This spring, the biography of Don Byas (1912-1972) was released, Sax Expat, written by Con Chapman. This was preceded by the launch of the 10-CD Mosaic box set containing Don Byas’ work from his last US period: Classic Don Byas Sessions 1944-1946.
I am taking advantage of these celebrations to devote several episodes to the music of this almost forgotten giant, who lived in Amsterdam from 1955 until his death. Today, we will hear Byas in two roles: as a member of the saxophone section in a mini big band of Coleman Hawkins (1904-1969) who records six sizzling pieces for the brand new Apollo label. One of those six pieces is a breathtaking remake of Body and Soul, with a new name: Rainbow Mist. Besides Hawkins, fiery bebop pioneer Dizzy Gillespie (1917-1993) is the sole soloist in three of the six pieces: Woody’N You, Bu Dee Daht and Disorder at the Border. Before we will hear Hawkins and his ten-man big band, you can first hear two interpretations of Body and Soul by the swagger-like tenor saxophonist Dexter Gordon (1923-1990), both from the summer of 1970.
The last word belongs to the quintet of the primal, subdued trumpeter Emmett Berry (1915-1993) who also gives his sideman Don Byas extensive coverage. And what a fertile environment that rhythm section provides for the star soloists to flourish in all their glory!
PLAYLIST
Coleman Hawkins and his Orchestra
Tommy Lindsay, Joe Guy (trumpet), Earl Hardy (trombone), Jackie Fields, Eustis Moore (altsax), Coleman Hawkins (tenorsax, conductor), Gene Rodgers (piano), William Oscar Smith (bass), Arthur Herbert (drums)
New York City, 11 October 1939
# 1. Body and Soul (Johnny Green) (3:00)
Dexter Gordon (tenorsax), Junior Mance (piano), Martin Rivera (bass), Oliver Jackson (drums)
Montreux Jazz Festival, 18 June 1970
# 2. Body and Soul (Johnny Green) (10:07)
Dexter Gordon (tenorsax), Tommy Flanagan (piano), Larry Ridley (bass), Alan Dawson (drums)
NYC, 7 July 1970
# 3. Body and Soul (Johnny Green) (10:48)
Coleman Hawkins and his Orchestra
Dizzy Gillespie, Vic Coulson, Ed Vandever (trumpet), Leo Parker, Leonard Lowrey (altsax), Coleman Hawkins, Don Byas, Ray Abrams (tenorsax), Budd Johnson (tenorsax and/or bariton sax), Clyde Hart (piano), Oscar Pettiford (bass), Max Roach (drums)
NYC, 16 and 22 February 1944
# 4. Rainbow Mist (Coleman Hawkins) (2:55) (22 02 1944)
# 5. Yesterdays (Jerome Kern) (2:53) (16 02 1944)
# 6. Feeling Zero Coleman Hawkins) (2:55) (22 02 1944)
# 7. Woody’N You (Dizzy Gillespie) (2:57) (16 02 1944)
# 8. Bu Dee Daht (Budd Johnson-Clyde Hart) (3:10) (16 02 1944)
# 9. Disorder at the Border (Coleman Hawkins) (2:54) (22 02 1944)
The Emmett Berry Five
Emmett Berry (trumpet), Don Byas (tenorsax), Dave Rivera (piano), Milt Hinton (bass), J.C.Heard (drums)
NYC, 31 August 1944
# 10. Sweet and Lovely (Arnheim-Daniels-Tobias) (2:57)
# 11. White Rose Kick (Don Byas) (2:29)
# 12. Deep Blue Dream (D.Rivera-L.Troob) (3:00)
# 13. Byas’d Opinions (Don Byas) (2:36)
# 14. Deep Blue Dream (Rivera-Troob) (alternate take) (3:00)
SOURCES
# 1.: Coleman Hawkins/A Retrospective: 1929-1963; 2 CD Set, Bluebird (1995)
# 2.: Dexter Gordon with Junior Mance at Montreux; Prestige CD
# 3.: Dexter Gordon: The Panther; Prestige CD
# 4 — # 9: Coleman Hawkins: Rainbow Mist; Delmark CD (Apollo Series) (1992)
# 10 — # 14: Classic Don Byas Sessions 1944—1946: Mosaic 10 CD Box (2023)
