DON BYAS - Laura (2000) Jazz In Paris 21 / RM / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Don Byas was a giant of the tenor sax, though his accomplishments were all but overlooked in his native land once he moved to Europe for good. This CD from Universal Music's Jazz in Paris series compiles three separate studio sessions from the early '50s, all with different rhythm sections. Most of the tracks are standard ballads, featuring the leader throughout. His expressive take of "Laura" shows off a big tone with a bit of vibrato much like Ben Webster in his later years. The one original is his snappy "Riviera Blues," a lively number likely improvised on the spot. Had he remained in the U.S., it is possible that Don Byas might have been ranked along with Coleman Hawkins, Lester Young, and Ben Webster in the top echelon of tenor saxophonists, so anyone unfamiliar with his work should seek out this very affordable collection. by Ken Dryden
Tracklist :
1     Summertime 2:50
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin / DuBose Heyward
2     Night and Day 2:36
Cole Porter
3     Easy to Love 2:58
Cole Porter
4     Where or When 2:38
Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers
5     Flamingo 2:58
Edmund Anderson / Ted Grouya
6     Stardust 3:19
Hoagy Carmichael / Mitchell Parish
7     Ol' Man River 2:50
Oscar Hammerstein II / Jerome Kern
8     Man I Love 2:45
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
9     Georgia on My Mind 2:54
Hoagy Carmichael / Stuart Gorrell
10     Over the Rainbow 2:51
Harold Arlen / E.Y. "Yip" Harburg
11     Laura 4:16
Johnny Mercer / David Raksin
12     Somebody Loves Me 2:53
Buddy DeSylva / George Gershwin / Ballard MacDonald
13     Old Folks at Home 3:19
Stephen Foster
14     Riviera Blues (Blues à la Don) 2:39
Don Byas
15     Smoke Gets in Your Eyes 2:57
Otto Harbach / Jerome Kern
16     I Cover the Waterfront 4:07
Johnny Green / Edward Heyman
17     It's the Talk of the Town 3:27
Jerry Livingston / Al J. Neiburg / Marty Symes
18     Pretty Girl Is Like a Melody 2:56
Irving Berlin
Credits :
Double Bass – Jacques "Popof" Medvedko (faixas: 2 to 4, 8 to 10), Joe Benjamin (faixas: 11 to 16), Roger Grasset (faixas: 1, 5 to 7, 18)
Drums – Benny Bennett (faixas: 2 to 4, 8 to 10), Bill Clark (faixas: 11 to 16), Claude Marty (faixas: 1,5 to 7,18)
Guitar – Jean-Jacques Tilché (faixas: 1, 5 to 7, 18), Jean-Pierre Sasson (faixas: 2 to 4, 8 to 10)
Piano – Art Simmons (faixas: 1, 5 to 7, 11 to 16, 18), Maurice Vander (faixas: 2 to 4, 8 to 10)
Tenor Saxophone – Don Byas
Nota :
Recording dates and locations:
4 juillet 1950, studio Pathé Pelouze, Paris (Tracks 1, 5-7, 18).
19 avril 1951, studio Pathé Pelouze, Paris (Tracks 2-4, 8-10).
10 avril 1952, studio Pathé Pelouze, Paris (Tracks 11-16).