Rating:
Genre:
Jazz
Release Date: 02/11/1997
Run Time: 35:34
Reuniting with
Larry Mizell, the man behind his last three LPs,
Donald Byrd continues to explore contemporary
soul,
funk, and
R&B with
Places and Spaces. In fact, the record sounds more urban than its predecessor, which often played like a Hollywood version of the inner city. Keeping the
Isaac Hayes,
Curtis Mayfield, and
Sly Stone influences of
Street Lady,
Places and Spaces adds elements of
Marvin Gaye,
Earth, Wind & Fire, and
Stevie Wonder, which immediately makes the album funkier and more soulful. Boasting sweeping string arrangements, sultry rhythm guitars, rubbery bass, murmuring flügelhorns, and punchy horn charts, the music falls halfway between the cinematic neo-
funk of
Street Lady and the proto-
disco soul of
Earth, Wind & Fire. Also, the title
Places and Spaces does mean something -- there are more open spaces within the music, which automatically makes it funkier. Of course, it also means that there isn't much of interest on
Places and Spaces for
jazz purists, but the album would appeal to most fans of
Philly soul, lite
funk, and proto-
disco.
~Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
Cart 0 items
Listen
