{"product_id":"stepping-into-tomorrow-donald-byrd-1975-1lp-vinyl-near-mint-nm","title":"Stepping Into Tomorrow - Donald Byrd (1975) (1LP Vinyl) - Near Mint (NM)","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"vinyl-record-details\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition:\u003c\/strong\u003e Used\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMedia Condition:\u003c\/strong\u003e Near Mint (NM)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSleeve Condition:\u003c\/strong\u003e Very Good Plus (VG+)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition Notes:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"condition-details\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRecord is super clean NM to M-\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCover has discount corner cut bottom right. Also minor water spot in the same corner.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOriginal inner.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eClean copy!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003chr style=\"margin: 15px 0; border: none; border-top: 1px solid #ccc;\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStepping Into Tomorrow\u003c\/strong\u003e by \u003cstrong\u003eDonald Byrd\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBy the mid-1970s, Donald Byrd had traded straight-ahead hard bop for something looser, funkier, and unapologetically forward-looking, and this 1975 Blue Note release captures that transformation at full stride. Much of its identity comes from the Mizell brothers, with Larry Mizell arranging and conducting the bulk of the album and Fonce Mizell adding his own arrangements and instrumental touches. Their fingerprints — layered vocal arrangements, electric textures, and a producer's ear for groove — turn a jazz date into a genre-blurring statement, with George Butler overseeing as executive producer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe playing is a study in warm, electric sophistication. Gary Bartz brings alto saxophone and clarinet, while Chuck Rainey anchors everything on Fender bass and Harvey Mason drives the kit with real snap, even reaching for bata drum and mouth harp on one cut. David T. Walker and John Rowin trade guitar lines, Mayuto Correa's congas add heat, and Fonce Mizell colors the arrangements with clavinet and trumpet. Above it all, a rotating cast of backing vocalists lends the record its glossy, soulful lift.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe result is a record that glides between jazz, soul, and early fusion without ever losing its cool. For collectors, it's a prime example of Byrd's Blue Note reinvention — richly produced, deeply grooved, and endlessly replayable. A rewarding addition to any serious jazz shelf.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePressing Details:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTrack Listing:\u003cbr\u003eA1. Stepping Into Tomorrow\u003cbr\u003eA2. Design A Nation\u003cbr\u003eA3. We're Together\u003cbr\u003eA4. Think Twice\u003cbr\u003eB1. Makin' It\u003cbr\u003eB2. Rock And Roll Again\u003cbr\u003eB3. You Are The World\u003cbr\u003eB4. I Love The Girl\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCredits:\u003cbr\u003eGary Bartz - Alto Saxophone, Clarinet\u003cbr\u003eFonce Mizell - Arranged By (B4)\u003cbr\u003eHarvey Mason - Arranged By (B1)\u003cbr\u003eLarry Mizell - Arranged By (A1 to B3)\u003cbr\u003eSigidi - Arranged By (A4)\u003cbr\u003eFonce Mizell - Arranged By [Background Vocal Arrangements]\u003cbr\u003eFreddie Perren - Arranged By [Background Vocal Arrangements]\u003cbr\u003eLarry Mizell - Arranged By [Background Vocal Arrangements]\u003cbr\u003eFonce Mizell - Backing Vocals\u003cbr\u003eFreddie Perren - Backing Vocals\u003cbr\u003eKay Haith - Backing Vocals (A3, A4)\u003cbr\u003eLarry Mizell - Backing Vocals\u003cbr\u003eLorraine Kenner - Backing Vocals (A1, A2, B1)\u003cbr\u003eMargie Evans - Backing Vocals (B3)\u003cbr\u003eStephanie Spruill - Backing Vocals (A1, B1)\u003cbr\u003eChuck Rainey - Bass [Fender]\u003cbr\u003eHarvey Mason - Bata [Batah Drum], Jew's Harp [Mouth Harp] (B1)\u003cbr\u003eFonce Mizell - Clavinet, Trumpet\u003cbr\u003eLarry Mizell - Conductor\u003cbr\u003eMayuto Correa - Congas\u003cbr\u003eSigidi - Copyist\u003cbr\u003eHarvey Mason - Drums\u003cbr\u003eJim Nipar - Engineer [Assistant]\u003cbr\u003eDave Hassinger - Engineer [Recording Engineer]\u003cbr\u003eJohn Mills (21) - Engineer [Recording Engineer]\u003cbr\u003eVal Garay - Engineer [Recording Engineer]\u003cbr\u003eDave Hassinger - Engineer [Remix Engineer]\u003cbr\u003eVal Garay - Engineer [Remix Engineer]\u003cbr\u003eGeorge Butler - Executive-Producer\u003cbr\u003eDavid T. Walker - Guitar\u003cbr\u003eJohn Rowin - Guitar\u003cbr\u003eRhonghea Southern - Guitar (A4)\u003cbr\u003eChuck Davis - Music Consultant [Synthesizers Consultant]\u003cbr\u003eGreg Edwards - Painting [Cover Painting: \"Facing The Music Of The Spheres II\"]\u003cbr\u003eStuff 'N' Ramjett - Percussion\u003cbr\u003eDoug Metzler - Photography By\u003cbr\u003eJerry Peters - Piano [Acoustic Piano], Organ\u003cbr\u003eLarry Mizell - Producer\u003cbr\u003eLarry Mizell - Synthesizer [Arp Synthesizers], Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes]\u003cbr\u003eChuck Davis - Technician [Technical Director]\u003cbr\u003eDonald Byrd - Trumpet [Solo], Flugelhorn, Vocals [Solo]\u003cbr\u003eJames Carter (2) - Whistle [Whistler]\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNotes:\u003cbr\u003eOriginal release with blue labels and 'black note', pressed by [l=Research Craft] as denoted by \"Re1\" and \"#\" followed by 2 numbers etched in runout, slightly chamfered pressing ring of 2.875\" diameter.\u003cbr\u003eIssued with printed inner sleeve containing a Donald Byrd's photo, credits and song titles.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRecorded at The Sound Factory, Hollywood, California November-December 1974\u003cbr\u003eDisc Mastering: The Mastering Lab, Hollywood, California\u003cbr\u003eSound Effects: Breaking the sound barrier courtesy of Elektra Records\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eArtist:\u003c\/strong\u003e Donald Byrd\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFormat:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1LP\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGenre:\u003c\/strong\u003e Jazz\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLabel:\u003c\/strong\u003e Blue Note\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCatalog Number:\u003c\/strong\u003e BN-LA368-G\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRelease Year:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1975\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCountry:\u003c\/strong\u003e United States\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Blue Note","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52260865769768,"sku":null,"price":64.9,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0941\/2339\/3320\/files\/1787075520589-336428403.jpg?v=1787075668","url":"https:\/\/mileswaxey.com\/products\/stepping-into-tomorrow-donald-byrd-1975-1lp-vinyl-near-mint-nm","provider":"Miles Waxey","version":"1.0","type":"link"}