| Harlem Blues | |
| Type: | Album |
| Artist: | Donald Byrd |
| Cover: | Harlem Blues (Donald Byrd album).jpg |
| Released: | 1988 |
| Recorded: | September 22 & 24, 1987 |
| Studio: | Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ |
| Genre: | Jazz |
| Length: | 52:24 CD release with bonus track |
| Label: | Landmark LLP/LCD 1516 |
| Producer: | Orrin Keepnews, Donald Byrd |
| Chronology: | Donald Byrd |
| Prev Title: | Words, Sounds, Colors and Shapes |
| Prev Year: | 1982 |
| Next Title: | Getting Down to Business |
| Next Year: | 1990 |
Harlem Blues is an album by trumpeter Donald Byrd featuring performances recorded in 1987 and released on the Landmark label the following year.[1] [2] [3]
On AllMusic, Scott Yanow observed: "This Landmark release was trumpeter Donald Byrd's first jazz album in over 15 years after a long (and commercially if not artistically successful) detour into poppish R&B/funk. In the 1980s Byrd had neglected his trumpet playing in order to direct The Blackbyrds and teach. The period away from his instrument shows in spots on this well-intentioned set ... Ironically Byrd's own playing was not at this point up to the level of his sidemen although his chops would improve during the next couple of years". The Penguin Guide to Jazz praised Byrd's younger sidemen, while suggesting that the trumpeter's own playing had declined.
All compositions by Donald Byrd except where noted.