The Chris Byars Discography
by Noal Cohen
Page generated on May 10, 2023
1989 1993 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Note: For conventions and abbreviations used in this discography, please see: Discography Key.
Note: As of March 15, 2019, most digital download issues will no longer be displayed. This decision was made because of the ephemeral nature of these issues, sometimes deficient audio quality and legitimacy questions.
Date: April 28, 1989
Location: Crossroads Recording Ltd., New York City
Label: GM
Manhattan School of Music Jazz Ensemble performs Richard Peaslee's Chicago Concerto
Manhattan School of Music Jazz Ensemble (ldr), Mike Christianson, Tony Kadleck, Spencer MacLeish, Dave Spier, David Zalud (t), Steve Armour, Bruce Eidem, Pat Halloran, Steve Kauffman, Andy Williams (tb), Alex McCabe (as), Chris Byars, Tim Hagarty, Bob Sands (ts), Gary Smulyan, Alex Stewart (bar), Jesse Levy, Jackie Miller, Tom Mueller (vc), Rez Abbasi (g), Sean Smith (b), Gregory Hutchinson (d), Dick Lowenthal (con)
| a. | Chicago Concerto: Opener(Richard Peaslee) / arr: Richard Peaslee - 4:04 | |
| b. | Chicago Concerto: Ballad(Richard Peaslee) / arr: Richard Peaslee - 4:51 | |
| c. | Chicago Concerto: Blues(Richard Peaslee) / arr: Richard Peaslee - 5:22 | |
| d. | Chicago Concerto: Denoument(Richard Peaslee) / arr: Richard Peaslee - 4:19 |
| All titles on: |
GM CD3017 — Virtuosity: A Contemporary Look (1991)
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Gary Smulyan is guest soloist.
Neither Chris Byars nor the Manhattan School of Music Jazz Ensemble are present on any of the other tracks on the CD.
Date: February 1993
Location: Santiago, Chile
Label: Alerce (Chile)
Mark Elf Trio and guests
Mark Elf (ldr), Christian Cuturrufo, Daniel Lencina (t), Tim Newman (tb), Chris Byars (ts), Mark Elf (g), Ramon Romero (b), Alejandro Espinosa (d)
| a. | Sweet and Lovely(Gus Arnheim, Harry Tobias, Charles N. Daniels [Neil Moret]) / arr: Chris Byars - 8:40 |
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Alerce (Chile) CDCDAE 0174 — Mark Elf Trio (1994)
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a - Christian Cuturrufo (t) 2-bar break + 32 bars; Tim Newman (tb) 32 bars; Daniel Lencina (t) 32 bars; Chris Byars (ts) 32 bars; Mark Elf (g) 64 bars
Chris Byars does not appear on any of the other tracks on the CD.
Byars provided the order of the trumpet soloists and commented as follows (email November 2021): “Daniel [Lencina] was a much more experienced player by about 40 years, Cutu [Cuturuffo] was a young upstart. Cutu recently died from Covid, in his mid-40s. Daniel I believe made it to his late 70s. Daniel played a Dizzy [Gillespie] trumpet model with the bell pointed upward. Both were tremendous talents.”
Date: June 15, 1995
Location: RPM Studios (Max Bolleman, eng.), New York City
Label: Criss Cross (Du.)
Grant Stewart Quartet and guests
Grant Stewart (ldr), Chris Byars, Jay Collins, Grant Stewart (ts), Peter Bernstein (g), Peter Washington (b), Billy Drummond (d)
| a. | Nica's Tempo(Gigi Gryce) - 6:38 | |
| b. | I Should Care(Paul Weston, Sammy Cahn, Axel Stordahl) - 8:40 | |
| c. | You Go to My Head(J. Fred Coots, Haven Gillespie) - 7:19 | |
| d. | Rabbitron(Johnny Ellis) - 7:24 | |
| e. | All Through the Night(Cole Porter) - 6:43 | |
| f. | You Sweet and Fancy Lady(Barry Harris) - 8:02 | |
| g. | Manhattan Bridge(Grant Stewart) - 6:45 | |
| h. | Pie Eye's Blues(Duke Ellington) - 7:12 |
| All titles on: |
Criss Cross (Du.) CD1124 — More Urban Tones (1996)
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Chris Byars (ts) on g; Jay Collins (ts) on g.
g - Grant Stewart (ts) 32 bars; Peter Bernstein (g) 16 bars; Peter Bernstein (g) coda to fadeout
Date: August 29, 1996
Location: Clinton Recording Studio, New York City
Label: RHG Music
Ronnie Gesser with Big Band
Ronnie Gesser (ldr), Greg Gisbert, Jim Hynes, Randy Reinhart (t), Mike Christianson, Tim Sessions, Harvey Tibbs (tb), Dan Block (as, f), Andy Fusco (as), Jack Bashkow (ts, cl), Chris Byars (ts, con), Joel Frahm (ts), Scott Robinson (bar), Dave Ellson (vib), Larry Ham (p), Dennis Irwin (b), Victor Jones (d), Ronnie Gesser (v)
| a. | Throw Caution to the Wind(Ronald H. Gesser) / arr: Chris Byars, Ronnie Gesser - 3:00 | |
| b. | Just One Look(Ronald H. Gesser) / arr: Chris Byars, Ronnie Gesser - 2:32 | |
| c. | Love Me or Leave Me(Ronald H. Gesser) / arr: Chris Byars, Ronnie Gesser - 2:15 | |
| d. | If I Could See the World Through Your Eyes(Ronald H. Gesser) / arr: Chris Byars, Ronnie Gesser - 2:08 |
| All titles on: |
RHG Music CDunnumbered — Throw Caution To The Wind (2008)
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Dan Block (f) on d; Dave Ellson (vib) on c.
There is a brief trumpet solo on on track b but no other instrumental solos on any of the tracks.
Date: September 3, 1996
Location: RPM Studios, New York City
Label: RHG Music
Ronnie Gesser Sings with small groups
Ronnie Gesser (ldr), Chris Byars (ts), Larry Ham (p), Dennis Irwin (b), Victor Jones (d), Ronnie Gesser (v)
| a. | Prisoner of Love(Ronald H. Gesser) - 6:00 | |
| b. | Savannah(Ronald H. Gesser) - 4:09 | |
| c. | Half a Truth(Ronald H. Gesser, David Cantor) - 3:08 | |
| d. | I've Got Her Just Where She Wants Me(Ronald H. Gesser) - 3:50 | |
| e. | Will My Heart Ever Know Love Again(Ronald H. Gesser) - 3:42 |
| All titles on: |
RHG Music CDunnumbered — Throw Caution To The Wind (2008)
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Chris Byars (ts) on a-c.
There are brief tenor saxophone solos and obbligati on tracks a-c. Byars says that he is present on tracks a-b and someone else (Joel Frahm or Jack Bashkow) on track c.
Date: July 3-6, 1997
Location: Smalls (David Baker, Eng.), New York City
Label: Impulse!
Across 7th Street Septet at Smalls
Across 7th Street (ldr), Joe Magnarelli (t), John Mosca (tb), Zaid Nasser (as), Chris Byars (ts), Sacha Perry (p), Ari Roland (b), Jimmy Lovelace (d)
| a. | The Kettle Is Whistling(Chris Byars) - 5:27 |
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Impulse! CDIMPD 245 — Jazz Underground: Live At Smalls (1998)
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a - Joe Magnarelli (t) 64 bars (2 choruses); John Mosca (tb) 64 bars (2 choruses); Jimmy Lovelace (d) 32 bars (1 chorus)
Chris Byars is only present on 2 tracks of this compilation. See also the following session.
Date: July 3-6, 1997
Location: Smalls (David Baker, Eng.(, New York City
Label: Impulse!
Frank Hewitt Sextet at Smalls
Frank Hewitt (ldr), Joe Magnarelli (t), Zaid Nasser (as), Chris Byars (ts), Frank Hewitt (p), Ari Roland (b), Jimmy Lovelace (d)
| a. | Prince Albert(Kenny Dorham) - 5:17 |
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Impulse! CDIMPD 245 — Jazz Underground: Live At Smalls (1998)
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a - Chris Byars (ts) 2-bar break + 36 bars (1 chorus); Joe Magnarelli (t) 36 bars (1 chorus); Zaid Nasser (as) 36 bars (1 chorus); Frank Hewitt (p) 36 bars (1 chorus)
Chris Byars is only present on 2 tracks of this compilation. See also the preceding session.
Date: 1998
Location: LBTV Studios (Joe Berger, Eng.), New York City
Label: LBTV Music
Jonny Abeles and Tentet
Jonny Abeles (ldr), Peter Olstad, Richie Vitale (t), Dan Levine (tb, con), Tim Ries (as, f), Chris Byars (ts, f), Dan Block (bar, f), Richard Boukas (g), Tardo Hammer (p), Neal Miner (b), John Arnold (d), Jonny Abeles (v)
| a. | The Best Thing for You(Irving Berlin) / arr: Dan Levine - 3:32 | |
| b. | What Is There to Say?(Vernon Duke, E. Y. Harburg) / arr: Dan Levine - 3:49 | |
| c. | Day by Day(Paul Weston, Axel Stordahl, Sammy Cahn) / arr: Dan Levine - 3:09 | |
| d. | You Leave Me Breathless(Frederick Hollaender, Ralph Freed) / arr: Dan Levine - 2:20 | |
| e. | Love Turns Winter to Spring(Matt Dennis, Frank Killduff) / arr: Dan Levine - 4:48 | |
| f. | Alone Together(Arthur Schwartz, Howard Dietz) / arr: Dan Levine - 2:14 | |
| g. | Beggars Can't Be Choosers(Lawrence Kleber) / arr: Dan Levine - 4:51 |
| All titles on: |
LBTV Music CD970928 — Always (1998)
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a - Jonny Abeles (v) intro; Jonny Abeles (v); Jonny Abeles (v)
b - Jonny Abeles (v)
c - Jonny Abeles (v); Richie Vitale (t) 8 bars; Richie Vitale (t) 12 bars; Jonny Abeles (v)
d - Jonny Abeles (v); Jonny Abeles (v)
e - Jonny Abeles (v); Jonny Abeles (v) with trumpet obbligato
f - Jonny Abeles (v); Tardo Hammer (p) 44 bars; Jonny Abeles (v) with trumpet obbligato
g - Jonny Abeles (v); Jonny Abeles (v)
The recording date is not provided on the CD.
