Donald Byrdwas off to the races after joining the Blue Note roster in 1958 and had fully hit his hard bop stride by 1961 when he laid down his excellent albumRoyal Flush. Joining the trumpeter was a state-of-the-art rhythm section featuring a youngHerbie Hancockon piano (Hancock was making just his 2nd appearance on a Blue Note recording date following ByrdsChantsession earlier that year),Butch Warrenon bass, andBilly Higginson drums, along with Byrds frequent frontline collaboratorPepper Adamson baritone saxophone. Side 1 consists of two Byrd originalsHush and Jorgieswhich bookend a showstopping performance of the Frank Sinatra ballad Im A Fool To Want You. Side 2 opens with two more pieces by ByrdShangri-La and 6Msbefore the set comes to a close with Hancocks original Requiem.

This Blue Note Classic Vinyl Edition is stereo, all-analog, mastered byKevin Grayfrom the original master tapes, and pressed on 180g vinyl at Optimal.

Tracklist:

A1: Hush
A2: I’m A Fool To Want You
A3: Jorgie’s

B1: Shangri-La
B2: 6 M’s
B3: Requiem