Don Byas

NEWLY REMASTERED !

This release contains all of the quartet recordings made by Don Byas for French labels between 1946 and 1954. In September 1946, Byas went to Europe to tour as one of the stars in Don Redman’s big band. They were the first all black American orchestra to appear in the French capital since the liberation. Byas decided to remain in Europe and he settled in Paris, where he becomes a big star and was given a chance to record almost immediately. The saxophonist is accompanied here by local musicians such as Martial Solal and Pierre Michelot, as well as other illustrious American figures likes Mary Lou Williams and Beryl Booker. Most of the quintet sides featuring guitar as the fifth instrument that were recorded during this period have been added as a bonus (these tracks feature extended solos by Byas).


DON BYAS, tenor sax on all tracks, plus:

CD 1 [1] : Billy Taylor (p), Ted Sturgis (b), Buford Oliver (p). December 4, 1946.
CD 1 [2-6]: Billy taylor (p), Jean Bouchety (b), Buford Oliver (d). January 6, 1947.
CD 1 [7-9]: Bernard Peiffer (p), Jean Bouchety (b), Roger Paraboschi (d). January 4 & 5, 1949.
CD 1 [10-15] Maurice Vander (p), Pierre Michelot (b), Benny Benett (d). November 9, 1951.
CD 1 [16-19] Art Simmons (p), Pierre Michelot (b), Pierre Lemarchannd (d). February 6, 1952.
CD 1 [20-23] Art Simmons (p), Joe Benjamin (b), Bill Clarke (d). March 16, 1952.
CD 1 [24-26] & CD 2 [1-6] Art Simmons (p), Joe Benjamin (b), Bill Clarke (d) April 10. 1952

CD 2 [7-12] : Marcle Bianchi (g),Pierre Michelot (b), Benny Bennett (d). May 21, 1952.
CD 2 [13-16]: Martial Solal (p), Pierre Michelot (b),Benny Bennett (d). May 21, 1952.
CD 2 [17-22]: Mary Lou Williams (p),Alvin “Buddy” Banks (b), Gérard Pochonet (d). Dec. 2, 1953.
CD 2 [23] & CD 3 [1-6] : Martial Solal (p),Pierre Michelot (b), Pierre Lemarchand (d).Dec. 8. 1953.
CD 3 [7-9] Beryl Brooker (p, vcl on 8]Bonnie Wetzel (b), Elaine Leighton (d). February 1954.

Bonus tracks :
CD 3 [10-15] Jacques Diéval (p), Jean-Jacques Tilché (g), Lucien Simoens (b). Armand Molinetti (d). June 12, 1947.
CD 3 [16-21] Art Simmons (p), Jean-Jacques Tilché (g), Rogers Grasset (b), Claude Marty (d). July 4, 1950.
CD 3 [22-24] Maurice Vander (p), Jean-Pierre Sasson (g), Popof Medvedko (b), Benny Bennett (d). April 19, 1951.

All titles recorded in Paris, France, and originally released on the Swing, Vogue and Blue Star labels

CD 1: (78:14 mins)
01. Gloria
02. I’m Beginning To See The Light
03. Rosetta
04. Ain’t Misbehavin’
05. Body and Soul
06. Blue and Sentimental
07. All the Things You Are (fast version)
08. All the Things You Are (slow version)
09. Yesterdays
10. Tenderly
11. C’est Vous Chérie
12. Trop Jeune
13. Vanuty
14. Because Of You
15. Chloe
16. And So To Sleep Again
17. Infidèle (cry)
18. Slow Coach (Slow Poke)
19. Un Amour Pleurait
20. This Is Always
21. A Cottage For Sale
22. En Ce Temps-Là
23. Là-Bas
24. Somebody Loves Me;
25. I Cover the Waterfront
26. Don’t Blame Me

CD 2: (78:14 mins)
01. Old Folks At Home
02. Smoke Gets In Yours Eyes
03. Riviera Blues (Blues A La Don)
04. You Can Depend On Me
05. That Old Feeling
06. Laura
07. Wheel Of Fortune
08. Please Monsieur Soleil
09. Roses Of Picardies
10. L’Enfant Et La Rose
11. I Herad A Rhapsody
12. Pleurs
13. Remember My Forgotten Man
14. If I Had You
15. Lover Man
16. I Can´t Give You Anythings But Love
17. O.W.
18. Mary’s Waltz
19. Lullaby Of The Leaves
20. Moonglow
21. Why
22. New Musical Express
23. G.D.B.

CD 3: (77:05 mins)
01. Time On My Hands
02. Blues For Don Carlos
03. Sweet Lorraine
04. April In Paris
05. Don’t Blame Me
06. Unknow Original
07. Makin’ Whoopee
08. I Should Care
09. Beryl Booker’s Byased Blues
10. These Foolish Things
11. Humoresque
12. Stormy Weather
13. Riffin’ and Jivin’
14. I Can´t Explain
15. Blues For Pannassié
16. Summertime
17. It's The Talk Of The Town
18. Stardust
19. A Pretty Girl Is Like A Melody
20. Old Man River
21. Flamingo
22. The Man I Love
23. Georgia On My Mind
24. Over the Rainbow.