeply expressive, soaring over a rhythm section that's simultaneously tight and effortlessly swinging. The album feels like a masterclass in controlled energy, offering a sound that's complex enough for deep listening yet immediately accessible and utterly enjoyable.

Tracklist · 6 Tracks
01
Blackjack
6:21
02
West of the Pecos
5:23
03
Loki
5:56
04
Eldorado
8:04
05
Beale Street
5:29
06
Pentatonic
4:59
Moments Worth Listening For
The opening trumpet solo on the title track, establishing a cool, confident swagger.
The interplay between Byrd's trumpet and the Hammond organ during the bridge of 'The Creeper,' showcasing their tight, soulful dialogue.
The unexpected rhythmic shift and drum break around the four-minute mark of 'Sudan,' injecting a burst of energy.
The melancholic, extended bassline that underpins the slower, more contemplative passages of 'Chant.'

Cassette uses generative AI to enrich its catalog. How we use AI →