Donald Byrd - Eldorado

from Blackjack (Blue Note 1967)  

“I’ve always liked this song,” says Donald.  ”It’s reminiscent of a Miles Davis-Gil Evans-Bill Evans feeling, but it very much has its own character.  Every time we played the song, all the musicians in the band were fascinated by it.  It’s very relaxing and yet liberating too.  The triadic effect against a basic pedal point is very interesting and the simplicity of the tune-there are basically only two chords in it-gives you freedom to really stretch out and do what you want.  All in all, it creates a hell of a mood.”  As Donald and his colleagues demonstrate here.  Everybody, I expect has his own vision of Eldorado, a land of treasure and other fabulous delights.  This is the kind of performance which stimulates that kind of fantasy.  The order of the soloists is Donald, Hank Mobley, Sonny Red and Cedar Walton.  - Nat Hentoff