Date: 1998
Location: LBTV Studios (Joe Berger, Eng.), New York City
Label: LBTV Music
Jonny Abeles and Tentet
Jonny Abeles (ldr), Jim Hynes, Richie Vitale (t), Dan Levine (tb, con), Tim Ries (as, f), Chris Byars (ts, f), Dan Block (bar, f), Ron Affif (g), Tardo Hammer (p), Neal Miner (b), John Arnold (d), Jonny Abeles (v)
| a. | Dancing on the Ceiling(Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart) / arr: Dan Levine - 2:49 | |
| b. | East of the Sun(Brooks Bowman) / arr: Dan Levine - 3:07 | |
| c. | The More I See You(Harry Warren, Mack Gordon) / arr: Dan Levine - 3:34 | |
| d. | Lullaby of Birdland(George Shearing, George David Weiss) / arr: Dan Levine - 2:39 | |
| e. | Always(Irving Berlin) / arr: Dan Levine - 2:40 | |
| f. | You're My Greatest Love ("Honeymooners" theme)(Jackie Gleason, Bill Templeton) / arr: Dan Levine - 3:21 |
| All titles on: |
LBTV Music CD970928 — Always (1998)
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a - Jonny Abeles (v)
b - Jonny Abeles (v); Chris Byars (ts) 8 bars; Chris Byars (ts) 4 bars; Jonny Abeles (v)
c - Jonny Abeles (v); Tim Ries (as) 8 bars; Jonny Abeles (v)
d - Jonny Abeles (v); Ron Affif (g) 4 bars; Ron Affif (g) 6 bars; Jonny Abeles (v)
e - Jonny Abeles (v) in 3/4; Dan Levine (tb) 32 bars in 3/4; Jonny Abeles (v) in 3/4
f - Jonny Abeles (v) with trumpet obbligato; Jonny Abeles (v)
The recording date is not provided on the CD.
Date: August 21, 1999
Location: Smalls, New York City
Label: Smalls Records
Frank Hewitt Quintet
Frank Hewitt (ldr), Mike Mullins (as), Chris Byars (ts), Frank Hewitt (p), Ari Roland (b), Jimmy Lovelace (d)
| a. | inc | Lullaby in Rhythm(Benny Goodman, Edgar Sampson, Walter Hirsch, Clarence Profit) - 14:54 |
| b. | Blue Gardenia(Lester Lee, Sidney Keith 'Bob' Russell) - 14:22 | |
| c. | Oblivion(Bud Powell) - 13:25 | |
| d. | Manteca(Dizzy Gillespie, Walter 'Gil' Fuller, Chano Pozo) - 16:49 |
| All titles on: |
Smalls Records CDSRCD 0010 — Four Hundred Saturdays (2005)
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a - Frank Hewitt (p) solo intro in progress; Chris Byars (ts) 96 bars (3 choruses); Mike Mullins (as) 128 bars (4 choruses); Frank Hewitt (p) 192 bars (6 choruses); Ari Roland (b) 128 bars (4 choruses) arco; Jimmy Lovelace (d) 128 bars (4 choruses)
b - Mike Mullins (as) 32 bars (1 chorus); Chris Byars (ts) 32 bars (1 chorus); Frank Hewitt (p) 64 bars (2 choruses); Ari Roland (b) 24 bars arco; Mike Mullins (as) cadenza
c - Frank Hewitt (p) 8-bar intro; Chris Byars (ts) 160 bars (5 choruses); Mike Mullins (as) 160 bars (5 choruses); Frank Hewitt (p) 352 bars (11 choruses); Ari Roland (b) 160 bras (5 choruses) arco; Jimmy Lovelace (d) 96 bras (3 choruses)
d - Frank Hewitt (p) 200 bars; Mike Mullins (as) 160 bars; Chris Byars (ts) 120 bars; Ari Roland (b) 80 bars arco; Jimmy Lovelace (d) 128 bars
Date: August 2-4, 2000
Location: Organic Music (Stephan von Wylick, eng.), Obing, Germany
Label: Organic Music (Ger.)
John Marshall Quintet
John Marshall (ldr), John Marshall (t, fh), Ferdinand Povel (ts), Tardo Hammer (p), John Goldsby (b), Doug Sides (d)
| a. | With a Song in My Heart(Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart) - 5:48 | |
| b. | Doggie Boy(Tardo Hammer) / arr: Chris Byars - 5:46 | |
| c. | Ballad for Very Tired and Sad Lotus Eaters(Billy Strayhorn) - 7:07 | |
| d. | Theme of No Repeat(Tadd Dameron) / arr: Chris Byars - 4:38 | |
| e. | Una Mas (One More Time)(Kenny Dorham) - 5:55 | |
| f. | That's Earl Brother(Dizzy Gillespie, Ray Brown, Walter 'Gil' Fuller) - 5:06 | |
| g. | Philly J. J.(Tadd Dameron) / arr: Chris Byars - 6:33 | |
| h. | The Scene Is Clean(Tadd Dameron) - 8:39 | |
| i. | So in Love(Cole Porter) / arr: Chris Byars - 5:08 | |
| j. | I Can Dream, Can't I(Sammy Fain, Irving Kahal) - 6:33 | |
| k. | Sweet and Lovely(Gus Arnheim, Harry Tobias, Charles N. Daniels [Neil Moret]) - 5:14 |
| All titles on: |
Organic Music (Ger.) CDORGM 9719 — Theme Of No Repeat (2000)
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Chris Byars does not play on this album. He arranged tracks b, d, g and i.
Date: December 20, 2001 and February 27, 2002
Location: Avatar Sound Studios, New York City
Label: Smalls Records
Sasha Dobson with the Chris Byars Octet
Chris Byars, Sasha Dobson (ldr), Richie Vitale (t, fh), John Mosca (tb), Gary Pribek (as, f), Chris Byars (ts, cl, f, con), Mark Lopeman (bar, cl), Sacha Perry (p), Neal Miner (b), Andy Watson (d), Sasha Dobson (v)
| a. | Who Will Buy?(Lionel Bart) / arr: Chris Byars
- 5:31 [private recording] CDunnumbered — The Real Underground (2002)
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| b. | You Go to My Head(J. Fred Coots, Haven Gillespie) / arr: Chris Byars
- 3:29 [private recording] CDunnumbered — The Real Underground (2002)
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| c. | Goodbye(Gordon Jenkins) / arr: Chris Byars
- 3:45 [private recording] CDunnumbered — The Real Underground (2002)
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| d. | Corcovado (Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars)(Antonio Carlos Jobim, Gene Lees) / arr: Chris Byars
- 3:48 [private recording] CDunnumbered — The Real Underground (2002)
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| e. | What Is This Thing Called Love?(Cole Porter) / arr: Chris Byars
- 3:33 [private recording] CDunnumbered — The Real Underground (2002)
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| f. | I Guess I'll Hang My Tears out to Dry(Jule Styne, Sammy Cahn) / arr: Chris Byars - 3:52 | |
| g. | Detour Ahead(Herb Ellis, Lou Carter, John Frigo) / arr: Chris Byars - 5:09 | |
| h. | I'm Beginning to See the Light(Duke Ellington, Harry James, Don George, Johnny Hodges) / arr: Chris Byars
- 2:48 [private recording] CDunnumbered — The Real Underground (2002)
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| i. | Sophisticated Lady(Duke Ellington, Mitchell Parish, Irving Mills) / arr: Chris Byars - 4:11 | |
| j. | I'll Get By(Fred E. Ahlert, Roy Turk) / arr: Chris Byars - 2:25 | |
| k. | If You Could See Me Now(Tadd Dameron, Carl Sigman) / arr: Chris Byars - 3:17 | |
| l. | April in Paris(Vernon Duke, E. Y. Harburg) / arr: Chris Byars - 3:22 | |
| m. | The Song Is You(Jerome Kern, Oscar Hammerstein II) / arr: Chris Byars - 3:44 |
| All titles on: |
Smalls Records CDSRCD 0005 — The Darkling Thrush (2004)
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a - Andy Watson (d) intro; Sasha Dobson (v); Richie Vitale (t) 25 bars; Sacha Perry (p) 16 bars; Sasha Dobson (v) with trumpet obbligato to fadeout
b - Sasha Dobson (v); Chris Byars (ts) 16 bars; Sasha Dobson (v) entering at bridge
c - Sasha Dobson (v)
d - Sasha Dobson (v); Richie Vitale (fh) 34 bars; Sasha Dobson (v)
e - Sasha Dobson (v); Sasha Dobson (v) 64 bars scatting; Richie Vitale (t) 4 bars; John Mosca (tb) 4 bars; Gary Pribek (as) 4 bars; Chris Byars (ts) 4 bars; Mark Lopeman (bar) 4 bars; Andy Watson (d) 32 bars; Sasha Dobson (v)
f - Sasha Dobson (v)
g - Sasha Dobson (v); Sasha Dobson (v) entering at bridge
i - Sasha Dobson (v); Sasha Dobson (v) 32 bars scatting; Mark Lopeman (bar) 4 bars; Sasha Dobson (v) with trumpet obbligato
j - Sasha Dobson (v); Sasha Dobson (v)
k - Sasha Dobson (v)
l - Sasha Dobson (v); John Mosca (tb) 16 bars; Sasha Dobson (v)
m - Sasha Dobson (v) 16 bars scatting; Sasha Dobson (v) with trumpet obbligato; Gary Pribek (as) 32 bars; Mark Lopeman (bar) 16 bars entering at bridge; Gary Pribek (as) 16 bars; Sasha Dobson (v) 32 bars scatting 4-bar exchanges with baritone and alto saxophones; Sasha Dobson (v) entering at bridge
The Real Underground is a privately produced promotional CD with limited distribution.
Date: December 28, 2001 & February 26, 2002
Location: Avatar Studios, New York City
Label: Smalls Records
Chris Byars Octet
Chris Byars (ldr), Richie Vitale (t, fh), John Mosca (tb), Gary Pribek (as, f), Chris Byars (ts, cl, f), Mark Lopeman (bar), Sacha Perry (p), Neal Miner (b), Andy Watson (d)
| a. | All or Nothing at All(Arthur Altman, Jack Lawrence) / arr: Chris Byars - 5:02 | |
| b. | The Inevitable(Chris Byars) / arr: Chris Byars
- 4:50 [private recording] CDunnumbered — The Real Underground (2002)
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| c. | Gnid(Tadd Dameron) / arr: Chris Byars
- 5:11 [private recording] CDunnumbered — The Real Underground (2002)
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| d. | Manhattan Valley(Chris Byars) / arr: Chris Byars
- 4:25 [private recording] CDunnumbered — The Real Underground (2002)
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| e. | In Da Funhouse(Sacha Perry) / arr: Chris Byars - 6:37 | |
| f. | Blue Gardenia(Lester Lee, Sidney Keith 'Bob' Russell) / arr: Chris Byars
- 5:11 [private recording] CDunnumbered — The Real Underground (2002)
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| g. | Night Owls(Neal Miner) / arr: Chris Byars
- 4:41 [private recording] CDunnumbered — The Real Underground (2002)
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| h. | The Way You Look Tonight(Jerome Kern, Dorothy Fields) / arr: Chris Byars - 3:08 | |
| i. | Nancy (With the Laughing Face)(Jimmy Van Heusen, Phil Silvers) / arr: Chris Byars - 4:01 | |
| j. | Conception(George Shearing) / arr: Chris Byars
- 4:50 [private recording] CDunnumbered — The Real Underground (2002)
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| k. | Village Beauty(Richie Vitale) / arr: Richie Vitale
- 5:37 [private recording] CDunnumbered — The Real Underground (2002)
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| l. | Let's Kiss and Make Up(George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin) / arr: Chris Byars - 5:18 |
| All titles on: |
Smalls Records CDSRCD-0013 — Night Owls (2006)
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a - Chris Byars (ts) 4-bar break + 128 bars; Mark Lopeman (bar) 64 bars; Andy Watson (d) 8 bars; Andy Watson (d) 4 bars; Andy Watson (d) 2 bars
b - Chris Byars (ts) 32 bars; Neal Miner (b) 16 bars
c - Chris Byars (ts) 2-bar break + 40 bars; John Mosca (tb) 40 bars
d - John Mosca (tb) 60 bars; Richie Vitale (t) 60 bars; Andy Watson (d) breaks
e - Mark Lopeman (bar) 72 bars; John Mosca (tb) 72 bars; Sacha Perry (p) 72 bars
f - Sacha Perry (p) 64 bars
g - Neal Miner (b) 2-bar break + 64 bars; Mark Lopeman (bar) 62 bars
h - Richie Vitale (t) 2-bar break + 16 bars; Gary Pribek (as) 16 bars; Mark Lopeman (bar) 16 bars; John Mosca (tb) 20 bars; Chris Byars (ts) 16 bars; Sacha Perry (p) 16 bars; Neal Miner (b) 16 bars bridge walking; Andy Watson (d) 20 bars; Andy Watson (d) 16 bars
i - John Mosca (tb) 30 bars and cadenza
j - Gary Pribek (as) 8 bars; Gary Pribek (as) 8 bars; Gary Pribek (as) 6 bars; Gary Pribek (as) 52 bars; Sacha Perry (p) 44 bars; Chris Byars (ts) 44 bars
k - Richie Vitale (t) 99 bars; Chris Byars (ts) 69 bars
l - Chris Byars (ts) 72 bars; Richie Vitale (fh) 72 bars; Gary Pribek (as) 72 bars; Andy Watson (d) 36 bars
The timings of tracks f and i are transposed on the Smalls CD.
