Jaki Byard

Jaki Byard - Sunshine Of My Soul (1967) {Prestige OJCCD-1946-2 rel 2001}
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© 1967, 2001 Prestige Records / Fantasy | OJCCD-1946-2
Jazz / Post Bop / Avant-Garde Jazz / Piano

In 1967, Jaki Byard turned 45. At that age, some musicians are very set in their ways – they have a niche, cater to it, and stick with whatever it is they do best. But Byard wasn't becoming complacent; the restless pianist was continuing to experiment and take chances, which is exactly what he does on Sunshine of My Soul. Recorded on Halloween 1967, this unpredictable post-bop/avant-garde effort finds Byard being influenced by a wide variety of pianists.

Jaki Byard Quartet with Joe Farrell - The Last From Lennie's (1965) {Prestige PRCD-11029-2 rel 2003}
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© 1965, 2003 Prestige Records / Fantasy | PRCD-11029-2
Jazz / Bop / Piano / Saxophone

There's a good and bad side of releasing old material that's been buried in a record label's vault or someone's attic. If the material's solid, say a live date from an artist's prime, then it's a Godsend. If the material is weak, or repeats earlier releases in a weaker form, it does a disservice to the artist. Luckily for fans of pianist Jaki Byard, the quartet recordings on Last From Lennie's are bursting with creative energy. Taped on April 14, 1965, Byard is joined by saxophonist Joe Farrell, bassist George Tucker, and drummer Alan Dawson for an adventurous live set.

Jaki Byard - Blues For Smoke (1960) {Candid CCD 79018 rel 1989}
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© 1960, 1989 Candid | CCD 79018
Jazz / Post Bop / Stride / Piano Solo

Pianist Jaki Byard's first recording as a leader was not released domestically until this 1988 CD. That fact seems strange for Byard is absolutely brilliant on the solo piano set. Many of his selections (all nine tunes are his originals) look both backwards to pre-bop styles and ahead to the avant-garde including such numbers as "Pete and Thomas (Tribute to the Ticklers)," "Spanish Tinge No. 1," and "One, Two, Five." The most remarkable selection is "Jaki's Blues Next" which has Byard alternating between James P. Johnson-type stride and free form à la Cecil Taylor; at its conclusion he plays both styles at the same time. A highly recommended outing from a very underrated pianist.

Jaki Byard - Family Man (1978) {32 Jazz 32171 rel 1999}
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© 1978, 1999 32 Jazz | 32171
Jazz / Bop / Post Bop / Piano

Pianist Jaki Byard (who also plays a bit of tenor and alto) uses a trio/quartet on this Muse album consisting of bassist Major Holley (switching to tuba on one tune), drummer J.R. Mitchell (on the 17½-minute five-part "Family Suite") and drummer-percussionist Warren Smith. In addition to a two-song medley of Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn, Byard performs the episodic "Family Suite," this early theme "Just Rollin' Along," the eccentric "L.H. Gatewalk Rag" and the thoughtful "Ballad for Louise." A typically stimulating and eclectic program of music by Jaki Byard.

Jaki Byard - Sunshine of My Soul: Live at the Keystone Korner (1978) {HighNote Records HCD7169 rel 2007}
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© 1978, 2007 HighNote Records, Inc. | HCD 7169
Jazz / Bop / Post Bop / Piano Solo

This High Note Jaki Byard date titled Sunshine of My Soul is not a reissue of the 1967 issue by Prestige. In fact, it was recorded by Todd Barkan in 1978 at the Keystone Korner in San Francisco and produced for release on compact disc by Joe Fields. This is Byard solo, working magic as few other pianists have ever been able to and embodying most of the jazz tradition in his set.

Jaki Byard - Freedom Together! (1966) {Prestige OJCCD-1898-2 rel 1997}
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© 1966, 1997 Prestige Records / Fantasy | OJCCD-1898-2
Jazz / Bop / Post Bop / Piano

Pianist Jaki Byard's best recordings were done for Prestige in the 1960s, and fortunately, they have been gradually seeing reissue on CD in the Original Jazz Classics series. This is a particularly unusual and colorful set, for Byard not only plays piano, but makes appearances on celeste, electric piano, vibes, drums and tenor sax. His tenor playing (best heard on "Just You, Just Me") is particularly excellent, while his piano solos show his usual diversity, hinting at 50 years of jazz styles.

Except for a ballad medley, this CD reissues all of the music from two earlier LPs featuring pianist Jaki Byard, Joe Farrell (who plays tenor, soprano, flute, and even some drums), bassist George Tucker, and drummer Alan Dawson (doubling on vibes). The set, recorded live at Lennie's-on-the-Turnpike in Massachusetts, is a superior outing for all of the players. Farrell shows just how strong a player he was while Byard's versatility (and full knowledge of all jazz piano styles) keeps the proceedings continually unpredictable.