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