'I feel free as a musician because of that music existing': Donald Byrd's Black Byrd at 50

By Angélika Beener

Published July 28, 2023 at 6:00 AM EDT

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GRAMMY® award-winning trumpeter, composer, arranger, producer, vocalist, and activist Keyon Harrold joins Milestones to discuss Donald Byrd's groundbreaking masterpiece Black Byrd, released 50 years ago this year. The NEA Jazz Master, whose work has profoundly impacted generations that followed through his stylistic pioneering of R&B infused jazz, helped birth an entirely new era of black music while experiencing breakthrough commercial success after two decades of being one of the greatest hard bop players of his time.

Milestones theme produced by Riley K. Glasper

Production Assistance: Billy Robinson

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Angélika Beener

Angélika Beener is an award-winning journalist, DJ, host and producer. Angélika has contributed her work to Downbeat, TIDAL, The Huffington Post, NPR Music, Jazz at Lincoln Center, and National Public Radio. In addition, she has contributed liner notes to several acclaimed recording projects, including two GRAMMY®-winning albums. A journalist who writes about music and culture at the intersections of race, gender, and generation, her work in public radio has been recognized by The Corporation for Public Broadcasting and The New York Association of Black Journalists.

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