Kofi was extracted from some of last Blue Note sessions of the 1960s before
Byrd's ventures into soul fusion territory. The playing here is no less than stellar, with seasoned veterans such as
Ron Carter and
Airto Moreira giving
Byrd more than ample support to stretch out and soulfully foreshadow elements of future recordings.
Lew Tabackin easily shares the spotlight with his beautiful flute passages on the title track, while
Frank Foster and the rest of the supporting group complement
Byrd's playing with a grace that emulates the early chemistry between the early
Miles Davis groups of the early '60s. The subtle relaxed tones of this album make it truly one of the essential releases in
Byrd's catalog, not only from a historical standpoint (his future collaborations with the Mizell brothers would take him to an entirely different plane of thought), but from a casual listening standpoint as well. ~ Rob Theakston