The Real Underground is a privately produced promotional CD with limited distribution.
Date: May 16, 2002
Location: The Studio, New York City
Label: Smalls Records
Across 7th Street Quintet
Across 7th Street (ldr), John Mosca (tb), Chris Byars (ts), Sacha Perry (p), Ari Roland (b), Danny Rosenfeld (d)
| a. | You Think So!(Sacha Perry) - 4:40 | |
| b. | Having Tea with Swamp Thing(Ari Roland) - 5:19 | |
| c. | Apollo 7(Chris Byars) - 4:04 | |
| d. | St. Francis' Dimes(Ari Roland) - 5:48 | |
| e. | Sundial(Chris Byars) - 4:56 | |
| f. | We'll See(Ari Roland) - 4:51 | |
| g. | Back in the Cosmos(Chris Byars) - 6:52 | |
| h. | One for D.T.(Ari Roland) - 7:03 | |
| i. | Need I Say More?(Sacha Perry) - 4:18 | |
| j. | Eleven Later(Ari Roland) - 4:05 | |
| k. | Adriatic Sea(Chris Byars) - 4:57 | |
| l. | Once(Ari Roland) - 5:27 |
| All titles on: |
Smalls Records CDSRCD 0002 — Made In New York (2004)
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a - Danny Rosenfeld (d) 8-bar intro; Sacha Perry (p) 2-bar break + 32 bars; John Mosca (tb) 32 bars; Chris Byars (ts) 32 bars; Ari Roland (b) 32 bars arco; Danny Rosenfeld (d) 32 bars 8-bar exchanges with piano, trombone, tenor saxophone, arco bass
b - Chris Byars (ts) 26 bars; John Mosca (tb) 34 bars; Sacha Perry (p) 34 bars; Ari Roland (b) 32 bars arco
c - Chris Byars (ts) 16 bars; John Mosca (tb) 16 bars; Sacha Perry (p) 16 bars; Ari Roland (b) 16 bars arco
d - John Mosca (tb) 40 bars; Chris Byars (ts) 40 bars; Sacha Perry (p) 40 bars; Ari Roland (b) 40 bars arco; Danny Rosenfeld (d) 80 bars 12- and 8-bar exchanges with trombone, tenor saxophone, piano, arco bass; Chris Byars (ts) cadenza
e - Chris Byars (ts) 32 bars; John Mosca (tb) 32 bars; Sacha Perry (p) 32 bars; Ari Roland (b) 32 bars arco; Danny Rosenfeld (d) 16 bars
f - John Mosca (tb) 32 bars; Chris Byars (ts) 32 bars; Sacha Perry (p) 32 bars; Ari Roland (b) 32 bars arco; Danny Rosenfeld (d) 64 bars 8-bar exchanges with trombone, tenor saxophone, piano, arco bass
g - John Mosca (tb) 64 bars; Chris Byars (ts) 64 bars; Sacha Perry (p) 64 bars; Ari Roland (b) 84 bars arco; Danny Rosenfeld (d) 64 bars 8-bar exchanges with trombone, tenor saxophone, piano, arco bass
h - Chris Byars (ts) 64 bars; John Mosca (tb) 64 bars; Sacha Perry (p) 64 bars; Ari Roland (b) 64 bars arco; Danny Rosenfeld (d) 64 bars 8-bar exchanges with tenor saxophone, trombone, piano, arco bass; Danny Rosenfeld (d) 32 bars
i - Chris Byars (ts) 32 bars; John Mosca (tb) 32 bars; Sacha Perry (p) 32 bars; Ari Roland (b) 32 bars; Danny Rosenfeld (d) 32 bars 4-bar exchanges with tenor saxophone, trombone, piano, arco bass; Danny Rosenfeld (d) 32 bars
j - Chris Byars (ts) 24 bars; John Mosca (tb) 24 bars; Sacha Perry (p) 24 bars; Ari Roland (b) 24 bars arco; Danny Rosenfeld (d) 24 bars
k - Chris Byars (ts) 44 bars; John Mosca (tb) 44 bars; Sacha Perry (p) 44 bars; Ari Roland (b) 44 bars arco; Danny Rosenfeld (d) 32 bars 4-bar exchanges with tenor saxophone, trombone, piano, arco bass
l - John Mosca (tb) 8 bars; Chris Byars (ts) 8 bars; Sacha Perry (p) 8 bars; Ari Roland (b) 8 bars arco
Date: December 9 & 10, 2002
Location: Sean Swinney Recording, New York City
Label: Smalls Records
Neal Miner Sextet plays Neal Miner compositions
Neal Miner (ldr), Richie Vitale (t), John Mosca (tb), Chris Byars (ts, f), Steve Ash (p), Neal Miner (b), Tom Melito (d)
| a. | A Clever Air(Neal Miner) - 7:12 | |
| b. | Contemplations(Neal Miner) - 5:44 | |
| c. | The Evening Sound(Neal Miner) - 4:43 | |
| d. | Coffee Shop(Neal Miner) - 5:53 | |
| e. | Shades of Blue(Neal Miner) - 7:51 | |
| f. | Night Owls(Neal Miner) - 5:45 | |
| g. | Urban Lights(Neal Miner) - 5:58 | |
| h. | Willowmere(Neal Miner) - 6:26 | |
| i. | Black Beans(Neal Miner) - 6:16 | |
| j. | Blues for Red and Brown(Neal Miner) - 7:12 |
| All titles on: |
Smalls Records CDSRCD 0017 — The Evening Sound (2006)
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Chris Byars (f) on f-g, i-j.
a - John Mosca (tb) 2-bar break + 64 bars (2 choruses); Neal Miner (b) 32 bars (1 chorus); Tom Melito (d) 4 bars; Tom Melito (d) 12 bars; Tom Melito (d) 4 bars; Chris Byars (ts) 16 bars coda with Vitale and Mosca
b - Steve Ash (p) 32 bqrs (1 chorus); Chris Byars (ts) 96 bars (3 choruses); Richie Vitale (t) 8 bars; Richie Vitale (t) 72 bars; Tom Melito (d) 8 bars; Tom Melito (d) 8 bars
c - Steve Ash (p) 4-bar intro; Neal Miner (b) 16 bars; Richie Vitale (t) 8 bars bridge
d - Chris Byars (ts) 64 bars; Steve Ash (p) 40 bars; Tom Melito (d) 16 bars; Tom Melito (d) 16 bars
e - Richie Vitale (t) 64 bars (2 choruses); Neal Miner (b) 32 bars (1 chorus); Tom Melito (d) 12 bars; Tom Melito (d) 12 bars
f - Neal Miner (b) 2-bar break + 64 bars (2 choruses); John Mosca (tb) 64 bars (2 choruses); Steve Ash (p) 32 bars (1 chorus)
g - Chris Byars (ts) 80 bars (2 choruses) in 3/4; Steve Ash (p) 80 bars (2 choruses) in 3/4
h - Steve Ash (p) 16 bars; Neal Miner (b) 16 bars; Richie Vitale (t) 8 bars
i - Richie Vitale (t) 2-bar break + 82 bars; Chris Byars (f) 2-bar break + 82 bars; Tom Melito (d) 48 bars
j - Chris Byars (ts) 8 bars; Chris Byars (ts) 32 bars; Richie Vitale (t) 48 bars (4 choruses); John Mosca (tb) 48 bars (4 choruses); Steve Ash (p) 48 bars (4 choruses); Neal Miner (b) 72 bars (6 choruses); Tom Melito (d) 8 bars; Tom Melito (d) 8 bars
Date: ca. 2003
Location: New York City
Label: Sue Tucker
Sue Oatts (Tucker) accompanied by small ensembles
Sue Oatts (Tucker) (ldr), Joe Magnarelli (t), John Mosca (tb), Dick Oatts (ss, as, ts), Kent Saunders (g), Ted Rosenthal (p), Bob Jenkins (snt), Paul Gill (b), Andy Watson (d), Marc Anderson (per), Sue Oatts (Tucker) (v)
| a. | The Best Thing for You(Irving Berlin) - 3:54 | |
| b. | If You Don't See It Too(Susan R. Tucker) / arr: Bob Jenkins - 4:07 | |
| c. | May I Come In(Marvin Fisher, Jack Segal) / arr: Bob Jenkins - 5:08 | |
| d. | It Could Happen to You(Jimmy Van Heusen, Johnny Burke) / arr: Bob Jenkins - 3:50 | |
| e. | Like Someone in Love(Jimmy Van Heusen, Johnny Burke) / arr: Chris Byars - 2:29 | |
| f. | I'm Gonna Laugh You Right Out of My Life(Joseph McCarthy, Cy Coleman) / arr: Bob Jenkins - 2:48 | |
| g. | You Turned the Tables on Me(Louis Alter, Sidney Mitchell) / arr: Chris Byars - 2:37 | |
| h. | Long Ago and Far Away(Jerome Kern, Ira Gershwin) / arr: Chris Byars - 2:44 | |
| i. | Any Ol' Thing that You Like(Susan R. Tucker) / arr: Chris Byars - 2:42 | |
| j. | I'll Remember April(Gene DePaul, Don Raye, Patricia Johnston) / arr: Chris Byars, Bob Jenkins - 3:07 | |
| k. | The Gentleman Is a Dope(Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II) / arr: Chris Byars, Bob Jenkins - 4:10 |
| All titles on: |
Sue Tucker CDunnumbered — May I Come In (2003)
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Joe Magnarelli (t) on b, e, g-k; John Mosca (tb) on a, e, g-k; Dick Oatts (ss) on e, k, (as) on c, e, h-k, (ts) on d, g; Kent Saunders (g) on b, d-f, h-j; Bob Jenkins (snt) on b-d, f, j-k; Marc Anderson (per) on b, j.
