The Blackbyrds were formed more than fifty years ago at the instigation of jazz trumpeter Donald Byrd, who assembled a group of his Howard University students to bring his musical vision to life. Time, inevitably, has reshuffled the ranks: some members have moved on, others have passed on. But since the band's 2012 reformation, drummer and vocalist Keith Killgo and bassist Joe Hall have remained at its core, keeping alive a sound forged in the early seventies that would go on to shape hip-hop, acid jazz, neo-soul and countless film soundtracks. Whether listeners realise it or not, chances are they've heard echoes of The Blackbyrds somewhere before.
Yet, as the nine-piece band eases into classics like "Happy Music" and "Rock Creek Park" on the New Morning stage, notions of influence and legacy quickly become academic. The Blackbyrds aren't here to remind anyone of their place in music history; they're here to make people move. You can analyse the arrangements afterwards, marvel at the effortless groove or trace the countless artists who borrowed from this playbook on your way home. In the moment, though, all such thoughts evaporate: your foot starts tapping, your head starts nodding and, before long, the audience becomes as much a part of the performance as the musicians on stage. Happy music indeed.
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