Jaki Byard • Solo-Strings

 

Few jazz pianists could honestly claim to be more eclectic than the late Jaki Byard. Depending on the mood he was in, the Bostonian could acknowledge anyone from Dave Brubeck to James P. Johnson to Cecil Taylor. Byard wasn't afraid to take chances, and his open-mindedness served him well. The pianist's eclectic nature is impossible to miss on Solo/Strings, which is the 2000 reissue of his Prestige dates Jaki Byard with Strings (1968) and Solo Piano (1969) on a single 78-minute CD (minus, unfortunately, "Hello, Young Lovers" from Solo Piano). While Solo Piano is exactly that -- an album of unaccompanied solo piano -- Jaki Byard With Strings is somewhat misleading. That title implies that Byard is accompanied by a large string orchestra, but in fact, he leads a sextet that includes four string instruments (George Benson's guitar, Ray Nance's violin, Ron Carter's cello, and Richard Davis' bass) along with Byard's piano and Alan Dawson's drums. Byard is unpredictable in both settings, although Solo Piano is even more of a rollercoaster ride. Unaccompanied, Byard shows his appreciation of different eras of jazz piano and has fun with everything from stride and boogie woogie to modal post-bop, free jazz, and the avant-garde. "The Hollis Stomp" manages to combine stride piano à la James P. Johnson or Fats Waller with elements of Cecil Taylor, while "New Orleans Stomp" is a playful blues that offers an unlikely combination of Taylor, McCoy Tyner, and Professor Longhair. "Spanish Tinge #2," meanwhile, isn't as Jelly Roll Morton-influenced as its title implies (Morton described the Latin influences in his music as "the Spanish tinge"). Rather, the tune brings to mind Miles Davis' work with Gil Evans on the innovative Sketches of Spain. Full of surprises, this superb CD is recommended to anyone who appreciates a wide variety of jazz.

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Pocos pianistas de jazz podrían decir honestamente que son más eclécticos que el difunto Jaki Byard. Dependiendo de su estado de ánimo, el bostoniano podía reconocer a cualquiera, desde Dave Brubeck hasta James P. Johnson y Cecil Taylor. Byard no tenía miedo de arriesgarse, y su apertura mental le sirvió de mucho. El carácter ecléctico del pianista es imperdible en Solo/Strings, que es la reedición en 2000 de sus citas de Prestige Jaki Byard con Strings (1968) y Solo Piano (1969) en un solo CD de 78 minutos (menos, desafortunadamente, "Hello, Young Lovers" de Solo Piano). Mientras que Solo Piano es exactamente eso -- un álbum de piano solo no acompañado -- Jaki Byard With Strings es algo engañoso. Ese título implica que Byard está acompañado por una gran orquesta de cuerdas, pero de hecho, dirige un sexteto que incluye cuatro instrumentos de cuerda (la guitarra de George Benson, el violín de Ray Nance, el violín de Ron Carter y el bajo de Richard Davis) junto con el piano de Byard y la batería de Alan Dawson. Byard es impredecible en ambos escenarios, aunque Solo Piano es más bien una montaña rusa. Sin compañía, Byard muestra su aprecio por las diferentes épocas del piano de jazz y se divierte con todo, desde el stride y el boogie woogie hasta el post-bop modal, el free jazz y las vanguardias. "The Hollis Stomp" logra combinar el piano de pasos a la James P. Johnson o Fats Waller con elementos de Cecil Taylor, mientras que "New Orleans Stomp" es un blues juguetón que ofrece una combinación improbable de Taylor, McCoy Tyner y el Profesor Pelo Largo. "Spanish Tinge #2," mientras tanto, no es tan influenciado por Jelly Roll Morton como lo implica su título (Morton describió las influencias latinas en su música como "el teñido español"). Más bien, la melodía recuerda el trabajo de Miles Davis con Gil Evans en los innovadores Sketches of Spain. Lleno de sorpresas, este magnífico CD es recomendable para cualquiera que aprecie una amplia variedad de jazz.

 
Tracks:
01 - Spanish Tinge #2
02 - Falling Rains of Life
03 - Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans
04 - Music to Watch Girls By
05 - Medley- I Know a Place-Let the Good Times Roll
06 - New Orleans Strut
07 - Ray's Blues
08 - Top of the Gate Rag
09 - Seasons
10 - How High the Moon
11 - A Basin Street Ballad
12 - The Hollis Stomp
13 - Cat's Cradle Conference Rag

Credits:
Jaki Byard – piano, organ
George Benson – guitar
Ray Nance – violin, vocals
Ron Carter – cello
Richard Davis – bass
Alan Dawson – drums, vibraphone


 Notes:
Recorded April 2, 1968 (group tracks) and July 31, 1969 (solo piano).
Track #'s 2, 4, 7, 10, 13 originally released as "Jaki Byard with Strings!": other selections on "Solo Piano".
Since maximum playing time of a single CD could not accommodate the entire length of the original two albums, it was necessary to delete "Hello Young Lovers" from "Solo Piano".

Label: Prestige ‎– PRCD-24246-2
Released: 1969
Genre: Jazz
Style: Post Bop

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