a - Sue Oatts (Tucker) (v); John Mosca (tb) 36 bars (1 chorus); Ted Rosenthal (p) 36 bars (1 chorus); Sue Oatts (Tucker) (v)
b - Sue Oatts (Tucker) (v); Joe Magnarelli (t) 32 bars (1 chorus); Sue Oatts (Tucker) (v); Sue Oatts (Tucker) (v) coda with trumpet
c - Sue Oatts (Tucker) (v); Dick Oatts (as) 24 bars; Sue Oatts (Tucker) (v)
d - Ted Rosenthal (p) 4-bar intro; Sue Oatts (Tucker) (v); Dick Oatts (ts) 32 bars (1 chorus); Sue Oatts (Tucker) (v)
e - Kent Saunders (g) 8-bar intro; Sue Oatts (Tucker) (v); Dick Oatts (as) 16 bars; Sue Oatts (Tucker) (v)
f - Ted Rosenthal (p) 4-bar intro; Sue Oatts (Tucker) (v); Ted Rosenthal (p) 8 bars; Paul Gill (b) 8 bars; Sue Oatts (Tucker) (v)
g - Sue Oatts (Tucker) (v); John Mosca (tb) 8 bars; Joe Magnarelli (t) 8 bars; Sue Oatts (Tucker) (v)
h - Sue Oatts (Tucker) (v); Dick Oatts (as); Sue Oatts (Tucker) (v)
i - Paul Gill (b) 4-bar walking intro; Sue Oatts (Tucker) (v); Dick Oatts (as) 4 bars; Dick Oatts (as) 4 bars; Sue Oatts (Tucker) (v)
j - Sue Oatts (Tucker) (v); Ted Rosenthal (p) 32 bars; Dick Oatts (as) 32 bars; Sue Oatts (Tucker) (v)
k - Sue Oatts (Tucker) (v); Dick Oatts (as) 16 bars; Sue Oatts (Tucker) (v)
Sue Oatts, Sue Tucker and Susan R. Tucker are all the same person.
Date: April 2004
Location: Jon Rosenberg, Eng., New York City
Label: SteepleChase (Dan.)
Three Alto Saxophones & Rhythm
Kris Allen, Chris Byars, Loren Stillman (as), Andy Laverne (p), Steve LaSpina (b), Billy Drummond (d)
| a. | You Know How It Is(Chris Byars) - 6:19 | |
| b. | Apropos(Andy Laverne) - 8:54 | |
| c. | Easy Swing (Steeplechase)(Wardell Gray) - 7:52 | |
| d. | I Got It Bad and That Ain't Good(Duke Ellington, Paul Francis Webster) - 12:06 | |
| e. | You've Changed(Carl Fischer, Bill Carey) - 3:39 | |
| f. | Autumn Nocturne(Josef Myrow, Kim Gannon) - 3:50 | |
| g. | Prisoner of Love(Clarence Gaskill, Russ Columbo, Leo Robin) - 4:19 | |
| h. | Hydroponic(Andy Laverne) - 9:39 | |
| i. | Blues for Alice(Charlie Parker) - 10:33 |
| All titles on: |
SteepleChase (Dan.) CDSCCD 31581 — Jam Session Vol. 15 (2005)
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e, f, g performed as medley
a - Chris Byars (as) 2-bar break + 64 bars; Kris Allen (as) 64 bars; Loren Stillman (as) 64 bars
b - Steve LaSpina (b) 32 bars in 3/4; Andy Laverne (p) 64 bars in 3/4; Loren Stillman (as) 96 bars in 3/4; Chris Byars (as) 96 bars in 3/4; Kris Allen (as) 128 bars in 3/4
c - Billy Drummond (d) 8-bar intro; Andy Laverne (p) 8 bars bridge; Kris Allen (as) 96 bars; Chris Byars (as) 96 bars; Loren Stillman (as) 128 bars; Kris Allen (as) 160 bars 8- and 4-bar exchanges with Byars, Stallman; Andy Laverne (p) 8 bars bridge
d - Chris Byars (as) 88 bars; Kris Allen (as) 88 bars; Loren Stillman (as) 88 bars; Andy Laverne (p) 88 bars
e - Loren Stillman (as) 24 bars
f - Chris Byars (as) 26 bars
g - Kris Allen (as) 24 bars
h - Chris Byars (as) 108 bars; Loren Stillman (as) 108 bars; Kris Allen (as) 108 bars; Andy Laverne (p) 108 bars
i - Loren Stillman (as) 96 bars; Kris Allen (as) 180 bars; Chris Byars (as) 96 bars; Loren Stillman (as) 144 bars 12-bar exchanges with Drummond alternating with Allen and Byars; Chris Byars (as) 36 bars coda simultaneously with Stillman and Allen to fadeout
Track c is called “Steeplechase.”
Date: November 12-13, 2004
Location: Acoustic Recording Studio (Michel Brorby, Eng.), Brooklyn, NY
Label: M&I (Jap.)
Yukari Fujita Trio and Quartet with Chris Byars
Yukari Fujita (ldr), Chris Byars (f), Yukari Fujita (p), Ari Roland (b), Yoichi Kobayashi (d)
| a. | Sunflower(Henry Mancini) - 4:59 | |
| b. | Pavane Pour Une Infante Defunte (Pavane for a Dead Princess)(Maurice Ravel) - 6:42 | |
| c. | Lovely Eyes(Yukari Fujita) - 5:54 | |
| d. | I Will Wait for You(Michel LeGrand, Norman Gimbel, Jacques Demy) - 4:37 | |
| e. | Wishing You Were Here(Yukari Fujita) - 5:34 | |
| f. | My Memory(Park Joung Won) - 6:11 | |
| g. | Snow Flake(Yukari Fujita) - 3:57 | |
| h. | My Favorite Things(Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II) - 5:26 | |
| i. | Shining Summer(Yukari Fujita) - 6:29 | |
| j. | When I Fall in Love(Victor Young, Edward Heyman) - 2:14 |
| All titles on: |
M&I (Jap.) CDMYCJ 30331 — Lovely Eyes (2005)
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Chris Byars (f) on c, f, i; Ari Roland (b) on a-i; Yoichi Kobayashi (d) on a-i.
c - Yukari Fujita (p) 32 bars
f - Yukari Fujita (p) 16 bars; Chris Byars (f) 78 bars to fadeout at double tempo
i - Chris Byars (f) 8-bar intro; Yukari Fujita (p) 64 bars; Chris Byars (f) 32 bars
Track j is a piano solo.
Date: August 8-9, 2005
Location: Bennett Studios (Dave Kowalski, Eng.), Englewood, NJ
Label: Motéma Music
Amy London with Octet and Nonet
Amy London (ldr), Richie Vitale (t), John Mosca (tb), Dan Greenblatt (ss, ts), Chris Byars (as, ts, f), Roni Ben Hur (g), John Hicks (p), Rufus Reid (b), Leroy Williams (d), Steve Kroon (per), Amy London (v)
| a. | There's a Boat Dat's Leavin' Soon for New York(George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin, Dubose Heyward) / arr: Chris Byars - 4:49 | |
| b. | Wonderful, Wonderful(Sherman Edwards, Ben Raleigh) / arr: Chris Byars - 3:34 | |
| c. | Wouldn't You (vocal version of Woody'n You)(Dizzy Gillespie, Bob Dorough, Ray Passman) / arr: Chris Byars - 3:42 | |
| d. | Such Eyes, So Beautiful (vocal version of Eyes So Beautiful as Yours)(Elmo Hope, Amy London) / arr: Chris Byars - 4:09 | |
| e. | It Could Be So Nice (vocal version of So Nice, Trippin')(Elmo Hope, Amy London) / arr: Chris Byars - 4:07 | |
| f. | Swingin' the Blues(Count Basie, Ed Durham) / arr: Chris Byars - 3:15 | |
| g. | Lazy Susan(Laura Nyro) / arr: Chris Byars - 3:58 | |
| h. | Passarim(Antonio Carlos Jobim) - 3:51 |
| All titles on: |
Motéma Music CDMTM 00011 — When I look In Youe Eyes (2007)
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Richie Vitale (t) on a-g; John Mosca (tb) on a-g; Dan Greenblatt (ss) on a, h, (ts) on a; Chris Byars (as) on a-g, (ts) on a-g, (f) on b, g; Steve Kroon (per) on b-d, g-h.
a - Amy London (v); John Hicks (p) 16 bars; Rufus Reid (b) 20 bars; Roni Ben Hur (g) 16 bars; Amy London (v)
b - Amy London (v)
c - Amy London (v); Amy London (v) scatting; John Mosca (tb) 16 bars entering at bridge; John Hicks (p) 32 bars; Leroy Williams (d) 8 bars; Steve Kroon (per) 8 bars conga; Amy London (v)
d - Amy London (v)
e - Amy London (v); John Hicks (p) 32 bars; Roni Ben Hur (g) 24 bars; Amy London (v)
f - Amy London (v); Richie Vitale (t) 12 bars; Chris Byars (ts) 12 bars; Roni Ben Hur (g) 12 bars; Amy London (v)
g - Amy London (v) with trumpet obbligato
h - Amy London (v) with soprano sax obbligato
Date: August 8-9, 2005
Location: Bennett Studios (Dave Kowalski, Eng.), Englewood, NJ
Label: Motéma Music
Amy London with Octet and Nonet
Amy London (ldr), Richie Vitale (t), John Mosca (tb), Chris Byars, Dan Greenblatt (ts), Roni Ben Hur (g), Lee Musiker (p), Rufus Reid (b), Leroy Williams (d), Steve Kroon (per), Amy London (v)
| a. | Ohio(Betty Comden, Adolph Green, Leonard Bernstein) / arr: Lee Musiker - 1:55 | |
| b. | Any Place I Hang My Hat Is Home(Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer) / arr: Lee Musiker - 3:21 | |
| c. | When I Look in Your Eyes(Leslie Bricusse, Anthony Newley) / arr: Lee Musiker - 4:43 | |
| d. | With Every Breath I Take(Cy Coleman, David Zippel) / arr: Lee Musiker - 4:55 | |
| e. | The Best Is Yet To Come(Cy Coleman, Carolyn Leigh) / arr: Roni Ben Hur - 5:00 |
| All titles on: |
Motéma Music CDMTM 00011 — When I look In Youe Eyes (2007)
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a, b performed as medley
Richie Vitale (t) on a-b; John Mosca (tb) on a-b; Chris Byars (ts) on a-b; Dan Greenblatt (ts) on d; Steve Kroon (per) on c-d.
