Free Form
Studio album by
Donald Byrd
ReleasedOctober 1966[1]
RecordedDecember 11, 1961
StudioVan Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey
GenreJazz
Length40:21
45:33 with bonus track
LabelBlue Note
BST 84118
ProducerAlfred Lion
Donald Byrd chronology
Royal Flush
(1961) 		Free Form
(1966) 		A New Perspective
(1963)
Alternative cover
2004 CD cover

Free Form is an album by American trumpeter Donald Byrd featuring Byrd with Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Butch Warren, and Billy Higgins recorded in 1961 and released on the Blue Note label later in 1966.[2] It was remastered in 2003 and reissued on CD. On the CD reissue, the original stereo release is erroneously given as "BST 84106" instead of BST 84118.

Reception

The Allmusic review by Michael G. Nastos awarded the album 4 stars and stated "Free Form is both a smorgasbord of modern jazz styles and a breakthrough album showing the Detroit born trumpeter's versatility and interest in diversity... This may be close to Donald Byrd's best early work, a strong statement that is by no means homogeneous, but expresses many of the avenues in jazz he was exploring while finding his own unique voice on the trumpet".[3]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[3]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz[4]

Track listing

All compositions by Donald Byrd except as indicated
  1. "Pentecostal Feelin'" - 6:43
  2. "Night Flower" (Herbie Hancock) - 6:48
  3. "Nai Nai" - 6:37
  4. "French Spice" - 8:02
  5. "Free Form" - 11:11
  6. "Three Wishes" (Hancock) - 5:12 Bonus track on CD reissue

Personnel

References

  1. ^ Billboard Oct 22, 1966
  2. ^ Donald Byrd discography accessed September 2, 2010
  3. ^ a b Nastos, M. G. Allmusic Review accessed September 2, 2010
  4. ^ Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (1992). The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD, LP & Cassette (1st ed.). Penguin. p. 171. ISBN 978-0-14-015364-4.
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