ProJazz.net

Donald Byrd’s most widely known ventures from jazz into a more pop-oriented sound in the 1970s took place with the Blackbyrds. As a less celebrated outing that combined funk, jazz, and soul in a vocal format, he also produced this obscure album by the 3 Pieces, who were naturally a trio, though some other musicians played on the LP, including Ray Parker, Jr., who is responsible for the guitar on “Shortnin’ Bread.” They were no mere Byrd vehicle, with the group writing all of the material except for the instrumental cover of “Shortnin’ Bread.” Very much of its period, Vibes of Truth is a pretty unmemorable entry into the funk-soul-jazz hybrid genre, with medium-temperature grooves and only adequate singing and songwriting. Even the attempts at tough lyrics — “Concrete Jungle” sings about rats in the urban squalor — are a little undermined by the generally sweet-natured tone of the threesome, and the arrangements are sometimes longer and more repetitious than justified. The 2010 CD reissue on BGP adds historical liner notes (Richie Unterberger/AllMusic).

Track listing:

I Need You Girl 4:10
Backed Up Against The Wall 4:26
Vibes Of Truth 4:30
Shortnin’ Bread 4:31
Self Dealin’ 3:54
Concrete Jungle 5:20
If Only I Could Prove To You 3:56
Cool It 3:29
Virtue 3:30

Personnel:
Bass, Lead Vocals – Jerry Wilder
Congas, Percussion – Andre Richardson
Drums – Jack Cooper
Electric Piano, Synthesizer [Arp] – Lincoln Ross
Guitar – Orville Saunders, Ray Parker* (tracks: A4)
Percussion – Bobbye Hall
Producer – Donald Byrd
Strings, Horns – Carol Campbell, Corethia Marcus
Trombone [Solo] – Lincoln Ross (tracks: A2, A4, B2)
Written By – Ross, Richardson And Wilder
_______________

Label: Fantasy – F-9476
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Gatefold, Hollywood Pressing
Country: US
Released: 1975