a - Amy London (v); Richie Vitale (t) 14 bars in 3/4
b - Amy London (v) with trumpet obbligato
c - Amy London (v); Roni Ben Hur (g) 8 bars; Amy London (v)
d - Amy London (v); Dan Greenblatt (ts) 12 bars; Amy London (v)
e - Amy London (v) with guitar obbligato; Roni Ben Hur (g) 12 bars; Lee Musiker (p) 24 bars; Amy London (v)
Date: August 28, 2005
Location: Zebulon Sound and Light, New York City
Label: Smalls Records
Ari Roland Quartet
Ari Roland (ldr), Chris Byars (ts), Sacha Perry (p), Ari Roland (b), Phil Stewart (d)
| a. | The Lion of Yerevan(Ari Roland) - 5:52 | |
| b. | Most's Paradise(Ari Roland) - 6:00 | |
| c. | Replaceable Me(Ari Roland) - 6:14 | |
| d. | Swamp Thing Goes to the Indy 500(Ari Roland) - 3:16 | |
| e. | Mensch Blues(Ari Roland) - 8:07 | |
| f. | Ah, Transcarpathicus(Ari Roland) - 6:19 | |
| g. | Thou Swell(Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart) - 6:07 | |
| h. | Byars-a-Maki(Ari Roland) - 5:29 | |
| i. | Mo Is On(Elmo Hope) - 4:11 | |
| j. | I'll Walk Alone(Jule Styne, Sammy Cahn) - 6:08 |
| All titles on: |
Smalls Records CDSRCD 0012 — Sketches From A Bassist's Album (2005)
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a - Phil Stewart (d) 4-bar intro; Ari Roland (b) 64 bars arco; Chris Byars (ts) 64 bars; Sacha Perry (p) 64 bars; Chris Byars (ts) 32 bars 4-bar exchanges with Perry and Roland
b - Sacha Perry (p) 8-bar intro; Sacha Perry (p) 2-bar break + 68 bars; Chris Byars (ts) 68 bars; Ari Roland (b) 68 bars arco; Phil Stewart (d) 4 bars; Phil Stewart (d) 12 bars; Phil Stewart (d) 6 bars
c - Ari Roland (b) 32 bars arco; Sacha Perry (p) 16 bars; Chris Byars (ts) 16 bars
d - Ari Roland (b) walking at break-neck tempo; Chris Byars (ts) break-neck tempo; Ari Roland (b) break-neck tempo
e - Ari Roland (b) 4-bar intro arco; Ari Roland (b) 36 bars arco; Chris Byars (ts) 36 bars; Sacha Perry (p) 36 bars; Ari Roland (b) 24 bars arco
f - Phil Stewart (d) 4-bar intro; Chris Byars (ts) 64 bars; Ari Roland (b) 64 bars arco; Sacha Perry (p) 64 bars; Phil Stewart (d) 64 bars 4-bar exchanges with Byars, Perry, Roland
g - Sacha Perry (p) 8-bar intro; Chris Byars (ts) 2-bar break + 64 bars; Sacha Perry (p) 64 bars; Ari Roland (b) 64 bars arco; Chris Byars (ts) 32 bars 8-bar exchanges with Stewart
h - Chris Byars (ts) 60 bars; Sacha Perry (p) 72 bars; Ari Roland (b) 84 bars arco; Chris Byars (ts) 48 bars 4-bar exchanges with Stewart alternating with Perry and Roland
i - Ari Roland (b) 8 bars walking intro at break-neck tempo; Chris Byars (ts) 8 bars bridge at break-neck tempo; Sacha Perry (p) 96 bars at break-neck tempo; Chris Byars (ts) 96 bars at break-neck tempo; Ari Roland (b) 64 bars arco at break-neck tempo; Chris Byars (ts) 32 bars 4-bar exchanges with Perry at break-neck tempo; Phil Stewart (d) 32 bars at break-neck tempo; Ari Roland (b) 8 bars bridge walking at break-neck tempo
j - Sacha Perry (p) 4-bar intro; Ari Roland (b) 32 bars arco; Chris Byars (ts) 32 bars; Sacha Perry (p) 32 bars
Track 3 is based on the chord structure of “Embraceable You.”
Date: November 2 & 3, 2006
Location: Leon Lee Dorsey Studio, New York City
Label: Smalls Records
Chris Byars Quartet plays Chris Byars compositions
Chris Byars (ldr), Chris Byars (ss, as, ts), Sacha Perry (p), Ari Roland (b), Andy Watson (d)
| a. | Aquarian Epoch(Chris Byars) - 8:03 | |
| b. | Milton(Chris Byars) - 7:25 | |
| c. | Safe at Home(Chris Byars) - 7:12 | |
| d. | Acoustic Phenomenon(Chris Byars) - 9:28 | |
| e. | Manhattan Valley(Chris Byars) - 7:49 | |
| f. | Cliff Diving(Chris Byars) - 6:45 | |
| g. | Riddle of the Sphinx(Chris Byars) - 6:38 | |
| h. | A.T.(Chris Byars) - 6:35 |
| All titles on: |
Smalls Records CDSRCD-0021.07 — Photos In Black, White And Gray (2006)
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Chris Byars (ss) on c, (as) on a, d-g, (ts) on b, h; Sacha Perry (p) on a-g.
a - Sacha Perry (p) 64 bars; Chris Byars (as) 64 bars; Ari Roland (b) 64 bars arco; Andy Watson (d) 32 bars 4-bar exchanges with alto saxophone
b - Andy Watson (d) 4-bar intro; Chris Byars (ts) 68 bars; Sacha Perry (p) 68 bars; Ari Roland (b) 68 bars arco; Andy Watson (d) 68 bars 8- and 12-bar exchanges with tenor saxophone, piano, arco bass
c - Sacha Perry (p) 4-bar intro; Ari Roland (b) 16 bars arco; Sacha Perry (p) 16 bars; Chris Byars (ss) 16 bars
d - Chris Byars (as) 170 bars; Sacha Perry (p) 136 bars; Ari Roland (b) 100 bars arco; Andy Watson (d)
e - Chris Byars (as) 96 bars; Sacha Perry (p) 64 bars; Ari Roland (b) 64 bars arco; Andy Watson (d) 64 bars 8-bar exchanges with alto saxophone, piano, arco bass
f - Chris Byars (as) 2-bar break + 104 bars; Sacha Perry (p) 104 bars; Ari Roland (b) 104 bars arco; Andy Watson (d) 52 bars
g - Chris Byars (as) 16 bars; Sacha Perry (p) 18 bars; Ari Roland (b) 16 bats arco
h - Chris Byars (ts) 96 bars; Ari Roland (b) 64 bars arco; Chris Byars (ts) 32 bars; Andy Watson (d) 64 bars
Date: June 23, 2007
Location: The House House (Paul Cox, Luke Kaven, engs.), New York City
Label: Smalls Records
Ari Roland Quartet plays Ari Roland compositions
Ari Roland (ldr), Chris Byars (as, ts), Sacha Perry (p), Ari Roland (b), Phil Stewart (d)
| a. | For O.M.(Ari Roland) - 7:00 | |
| b. | Paerja(Ari Roland) - 10:28 | |
| c. | Perry Plov(Ari Roland, Sacha Perry) - 9:02 | |
| d. | Under the Salt of Stars(Ari Roland) - 6:26 | |
| e. | Byars-a-Carpet(Ari Roland, Chris Byars) - 7:42 | |
| f. | Smile of the Swamp Thing(Ari Roland) - 6:41 | |
| g. | Blue Madi(Ari Roland) - 7:53 |
| All titles on: |
Smalls Records CDSRCD 0027 — And So I Lived In Old New York... (2007)
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Chris Byars (as) on c, (ts) on a-b, d-g.
a - Ari Roland (b) 88 bars arco; Chris Byars (ts) 88 bars; Sacha Perry (p) 88 bars; Phil Stewart (d) 88 bars 4-bar exchanges with Byars, Perry, Roland
b - Ari Roland (b) 64 bars arco; Chris Byars (ts) 64 bars; Sacha Perry (p) 64 bars; Phil Stewart (d) 32 bars
c - Sacha Perry (p) 64 bars; Chris Byars (as) 64 bars; Sacha Perry (p) 64 bars; Ari Roland (b) 64 bars arco; Chris Byars (as) 32 bars 4-bar exchanges with Perry; Ari Roland (b) 32 bars 4-bar exchanges with Stewart
d - Ari Roland (b) 64 bars walking; Chris Byars (ts) 128 bars; Sacha Perry (p) 128 bars; Ari Roland (b) 128 bars arco; Chris Byars (ts) 64 bars 4-bar exchanges with Perry; Phil Stewart (d) 64 bars; Ari Roland (b) 32 bars walking
e - Ari Roland (b) 8-bar arco intro; Chris Byars (ts) 36 bars; Sacha Perry (p) 108 bars; Chris Byars (ts) 96 bars; Ari Roland (b) 96 bars arco; Phil Stewart (d) 48 bars 4-bar exchanges with Byars, Perry, Roland; Phil Stewart (d) 24 bars; Chris Byars (ts) 36 bars
f - Sacha Perry (p) 96 bars; Chris Byars (ts) 96 bars; Ari Roland (b) 96 bars arco; Phil Stewart (d) 96 bars 8-bar exchanges with Byars, Perry, Roland.
g - Ari Roland (b) 40 bars arco; Chris Byars (ts) 36 bars; Sacha Perry (p) 36 bars; Ari Roland (b) 24 bars arco
Date: October 29, 2007
Location: Nola Penthouse Studios (Jim Czak, eng.), New York City
Label: Smalls Records
Chris Byars Plays his compositions
Chris Byars (ldr), John Mosca (tb), Chris Byars (ss, as, ts, f), James Byars (o, enh), Ari Roland (b), Stefan Schatz (d, per)
| a. | The Better to See You(Chris Byars) - 7:43 | |
| b. | Tonpa Shenrab(Chris Byars) - 11:06 | |
| c. | Blues Under the Bodhi Tree(Chris Byars) - 5:32 | |
| d. | Buddha Shakyamuni(Chris Byars) - 9:24 | |
| e. | Arhat(Chris Byars) - 7:04 | |
| f. | Chakrasamvara(Chris Byars) - 8:42 | |
| g. | Rahula(Chris Byars) - 5:58 | |
| h. | Just Ask(Chris Byars) - 4:45 | |
| i. | Whispered Tradition(Chris Byars) - 6:54 |
| All titles on: |
Smalls Records CDSRCD 0032 — Jazz Pictures At An Exhibition Of Himalayan Art (2008)
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John Mosca (tb) on a-g, i; Chris Byars (ss) on d, i, (as) on b, h, (ts) on a, c, e-i, (f) on b, f, h; James Byars (o) on b, f, h, (enh) on d, h; Ari Roland (b) on a-g, i; Stefan Schatz (d) on a-b, d-e, g, i, (per) on a-c, f, i.
a - John Mosca (tb) 76 bars; Chris Byars (ts) 76 bars; Ari Roland (b) 76 bars arco; John Mosca (tb) 16 bars; Stefan Schatz (d) 10 bars; Chris Byars (ts) 12 bars; Stefan Schatz (d) 16 bars; Ari Roland (b) 10 bars arco; Stefan Schatz (d) 12 bars
b - Chris Byars (as) 66 bars; John Mosca (tb) 66 bars; Ari Roland (b) 66 bars arco; Stefan Schatz (d) breaks
c - Ari Roland (b) arco intro; Ari Roland (b) arco; Chris Byars (ts); Ari Roland (b) arco; Chris Byars (ts); Ari Roland (b) arco; John Mosca (tb); Ari Roland (b) arco; John Mosca (tb); Ari Roland (b) arco; Stefan Schatz (per) breaks throughout
d - Chris Byars (ss) 28 bars; John Mosca (tb) 28 bars; Ari Roland (b) 28 bars arco; Stefan Schatz (d) 20 bars
e - Chris Byars (ts) 2-bar break + 64 bars; John Mosca (tb) 64 bars; Ari Roland (b) 64 bars arco; Stefan Schatz (d) 64 bars; John Mosca (tb) 64 bars 4-bar exchanges with Byars
g - Chris Byars (ts) 2-bar break + 64 bars; John Mosca (tb) 64 bars; Ari Roland (b) 64 bars arco; Stefan Schatz (d) 32 bars
i - Stefan Schatz (d) 4-bar intro; Stefan Schatz (d) 4 bars; John Mosca (tb) 72 bars; Chris Byars (ss) 88 bars; Ari Roland (b) 72 bars arco; Stefan Schatz (d) 72 bars
This ia a fascinating album with an unusual concept that results in some very original moods, sonorities and improvisations.
