After experimenting stylistically on 1963's A NEW PERSPECTIVE (the record included a gospel choir singing with a jazz septet), Donald Byrd returned to playing straight-ahead hard bop in the manner of his late-'50s and early-'60s Blue Note releases. MUSTANG is one such album--a recording of fine, swinging jazz of the quality one expects from Byrd and his associates. With the help of stellar personnel--including Hank Mobley and McCoy Tyner--Byrd burns through this excellent set. In addition to cover tunes (Duke Ellington's "I Got ItBad and That Ain't Good" and Sylvester Kyner's title cut), there are several Byrd originals. The boogaloo-themed "DixieLee" and the breakneck-paced "Fly Little Bird Fly" give theinstrumentalists plenty of room to stretch out. The CD reissue contains two bonus tracks excerpted from an earlier recording session, featuring saxophonist Jimmy Heath and drummerJoe Chambers.