The Late Show: An Evening with Jaki Byard: Live at the Keystone Korner, Vol. 3

by Jaki Byard

Overview

A multi-instrumentalist who also played trumpet and tenor saxophone, Jaki Byard was best known as a jazz pianist, and there may not have been a more versatile one in the whole history of the genre. Byard blended musical forms effortlessly on the piano, gliding from bop to classical, stride, ragtime, blues, funk, swing, honky tonk, and anything else he felt like tossing into the mix, sometimes all within the same tune, and all of it done with an easy and elegant grace. He was a regular performer at San Francisco's famed Keystone Korner in the 1970s, and this intimate set is the third release from HighNote Records to document some of those appearances. Byard was brilliant in a group or ensemble setting, but the full feel for his piano playing is best displayed solo, and here, that is what we get -- Jaki Byard relaxed and comfortable in front of a respectful and appreciative audience. It's difficult to pull highlights from this set, since it all flows together as one evening's performance in the best sense, but his three selections from his "Family Suite" and a fun, lively, and ever-shifting turn through "Sweet Georgia Brown" are particularly enjoyable, as are Byard's low-key, warm, and often amusing introductions to some of the pieces. Byard was a jazz player by trade, but his real allegiance was to the piano itself, and few players have brought so much variety out of the instrument and still made it seem like it was all cut from the same elegant and comfortable cloth. All of that is on display here. ~ Steve Leggett

Product Details

Release Date:	06/17/2014
Label:	Highnote Records
UPC:	0632375726423
Rank:	108773

Tracks

1. Opening Remarks by Todd Barkan and Jaki Byard
2. Hello Young Lovers
3. In Your Own Sweet Way
4. Introductory Remarks
5. Family Suite
6. Spanish Tinge No. 1
7. Introductory Remarks
8. Strayhorn-Ellington Medley: Day Dream/Caravan
9. Introductory Remarks
10. European Episode
11. Medley: All the Things You Are/I'll Remember April
12. Introductory Remarks
13. GEB Piano Roll
14. Sweet Georgia Brown
15. Introductory Remarks
16. For All We Know

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Jaki Byard   Primary Artist
Todd Barkan   Primary Artist

Technical Credits

Tory Sanoa   Transfers
Dino Meddoes   Transfers
Tom Copi   Photography
Peter Muller   Design
Dave Brubeck   Composer
Samuel Lewis   Composer
Richard Rodgers   Composer
Kenneth Casey   Composer
Ben Bernie   Composer
Oscar Hammerstein II   Composer
Todd Barkan   Concert Producer
Billy Strayhorn   Composer
Juan Tizol   Composer
Jon Rosenberg   Audio Restoration,Mastering,Editing
Maceo Pinkard   Composer
Ethan Iverson   Liner Notes
Don Raye   Composer
Patricia Johnston   Composer
Duke Ellington   Composer
Joe Fields   Producer
Jaki Byard   Composer
Jerome Kern   Composer
Gene DePaul   Composer
J. Fred Coots   Composer