Track h is a Chris Byars duet with his father, James Byars, playing a total of 5 reed instruments.
Stefan Schatz plays a variety of percussion instruments including: Dholak (a 2-headed South Asian hand drum; tracks c, i), gong (tracks a, b, f), wind chimes (track f), temple blocks (track f).
Date: February 10, 2008
Location: Avatar Studios, New Yprk City
Label: Yamin Music
Eli Yamin ensembles play Eli Yamin compositions
Eli Yamin (ldr), Chris Byars (ss, as, ts, f, cng), Lakecia Benjamin (as), Eli Yamin (p), Ari Roland (b), Alvin Atkinson (d)
| a. | I Want to Be a Teacher(Eli Yamin) - 6:09 | |
| b. | You Can't Buy Swing(Eli Yamin) - 6:28 | |
| c. | Getting Somewhere(Eli Yamin) - 4:25 | |
| d. | Well, You Better Not(Eli Yamin) - 5:27 | |
| e. | Bop to Normal(Eli Yamin) - 5:10 | |
| f. | Rwandan Child(Eli Yamin) - 8:34 | |
| g. | Just One(Eli Yamin) - 5:53 | |
| h. | Katiana's New Start(Eli Yamin) - 5:54 | |
| i. | Jacquet's Meditation(Eli Yamin) - 6:47 | |
| j. | Waltz on the Hudson(Eli Yamin) - 5:41 | |
| k. | In Walked Barry(Eli Yamin) - 1:44 |
| All titles on: |
Yamin Music CDunnumbered — You Can't Buy Swing (2008)
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Chris Byars (ss) on a, (as) on d, g, k, (ts) on e, i, (f) on j, (cng) on b-c; Lakecia Benjamin (as) on b, h.
a - Eli Yamin (p) 32 bars (1 chorus); Chris Byars (ss) 32 bars (1 chorus); Ari Roland (b) 32 bars (1 chorus) arco; Alvin Atkinson (d) 32 bars (1 chorus)
b - Ari Roland (b) 16 bars arco; Eli Yamin (p) 16 bars; Lakecia Benjamin (as) 48 bars
c - Ari Roland (b) 32 bars (1 chorus) arco; Eli Yamin (p) 32 bars (1 chorus)
d - Eli Yamin (p) 64 bars (2 chcoruses); Ari Roland (b) 32 bars (1 chorus) arco; Chris Byars (as) 32 bars (1 chorus) 4-bar exchanges with Atkinson; Chris Byars (as) coda 24 bars
e - Alvin Atkinson (d) 8-bar intro; Chris Byars (ts) 32 bars (1 chorus); Eli Yamin (p) 32 bars (1 chorus); Ari Roland (b) 32 bars (1 chorus) arco; Alvin Atkinson (d) 32 bars (1 chorus) 4-bar exchanges with Byars, Yamin, Roland
f - Ari Roland (b) pizzicato unaccompanied; Eli Yamin (p) 16 bars
g - Alvin Atkinson (d) 60 bars; Eli Yamin (p) 2-bar break + 64 bars (1 chorus); Chris Byars (as) 64 bars (1 chorus); Ari Roland (b) 64 bars (1 chorus) arco; Eli Yamin (p) 32 bars 4-bar exchanges with Byars
h - Eli Yamin (p) 48 bars (4 choruses); Lakecia Benjamin (as) 36 bars (3 choruses); Ari Roland (b) 24 bars (2 choruses) arco; Alvin Atkinson (d) 24 bars (2 choruses)
i - Chris Byars (ts) 20 bars; Eli Yamin (p) 20 bars 2-bar exchanges with Roland arco
j - Eli Yamin (p) 8-bar intro in 3/4; Chris Byars (f) 64 bars in 3/4; Eli Yamin (p) 64 bars in 3/4; Chris Byars (f) 56 bars coda with Yamin in 3/4
k - Eli Yamin (p) 12 bars; Chris Byars (as) 12 bars; Ari Roland (b) 12 bars arco
Date: February 20, 2008
Location: JSM Studio, New York City
Label: [private recording]
Brigitte Zarie with 11 piece band
Brigitte Zarie (ldr), Al Cheznovitz, John Sneider (t), Brian Bonvissuto, Jeff Bush (tb), Chris Byars, Lawrence Feldman (as), Bruce Kapler (ts), Frank Basile (bar), unknown (f, per), Peter Zak (p), Tim Lefebvre (b), Zach Danziger, Brian Floody (d), Neil Jason (con), Brigitte Zarie (v)
| a. | Make Room for Me(Brigitte Zarie, Neil Jason) / arr: Chris Byars - 3:22 | |
| b. | French version | Make Room for Me(Brigitte Zarie, Neil Jason) / arr: Chris Byars - 3:21 |
| c. | Happiest Day of My Life(Brigitte Zarie, Neil Jason) / arr: Chris Byars - 3:42 | |
| d. | Dance with You(Brigitte Zarie, Neil Jason) / arr: Chris Byars - 3:35 |
| All titles on: |
Brigitte Zarie CDunnumbered — Make Room For Me (2009)
NJMusic CDBZ 11001 — Make Room For Me (2011)
|
unknown (f) on c, (per) on d; Zach Danziger (d) on a-b; Brian Floody (d) on c-d.
a - Brigitte Zarie (v); John Sneider (t) 16 bars; Brigitte Zarie (v)
b - Brigitte Zarie (v); John Sneider (t) 16 bars; Brigitte Zarie (v)
c - Brigitte Zarie (v); Brigitte Zarie (v)
d - Brigitte Zarie (v); Brigitte Zarie (v)
Chris Byars does not appear on the other tracks of the CDs.
Date: March 30, 2008
Location: Village Vanguard, New York City
Label: [private recording]
Teddy Charles Sextet Live at the Village Vanguard
Teddy Charles (ldr), John Mosca (tb), Chris Byars (sax), Teddy Charles (vib), Sacha Perry (p), Ari Roland (b), Stefan Schatz (d)
| a. | inc | Hot House(Tadd Dameron) - 3:43 |
| unissued |
This is a fragment of a video recording of the Teddy Charles Sextet appearing at the Village Vanguard. What has been preserved is a portion of Charles's solo. Mosca and Byars are not heard. The video was provided by Byars.
Date: March 31, 2008
Location: Knoop Recording Studio (Manfred Knoop, Eng.), River Edge, NJ
Label: SteepleChase (Dan.)
Chris Byars Quintet plays Gigi Gryce compositions
Chris Byars (ldr), John Mosca (tb), Chris Byars (ss, as, ts, f), James Byars (o), Sacha Perry (p), Ari Roland (b), Stefan Schatz (d)
| a. | Lucky Swing(Chris Byars) / arr: Chris Byars - 7:02 | |
| b. | Sans Souci (San Souci)(Gigi Gryce) / arr: Chris Byars - 6:15 | |
| c. | Al-Ghashiya(Gigi Gryce) / arr: Chris Byars - 10:45 | |
| d. | The Infant's Song(Gigi Gryce) / arr: Chris Byars - 6:50 | |
| e. | Baba's Blues(Gigi Gryce) / arr: Chris Byars - 8:14 | |
| f. | Shabozz(Gigi Gryce) / arr: Chris Byars - 8:07 | |
| g. | Blue Lights(Gigi Gryce) / arr: Chris Byars - 7:05 | |
| h. | Anne Marie (I Need You So)(Gigi Gryce) / arr: Chris Byars - 6:53 |
| All titles on: |
SteepleChase (Dan.) CDSCCD 31662 — Blue Lights: The Music of Gigi Gryce (2009)
|
Chris Byars (ss) on c, (as) on c-d, f-h, (ts) on a, e, (f) on b; James Byars (o) on b.
a - Chris Byars (ts) 2-bar break + 74 bars; John Mosca (tb) 2-bar break + 74 bars; Sacha Perry (p) 2-bar break + 74 bars; Ari Roland (b) 2-bar break + 74 bars arco; Stefan Schatz (d)
b - Sacha Perry (p) 2-bar break + 64 bars; John Mosca (tb) 32 bars; Chris Byars (f) 32 bars; Ari Roland (b) 32 bars arco; Stefan Schatz (d) 8 bars; Stefan Schatz (d) 8 bars
c - Sacha Perry (p) 72 bars on first theme; John Mosca (tb) 60 bars on first theme; Ari Roland (b) 40 bars on second theme; Stefan Schatz (d) segue to third theme; Chris Byars (as) 84 bars on third theme; Chris Byars (as) 48 bars 4-bar exchanges with drums on third theme
d - Ari Roland (b) 16 bars arco; John Mosca (tb) 16 bars entering at bridge; Sacha Perry (p) 16 bars; Chris Byars (as) 8 bars bridge
e - Chris Byars (ts) 48 bars; Ari Roland (b) 48 bars arco; John Mosca (tb) 36 bars; Sacha Perry (p) 48 bars
f - Chris Byars (as) 64 bars; Sacha Perry (p) 64 bars; John Mosca (tb) 64 bars; Ari Roland (b) 64 bars arco; Stefan Schatz (d) 64 bars 8-bar exchanges with alto saxophone, piano, trombone, arco bass
g - Chris Byars (as) 56 bars; Ari Roland (b) 48 bars arco; John Mosca (tb) 36 bars; Sacha Perry (p) 48 bars; Stefan Schatz (d) 8 bars; Stefan Schatz (d) 8 bars
h - John Mosca (tb) 2-bar break + 64 bars; Sacha Perry (p) 64 bars; Chris Byars (as) 64 bars; Ari Roland (b) 64 bars arco; Stefan Schatz (d) 96 bars 8-bar exchanges with trombone, piano, alto saxophone, arco bass
Date: July 23, 2008
Location: Nola Studios, New York City
Label: Smalls Records
Teddy Charles Sextet plays Teddy Charles compositions
Teddy Charles (ldr), John Mosca (tb), Chris Byars (as, f), Teddy Charles (vib), Harold Danko (p), Ari Roland (b), Stefan Schatz (d)
| a. | tk. 1 | Aishie(Teddy Charles) / arr: Chris Byars
unissued
|
| b. | tk. 2 | Aishie(Teddy Charles) / arr: Chris Byars
unissued
|
| c. | Bunni(Teddy Charles) / arr: Chris Byars
- 7:23 Smalls Records CDSRCD-0038 — Dances With Bulls (2009)
|
|
| d. | Blues Without Woe(Teddy Charles) / arr: Chris Byars
- 6:04 Smalls Records CDSRCD-0038 — Dances With Bulls (2009)
|
|
| e. | Nostalgia in Times Square (Strollin', Strollin' Honies)(Charles Mingus) / arr: Chris Byars
- 14:10 Smalls Records CDSRCD-0038 — Dances With Bulls (2009)
|
|
| f. | No More Nights(Teddy Charles) / arr: Chris Byars
- 8:26 Smalls Records CDSRCD-0038 — Dances With Bulls (2009)
|
|
| g. | Dances with Bulls(Teddy Charles) / arr: Chris Byars
- 7:05 Smalls Records CDSRCD-0038 — Dances With Bulls (2009)
|
|
| h. | alt | Dances with Bulls(Teddy Charles) / arr: Chris Byars
unissued
|
| i. | Arlene(Teddy Charles) / arr: Chris Byars
- 10:24 Smalls Records CDSRCD-0038 — Dances With Bulls (2009)
|
Chris Byars (as) on a-c, e-h, (f) on d, i.
c - Teddy Charles (vib); John Mosca (tb); Harold Danko (p); Ari Roland (b) arco; Stefan Schatz (d); John Mosca (tb); Chris Byars (as); John Mosca (tb); Chris Byars (as)
d - Teddy Charles (vib); Chris Byars (f); Harold Danko (p); John Mosca (tb); Ari Roland (b) arco; Stefan Schatz (d) call and respond with horns
e - Ari Roland (b) intro arco; Teddy Charles (vib); John Mosca (tb); Harold Danko (p); Chris Byars (as); Ari Roland (b) arco; Stefan Schatz (d)
f - Harold Danko (p); John Mosca (tb); Chris Byars (as); Ari Roland (b) arco; Teddy Charles (vib); Stefan Schatz (d)
i - Teddy Charles (vib); Chris Byars (f); John Mosca (tb); Harold Danko (p); Ari Roland (b) arco; Stefan Schatz (d) 4-bar exchanges with vibraphone, flute, trombone, piano, arco bass
Track e is called "Nostalgia For Mingus."
Tracks g and h are free improvisations.
Tracks a, b and h have not been auditioned.
Date: March 29, 2009
Location: Knoop Studios, River Edge, NJ
Label: SteepleChase (Dan.)
Chris Byars Quartet, Quintet and Sextet with Teddy Charles
Chris Byars (ldr), John Mosca (tb), Chris Byars (ss, as, ts, f), James Byars (o, enh), Teddy Charles (vib), Ari Roland (b), Stefan Schatz (d, per)
| a. | Festival(George Wallington) / arr: Chris Byars - 5:11 | |
| b. | Straight Ahead(Gigi Gryce) / arr: Chris Byars - 5:52 | |
| c. | Lost Love(Gigi Gryce) / arr: Chris Byars - 6:13 | |
| d. | Himalayan Sunrise(Chris Byars) / arr: Chris Byars - 4:23 | |
| e. | Nature Boy(Eden Ahbez) / arr: Chris Byars - 6:00 | |
| f. | Minority(Gigi Gryce) / arr: Chris Byars - 6:35 | |
| g. | Indra(Chris Byars) / arr: Chris Byars - 6:29 | |
| h. | Bop-ography(Chris Byars) / arr: Chris Byars - 20:34 |
| All titles on: |
SteepleChase (Dan.) CDSCCD 31686 — Bop-ography (2009)
|
Chris Byars (ss) on h, (as) on a-f, h, (ts) on g-h, (f) on h; James Byars (o) on e, h, (enh) on d, f, h; Teddy Charles (vib) on b, e, h; Stefan Schatz (d) on a-f, h, (per) on g.
a - Chris Byars (as); John Mosca (tb); Ari Roland (b) arco; Stefan Schatz (d)
b - Teddy Charles (vib); Chris Byars (as); John Mosca (tb); Ari Roland (b) arco
c - John Mosca (tb); Chris Byars (as); Ari Roland (b) arco
d - Chris Byars (as)
e - Teddy Charles (vib); John Mosca (tb)
f - John Mosca (tb); Chris Byars (as); Ari Roland (b) arco; Stefan Schatz (d)
g - Stefan Schatz (per) intro on kanjira; John Mosca (tb); Chris Byars (ts); Ari Roland (b) arco
h - Teddy Charles (vib) intro; Teddy Charles (vib); John Mosca (tb); Teddy Charles (vib); Teddy Charles (vib); Ari Roland (b) arco; Teddy Charles (vib); Chris Byars (ts)
Stefan Schatz plays a South Asian hand drum called a kanjira on track g.
Date: May 25, 2009
Location: Knoop Music (Manfred Knoop & Luke Kaven, Engs.), River Edge, NJ
Label: Smalls Records
Ari Roland Quartet plays Ari Roland compositions
Ari Roland (ldr), Chris Byars (as, ts), Sacha Perry (p), Ari Roland (b), Keith Balla (d)
| a. | Damonesco(Ari Roland) - 5:38 | |
| b. | Village(Ari Roland) - 6:26 | |
| c. | The Finder of Horsehair(Ari Roland) - 6:46 | |
| d. | Station Blues(Ari Roland) - 7:39 | |
| e. | Portrait of M.(Ari Roland) - 6:41 | |
| f. | Story of Three(Ari Roland) - 6:40 | |
| g. | Folk Melody(Ari Roland) - 5:37 |
| All titles on: |
Smalls Records CDSRCD 0046 — New Music (2009)
|
Chris Byars (as) on a, c, e, g, (ts) on b, d, f.
a - Chris Byars (as) 64 bars; Sacha Perry (p) 64 bars; Ari Roland (b) 64 bars arco; Keith Balla (d) 64 bars 4-bar exchanges with Byars, Perry and Roland
b - Keith Balla (d) 4-bar intro; Chris Byars (ts) 68 bars; Sacha Perry (p) 68 bars; Ari Roland (b) 68 bars arco; Keith Balla (d) 68 bars 4-bar exchanges wirh Byars, Perry, Roland
c - Chris Byars (as) 88 bars; Sacha Perry (p) 88 bars; Ari Roland (b) 88 bars arco; Keith Balla (d) 88 bars exchanges with Byars, Perry, Roland
d - Chris Byars (ts) 24 bars; Sacha Perry (p) 24 bars; Ari Roland (b) 36 bars arco
e - Chris Byars (as) 68 bars; Sacha Perry (p) 68 bars; Ari Roland (b) 68 bars arco; Keith Balla (d) 68 bars 4-bar exchanges with Byars, Perry, Roland
f - Chris Byars (ts) 64 bars; Sacha Perry (p) 64 bars; Ari Roland (b) 64 bars; Keith Balla (d) 64 bars 4-bar exchanges with Byars, Perry, Roland
g - Chris Byars (as) 72 bars; Sacha Perry (p) 72 bars; Ari Roland (b) 72 bars arco; Keith Balla (d) 108 bars 9-bar exchanges with Byars, Perry, Roland
Date: February 27, 2010
Location: Knoop Recording Studio (Manfred Knoop, Eng.), River Edge, NJ
Label: SteepleChase (Dan.)
Chris Byars Octet plays the music of Lucky Thompson
Chris Byars (ldr), Scott Wendholt (t), John Mosca (tb), Chris Byars (ss, ts), Zaid Nasser (as), Mark Lopeman (bar), Sacha Perry (p), Ari Roland (b), Stefan Schatz (d)
| a. | Theme(Lucky Thompson) / arr: Lucky Thompson - 1:23 | |
| b. | Munsoon(Lucky Thompson) / arr: Chris Byars - 5:33 | |
| c. | Old Reliable(Lucky Thompson) / arr: Lucky Thompson - 6:40 | |
| d. | Passionately Yours(Lucky Thompson) / arr: Chris Byars - 4:54 | |
| e. | Tiptop(Mark Lopeman) / arr: Mark Lopeman - 4:21 | |
| f. | Fanfare(Lucky Thompson) / arr: Chris Byars, Lucky Thompson - 3:56 | |
| g. | Minik Koosh (Little Bird)(Chris Byars) / arr: Chris Byars - 6:00 | |
| h. | Notorious Love(Lucky Thompson) / arr: Lucky Thompson - 3:42 | |
| i. | Another Whirl(Lucky Thompson) / arr: Lucky Thompson - 5:41 | |
| j. | Could I Meet You Later?(Lucky Thompson) / arr: Lucky Thompson - 3:45 | |
| k. | Just One More Chance(Sam Coslow, Arthur Johnston) - 3:33 | |
| l. | Two Steps Out (Choose Your Own, Two Stops Out)(Lucky Thompson) / arr: Lucky Thompson - 4:18 | |
| m. | Down the Stretch(Lucky Thompson) / arr: Lucky Thompson - 7:25 |
| All titles on: |
SteepleChase (Dan.) CDSCCD 31713 — Lucky Strikes Again (2011)
|
Chris Byars (ss) on a, h, l, (ts) on b-g, i-k, m; Sacha Perry (p) on b-m.
b - Chris Byars (ts); John Mosca (tb); Sacha Perry (p)
c - Sacha Perry (p); Zaid Nasser (as); John Mosca (tb); Scott Wendholt (t); Mark Lopeman (bar); Ari Roland (b) arco; Chris Byars (ts)
d - Chris Byars (ts); Sacha Perry (p)
e - John Mosca (tb); Ari Roland (b) arco; Mark Lopeman (bar)
f - Mark Lopeman (bar); Zaid Nasser (as); Ari Roland (b) arco
g - Ari Roland (b) arco; Zaid Nasser (as); Scott Wendholt (t); Stefan Schatz (d)
h - Chris Byars (ss)
i - Chris Byars (ts); Mark Lopeman (bar); John Mosca (tb); Zaid Nasser (as); Scott Wendholt (t)
j - Chris Byars (ts); Sacha Perry (p)
k - Chris Byars (ts) (transcription of Lucky Thompson's solo of April 22, 1947 for RCA)
l - Chris Byars (ss)
m - Sacha Perry (p); Zaid Nasser (as); Scott Wendholt (t); John Mosca (tb); Chris Byars (ts); Mark Lopeman (bar); Ari Roland (b) arco; Stefan Schatz (d)
Lucky Thompson was deceased at the time of this session.
Date: May 18, 2010
Location: Neal Miner Apartment, New York City
Label: Gut String Records
Neal Miner Quartet plays Neal Miner compositions
Neal Miner (ldr), Chris Byars (as, ts), Peter Bernstein (g), Neal Miner (b), Joe Strasser (d)
| a. | Blue Okura(Neal Miner) - 5:45 | |
| b. | Manhattan Spring(Neal Miner) - 6:49 | |
| c. | Locke Bop(Neal Miner) - 5:12 | |
| d. | Inner Beauty(Neal Miner) - 5:38 | |
| e. | Blackout(Neal Miner) - 7:57 | |
| f. | Sweet Tooth(Neal Miner) - 8:29 |
| All titles on: |
Gut String Records CDGSR 003 — Sweet Tooth (2011)
|
Chris Byars (as) on c, f, (ts) on a-b, d-e.
a - Joe Strasser (d) 8-bar intro; Chris Byars (ts) 72 bars; Peter Bernstein (g) 60 bars; Neal Miner (b) 36 bars; Joe Strasser (d) 48 bars 4-bar exchanges with Byars, Bernstein, Miner
b - Peter Bernstein (g) 60 bars; Chris Byars (ts) 60 bars; Neal Miner (b) 34 bars
c - Chris Byars (as) 108 bars; Peter Bernstein (g) 100 bars; Joe Strasser (d) 34 bars
d - Peter Bernstein (g) 22 bars; Neal Miner (b) 8 bars; Chris Byars (ts) 8 bars
e - Chris Byars (ts) 88 bars in 3/4; Peter Bernstein (g) 88 bars in 3/4; Neal Miner (b) 8 bars in 3/4; Neal Miner (b) 28 bars in 3/4; Joe Strasser (d) 8 bars in 3/4; Joe Strasser (d) 16 bars in 3/4; Joe Strasser (d) 8 bars in 3/4
f - Peter Bernstein (g) 64 bars; Chris Byars (as) 64 bars; Neal Miner (b) 32 bars; Joe Strasser (d) 4 bars; Joe Strasser (d) 12 bars; Joe Strasser (d) 4 bars
“Locke Bop” is based on the harmonic structure of “The Best Thing for You” (Irving Berlin). “Sweet Tooth” is based on the harmonic structure of “Sweet and Lovely” (Arnheim, Tobias, Daniels).
