Love love love Jaki, one of my all-time favorites. I've written a little bit about him and how some pianists could learn from him or have some unintentional or unconscious influences. Never saw him, would certainly be something like a desert island genie lamp wish for me. Just an incredible player, all around.
Fortunate enough to have mind blown by seeing Jaki here in Sydney & when visiting NY. He won’t be forgotten by anyone who ever saw him. FWIW after seeing Sullivan Fortner last year, it reminded me of Jaki’s joyous spirit, prodigious technique & NOLA/stride sources.
I studied arranging with Jaki when I was at Hartt. Then later in NY I played with his big band the Apollo Stompers, we had a regular gig at the Jazz Cultural Theater. He used to play a tenor solo in the middle of the gig....he had a unique concept on the horn. Love this rendition of him and Rahsaan on Memories of You....complete with circular breathing! Thanks Allen!
you were so lucky. Did you know Nelson Bogart the trumpet player? He was in Jaki's big band in Boston. He now lives in Connecticut. And yes, Jaki's sax playing was unique; at Bradley's he used to put his horn on top of the piano and play it occasionally. Tommy Flanagan said to me "You know, he's got a beginner's tone but he's completely original." I thought that, now and then, I could hear some Lester Young in Jaki's playing.
I didn't know Nelson. It's funny how some chord instrument players still have a hankering to play a wind instrument. There are just things you can do on a wind instrument that you can't do on piano or guitar. It's a breath thing.
Great piece, Allen. I love Jaki Byard. I first heard him on Booker Ervin records when I was a teenager and gradually built up my collection of his own beautiful and singular records. Whenever I hear him, I think, This is exactly what I want. I envy you seeing him perform. Someday here I want to write about his interpretations of contemporary pop tunes (Stevie Wonder, Bobbie Gentry, Petula Clark).
Nice article, although is he really that forgotten? Not the first name that the kids learn but hardly obscure. For anyone just getting into him I also strongly recommend the series of Live! quartet records he did with Joe Farrell, George Tucker and Alan Dawson. Some serious ideas wrapped up in some serious soul.
I hope you are correct, but I rarely see or hear his name these days. And yes, I love those Lennie's on the Turnpike (I think that's where they were made) recordings.
Fantastic analysis, memories and writing on a singular musician. Jaki’s recordings and the memories of his live performances (I saw him in contexts from solo piano on up to big band) have brought me so much joy since I first heard him on Mingus At Monterey.
Love love love Jaki, one of my all-time favorites. I've written a little bit about him and how some pianists could learn from him or have some unintentional or unconscious influences. Never saw him, would certainly be something like a desert island genie lamp wish for me. Just an incredible player, all around.
There is a Danish pianist - Jeppe Zeeberg - who is the only who I have ever seen capture the spirit of Jaki's playing.
All too rare. I’ll have to look back at notes to see who I was thinking of.
Fortunate enough to have mind blown by seeing Jaki here in Sydney & when visiting NY. He won’t be forgotten by anyone who ever saw him. FWIW after seeing Sullivan Fortner last year, it reminded me of Jaki’s joyous spirit, prodigious technique & NOLA/stride sources.
I studied arranging with Jaki when I was at Hartt. Then later in NY I played with his big band the Apollo Stompers, we had a regular gig at the Jazz Cultural Theater. He used to play a tenor solo in the middle of the gig....he had a unique concept on the horn. Love this rendition of him and Rahsaan on Memories of You....complete with circular breathing! Thanks Allen!
you were so lucky. Did you know Nelson Bogart the trumpet player? He was in Jaki's big band in Boston. He now lives in Connecticut. And yes, Jaki's sax playing was unique; at Bradley's he used to put his horn on top of the piano and play it occasionally. Tommy Flanagan said to me "You know, he's got a beginner's tone but he's completely original." I thought that, now and then, I could hear some Lester Young in Jaki's playing.
I didn't know Nelson. It's funny how some chord instrument players still have a hankering to play a wind instrument. There are just things you can do on a wind instrument that you can't do on piano or guitar. It's a breath thing.
"you are one of the guys who really understands"
You drill down through the layers. Thanks for the riches.
Great piece, Allen. I love Jaki Byard. I first heard him on Booker Ervin records when I was a teenager and gradually built up my collection of his own beautiful and singular records. Whenever I hear him, I think, This is exactly what I want. I envy you seeing him perform. Someday here I want to write about his interpretations of contemporary pop tunes (Stevie Wonder, Bobbie Gentry, Petula Clark).
Funny, I remember hearing his versions of In the Land of Make Believe, I Know a Place (which he recorded solo) and Ode to Billie Jo.
Jaki’s Ode To Billie Joe blows me away every time I hear it
Nice article, although is he really that forgotten? Not the first name that the kids learn but hardly obscure. For anyone just getting into him I also strongly recommend the series of Live! quartet records he did with Joe Farrell, George Tucker and Alan Dawson. Some serious ideas wrapped up in some serious soul.
I hope you are correct, but I rarely see or hear his name these days. And yes, I love those Lennie's on the Turnpike (I think that's where they were made) recordings.
Fantastic analysis, memories and writing on a singular musician. Jaki’s recordings and the memories of his live performances (I saw him in contexts from solo piano on up to big band) have brought me so much joy since I first heard him on Mingus At Monterey.