Don Byas, The Forgotten Legend

[@klaus8456]

The Godfather of TONE.

[@JazzVideoGuy]

Amen

[@reefthewatcher]

His horn is in Newark , NJ Rutger's jazz archives. One of my favorite Saxophone players. Criminally underrated.

[@JazzVideoGuy]

If he had not moved to Europe so soon, he would be much better known.

[@joshuaklein2859]

@@JazzVideoGuybut not better liked given the times of more segregation/discrimination

[@paulgentile1024]

​@@JazzVideoGuycat had to make a living

[@georgesember9069]

Thanks for posting. I don’t think I’ve ever heard Don Byas before, amazing!!

[@JazzVideoGuy]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@georgegeschwend7453]

Can’t wait. Waaay underrated saxophonist.👍👍👍

[@JazzVideoGuy]

It is worth the wait. This is among the most unique videos I have ever posted.

[@henridelagardere264]

1970; Village Vanguard; Don Byas introduced by Thad Jones, Mel Lewis, Jo Jones & Roland Hanna; _Lover Man:_ Don Byas - ts; Thad Jones - cond; Lew Soloff - tp; Benny Powell - tb; Cliff Heather - btb; Jerome Richardson, Jerry Dodgion, Eddie Daniels, Billy Harper, Pepper Adams - reeds; Roland Hanna - p; Wilbur Ware - b; Mel Lewis - dr.

[@miphka66]

That’s Reggie Johnson on bass

[@henridelagardere264]

@@miphka66 ​ @miphka66 3:10 It *is* Reggie Johnson, thank you!

[@BrendaBoykin-qz5dj]

Thank you, Brother Bret.⭐🌹⭐ What a beautiful intro. Very loving and warm.

[@bobjuke4216]

Just great!.. and shots of the interior of a legendary jazz club as a bonus 🙂

[@charlesboyle9223]

I was just thinking that!

[@ChopBassMan]

I never forgot him lol. He's always been a favorite of mine!!❤❤❤

[@ed.z.]

I remember remember sitting inside the tiny Village Vanguard with the same spiritual reverence of being in a a holy temple. And when you think about the many great musicians who played Monday nights with Thad Joes and Mel Lewis and all the great jazz artistry and musical excellence, it’s astonishing how accessible greatness was. Does that make sense? So many cities had fantastic jazz scenes. I remember times in a club in Cleveland and talking to someone how cool the jazz club was there. Maybe I’m getting nostalgic.

[@JazzVideoGuy]

The Village Vanguard is still the best Jazz club on planet earth.

[@ed.z.]

@@JazzVideoGuy I’m delighted to hear that. I am told that The Village Gate is a Duane Reade, today. That made me feel sick. I hope the Blue Note is still in its historical place in the Village ( I wish they’d expand). I see some jazz clubs in some collage towns, that’s a good thing. Jazz studies programs should be in more universities. I think interest for non musicians to go to jazz club interest is down because of home entertainment and yout is nice sometimes. But we have great musicians to see for example tenor sax players, Troy Roberts, Chris’s Potter, Bob Reynolds, and Rick margitza.

[@paulgentile1024]

​​@@ed.z.and it's a lousy Duane Reade to boot..

[@ed.z.]

@@paulgentile1024 I heard that about The Village Gate, are you sure that also happened to to The Village Vanguard?

[@staceymichaels9530]

Love this place in time. Thank You, Bret.

[@JazzVideoGuy]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@cameronpfiffner3415]

My Pops had a lot of 78s with Don on ‘em- I got hooked early. Great to so see closeups of his embouchure and the way he drops his jaw to get that gigantic sound. Seeing Pepper in the background brought to mind that Pepper’s style is partly Don on baritone. Great clip! I wish there was more of that gig available- did he play more that night?

[@mattmerewitz626]

Wow!!!!

[@JazzVideoGuy]

Thanks, Matt. Glad you dig!

[@sainteal]

Incredible! This one is extra special!

[@JazzVideoGuy]

you have big ears

[@transtremm]

Great footage, but who has forgotten Don Byas? One of the true greats!

[@JazzVideoGuy]

Hey, not everybody is as hip as you!

[@ScreaminJames]

Far too many. Byas was most likely the first tenor player to crack the Bebop code. He was playing like Bird in 1944 while the others still hadn't got the memo and he's never got the credit for this...

[@jeffreyfeinstein5525]

ThanK yoU!

[@CaiusV.]

Thank you 😎

[@JazzVideoGuy]

You're welcome 😊

[@Trombonology]

Don is easily in my Top Three for tenor, along with Pres and Hawk. Beautiful tone, ideas, feeling and technique.

[@JazzVideoGuy]

yes!

[@mariolinagiordano2395]

Sassofonista meraviglioso . Mi emoziona e mi commuove❤

[@arundiasbandaranaike5989]

Wonderful reception accorded the man! Grateful for the sharing thereof. We can hear some of Byas' gravitas in the tenor of Benny Golson. (I thought!)

[@JazzVideoGuy]

Well said!

[@cameronpfiffner3415]

I agree, and Don’s slightly older influencee Lucky Thompson. I had the pleasure of chatting with Benny after a gig he played in Chicago, and he confirmed that both Don and Lucky were part of his inspiration.

[@ScottlandShaffner0423]

Thank you for sharing this priceless historic footage !!! What year.. ? One of 'Bird's 🎷 contemporaries... Feels like a crime looking in on this... I didn't buy a ticket !!

[@JazzVideoGuy]

Sometime between '66 and '68

[@luiszuluaga6575]

Don Byas just stands out. Also, I’m loving those shots of Park Ave. interspersed with the Vanguard footage.

[@JazzVideoGuy]

Don Byas was a serious tenor player and if he had stayed in the US, he would be a lot more famous.

[@jeffreyfeinstein5525]

"...tRuly Touching! To be able to shine through such an ensemble, arrangement and composition like this! And the 'introduction' iZ actually funny! #GEM😍

[@JazzVideoGuy]

you dig!

[@jeffreyfeinstein5525]

@@JazzVideoGuy 😎

[@Jackiehardbopladyblue2]

💗 ALWAYS ON MY MIND 🫡 💝YOUR SOUND ✨️⭐️💥🔥 🙏🏻💜🙏🏻🩵🙏🏻👌👌💗 🫵

[@donaldraby2892]

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

[@JohnEpto-ng6ml]

3

[@hansmagnusmalcolmsen9354]

Not forgotten. Not Bud Shank either.

[@JazzVideoGuy]

Bud Shank was very prolific in LA

[@artemkorogodin7571]

Does anyone know the instrument Don isplaying here?

[@Jazzznbluezzz1]

You mean what make tenor sax? I believe Don Byas played a Dolnet Royal Jazz for most of his career in Europe. In the early Basie days he was on a Conn 30M as far as I know.

[@thierryroullier8401]

Dolnet saxophone with a snake on the neck