Donald Byrd [w Joe Henderson] - A City Called Heaven (1991)

This, the third of Byrd's Landmark recordings, was to be his final studio release. As far as I know he only made one other recording before his death in 2013, one track on a 1995 Ahmad Jamal album.

Review by Derek Ansell, Jazz Journal, July 1992:
This is a fairly straight ahead jazz album by Dr Donaldson Toussaint L'Ouverture Byrd II who, understandably, prefers to be called Donald Byrd. King Arthur, Complete with back beat and Blues March type theme, is dedicated to Art Blakey and although no doubt sincerely meant, does not quite work. Only Art himself, behind the drums, could work magic with this type of thing. A City Called Heaven is a bit ponderous and both vocalist and musicians sound rather strained and self-conscious at times.
The rest is magic. I’ll Always Remember is a plaintive ballad with Byrd's muted trumpet warm and winsome and Hutcherson and Henderson in fine form. Byrd's bright, billowing tone and inventive lines are heard to good effect on Lu Easy Anna and Byrd Song, the latter much more effectively in a Jazz Messengers vein.
Remember Me is adapted from Dido & Aeneas—not jazz, but if you love Purcell's music as much as I do you won't complain. Lorice Stevens' vibrant voice carries the melody aided by Hutcherson and the continue part is shared by Brown and Reid with the bass sounding like a baroque cello. Half way through there is a jazz flavour as Byrd and Hendsrson contribute bluesy horn lines. Surprisingly, it works.
Not Necessarily The Blues is the blues, in free time; an experiment with symmetry and geometric shapes according to the leader in his liner notes.
This is an engaging, varied and highly original programme, and apart from the reservations expressed above it offers a rich musical experience.

1. King Arthur
2. I'll Always Remember
3. A City Called Heaven
4. Back Down In Lu Easy Anna
5. Byrd Song
6. Del Valle
7. Remember Me
8. Not Necessarily The Blues

Donald Byrd (t, flh) Joe Henderson (ts) Bobby Hutcherson (vb) Donald Brown (p) Rufus Reid (b)
Carl Allen (d) Lorice Stevens (voc -3,7)
Berkeley, CA, January 17-19, 1991