Chris Byars at Smalls and Mezzrow
Smalls Jazz Club located in the basement of 183 West 10th Street, New York City has, for several years, recorded performances taking place there and archived the recorded videos. With a subscription, the videos can be viewed on demand. Between 2007 and 2021, nearly 4000 musicians have participated in close to 18,000 shows and the list continues to grow despite the COVID-19 pandemic. Mezzrow is a sister club to Smalls in the same neighborhood and run by the same management.
Chris Byars has been involved with many shows starting in 2007. They are listed below and the list will be updated periodically. Byars is the leader unless otherwise noted. I have documented 3 of these in the discography and they are sets performed in 2010. (See the following 3 sessions.) But to include ALL of the sets would require a time commitment currently beyond my capability.
I encourage you to access these shows at the Smalls website. Doing so will not only allow you to enjoy some great music but also to support the Smalls Foundation and the performing musicians.
2007-10-12 Quintet
2007-10-13 Quintet
2008-01-25 Quartet
2008-01-26 Quartet
2008-04-11 Yaala Ballin Group
2008-10-03 Tentet
2008-10-04 Tentet
2009-03-27 Freddie Redd Sextet
2009-08-28 Brad Linde Ensemble
2009-10-30 Ari Roland Quintet
2009-10-31 Ari Roland Quintet
2009-04-09 Freddie Redd Sextet
2009-04-10 Freddie Redd Sextet
2010-06-22 John Mosca Quintet
2010-08-07 Ari Roland Quintet
2010-09-17 Octet
2010-09-18 Octet
2010-11-05 Octet
2010-11-06 Octet
2011-01-01 Ari Roland Quintet
2011-01-07 Quartet
2011-01-28 Octet
2011-12-17 Ari Roland Band
2011-12-23 Shawn Aileen Clark
2012-08-24 Quartet
2012-12-29 Quintet
2013-03-23 Quintet
2013-05-25 Quartet
2013-08-03 Sacha Perry Quartet
2013-09-14 Quartet
2013-11-02 Sextet
2014-01-11 Sextet
2014-04-19 Sextet
2014-09-13 Sextet
2014-11-20 Quintet
2015-02-11 Jamale Davis Quintet
2015-03-21 Sextet
2015-06-13 Septet
2015-11-28 Group
2016-03-19 Quintet
2017-01-28 Sextet
2017-04-07 Tom Dempsey/Tim Ferguson Quartet
2017-04-15 Nonet
2017-09-22 Sextet
2017-09-23 Sextet
2018-01-05 John Marshall Quintet
2018-01-06 John Marshall Quintet
2018-02-02 Tom Dempsey/Tim Ferguson Quartet
2018-03-11 Sextet
2018-04-29 Sacha Perry Trio
2018-05-13 Original Sextet
2018-05-27 Sacha Perry Trio
2018-07-01 Sextet
2018-07-29 Ai Murakami Trio Feat. Sacha Perry
2018-07-31 Sasha Dobson, Chris Byars, Dred Scott & Neal Miner
2018-08-09 Chris Byars, Chris Flory & Neal Miner
2018-09-23 Ai Murakami Quartet Feat. Sacha Perry
2019-01-20 Ari Roland, Pasquale Grasso, Chris Byars & Keith Balla
2019-02-14 Original Sextet
2019-02-18 Neal Miner, Chris Byars & Chris Flory
2019-04-08 Ari Roland
2019-04-28 Original Sextet
2019-05-26 Original Sextet
2019-07-28 Original Sextet
2019-08-21 Tom Dempsey/Tim Ferguson Quartet
2019-08-25 Original Sextet
2020-01-26 Original Sextet
2020-02-10 Trio
2020-02-23 Original Sextet
2021-06-06 Quintet
2021-08-29 Original Sextet – Bird’s 101st
2021-10-04 Pasquale Grasso & Ari Roland
2021-11-28 Original Sextet
2022-02-20 Original Sextet
2022-03-07 Pasquale Grasso Quartet
2022-05-04 Tom Dempsey/Tim Ferguson Quartet
2022-06-26 Original Sextet
2022-12-11 Original Sextet
2023-01-10 Trio with John Merrill and Neal Miner (Mezzrow)
2023-01-15 Ai Murakami Quintet
2023-02-28 Trio with John Merrill and Neal Miner (Mezzrow)
2023-03-28 Quartet with Pasquale Grasso - CD Release Party (Mezzrow)
2023-04-11 Quartet (Mezzrow)
2023-05-09 Trio with John Merrill and Neal Miner (Mezzrow)
Date: September 17, 2010
Location: Smalls Jazz Club, New York City
Label: [private recording]
Chris Byars Octet live at Smalls plays Lucky Thompson
Chris Byars (ldr), Scott Wendholt (t), John Mosca (tb), Chris Byars (ss, ts), Mark Lopeman (as), Andy Farber (bar), Sacha Perry (p), Neal Miner (b), Stefan Schatz (d)
| a. | Theme(Lucky Thompson) / arr: Lucky Thompson - 1:23 | |
| b. | Munsoon(Lucky Thompson) / arr: Chris Byars - 7:28 | |
| c. | It's Thursday(Lucky Thompson) / arr: Lucky Thompson - 5:00 | |
| d. | Fanfare(Lucky Thompson) / arr: Lucky Thompson - 10:08 | |
| e. | But Not for Tonight(Lucky Thompson, Gérard Pochonet) / arr: Lucky Thompson - 5:35 | |
| f. | Notorious Love(Lucky Thompson) / arr: Lucky Thompson - 3:48 | |
| g. | Once Upon a Time(Lucky Thompson) / arr: Lucky Thompson - 5:43 | |
| h. | Down the Stretch(Lucky Thompson) / arr: Lucky Thompson - 7:13 |
| All titles unissued. |
Chris Byars (ss) on a, f, (ts) on b-e, g-h; Sacha Perry (p) on b-h.
b - Chris Byars (ts); John Mosca (tb); Sacha Perry (p)
c - Chris Byars (ts)
d - Chris Byars (ts); Andy Farber (bar); Mark Lopeman (as); Scott Wendholt (t); John Mosca (tb); Sacha Perry (p); Stefan Schatz (d); Neal Miner (b)
e - Mark Lopeman (as); Andy Farber (bar); Chris Byars (ts)
f - Chris Byars (ss)
g - Sacha Perry (p); John Mosca (tb); Chris Byars (ts)
h - Sacha Perry (p); Mark Lopeman (as); Scott Wendholt (t); John Mosca (tb); Chris Byars (ts); Stefan Schatz (d)
Lucky Thompson was deceased at the time of this session.
Date: September 18, 2010 (Set 1)
Location: Smalls Jazz Club, New York City
Label: [private recording]
Chris Byars Octet live at Smalls plays Freddie Redd, Andy Farber and Sacha Perry
Chris Byars (ldr), Scott Wendholt (t), John Mosca (tb), Chris Byars (as), Mark Lopeman (ts), Andy Farber (bar), Sacha Perry (p), Neal Miner (b), Stefan Schatz (d)
| a. | The Thespian(Freddie Redd) / arr: Chris Byars - 8:34 | |
| b. | Time to Smile(Freddie Redd) / arr: Chris Byars - 7:40 | |
| c. | O.D. (Overdose)(Freddie Redd) / arr: Chris Byars - 9:27 | |
| d. | Just a Ballad for My Baby(Freddie Redd) / arr: Chris Byars - 8:12 | |
| e. | One for Ernie(Andy Farber) / arr: Andy Farber - 4:43 | |
| f. | R & R(Sacha Perry) / arr: Chris Byars - 5:48 | |
| g. | After the Show(Freddie Redd) / arr: Chris Byars - 6:34 |
| All titles unissued. |
a - Chris Byars (as) 64 bars; Andy Farber (bar) 64 bars; John Mosca (tb) 64 bars; Sacha Perry (p) 64 bars; Stefan Schatz (d) 4 bars; Stefan Schatz (d) 4 bars
b - Scott Wendholt (t) 2-bar break + 64 bars; Mark Lopeman (ts) 64 bars; Neal Miner (b) 32 bars; Sacha Perry (p) 2-bar break + 48 bars
c - Chris Byars (as) 64 bars; Andy Farber (bar) 64 bars; John Mosca (tb) 64 bars; Mark Lopeman (ts) 64 bars; Scott Wendholt (t) 64 bars; Stefan Schatz (d) 96 bars 8- and 4-bar exchanges with alto saxophone, baritone saxophone, trombone, tenor saxophone, trumpet
d - Sacha Perry (p) 32 bars; Neal Miner (b) 32 bars
e - Mark Lopeman (ts) 2-bar break + 32 bars; Andy Farber (bar) 32 bars
f - Sacha Perry (p) 2-bar break + 64 bars; Scott Wendholt (t) 64 bars; Neal Miner (b) 64 bars
g - Chris Byars (as) 72 bars; Sacha Perry (p) 72 bars; John Mosca (tb) 72 bars; Stefan Schatz (d) 72 bars 8- and 4-bar exchanges with alto saxophone, piano, trombone
Date: September 18, 2010 (Set 2)
Location: Smalls Jazz Club, New York City
Label: [private recording]
Chris Byars Octet Live at Smalls plays Gigi Gryce
Chris Byars (ldr), Scott Wendholt (t), John Mosca (tb), Chris Byars (as, f), Mark Lopeman (ts, f), Andy Farber (bar, cl), Sacha Perry (p), Neal Miner (b), Stefan Schatz (d)
| a. | Nica's Tempo(Gigi Gryce) / arr: Gigi Gryce, Mark Lopeman - 7:16 | |
| b. | In a Meditating Mood(Gigi Gryce) / arr: Gigi Gryce, Mark Lopeman - 5:26 | |
| c. | The Rat Race Blues(Gigi Gryce) / arr: Chris Byars - 7:34 | |
| d. | A Night at Tony's(Gigi Gryce) / arr: Gigi Gryce, Mark Lopeman - 6:44 | |
| e. | Sans Souci (San Souci)(Gigi Gryce) / arr: Chris Byars - 6:06 | |
| f. | Shabozz(Gigi Gryce) / arr: Chris Byars, Mark Lopeman - 7:43 | |
| g. | Hymn to the Orient (Hymn of the Orient)(Gigi Gryce) / arr: Chris Byars - 4:12 |
| All titles unissued. |
Andy Farber (bar) on a-d, f-g, (cl) on e; Chris Byars (f) on e; