As we celebrate Dilla's birthday, we are a bit stunned to learn of the passing of another Detroit legend; trumpeter, composer and all around genius Donald Byrd who perhaps more than any other figure, connected the roots of jazz to soul, funk, disco and hip-hop right down to his collaborations with Guru from Gang Starr. It's still to early confirm the news but given a facebook post by his nephew and the fact that the biographical data on his wikipedia entry has been updated to: Donaldson Toussaint L'Ouverture Byrd II (December 9, 1932 – February 4, 2013), we have to assume the worst. There's much to be said about the man's inter-generational shadow but for now we'll be playing J Dilla and Dwele's remake of "Think Twice" (below) while we try to figure out what does it all mean:
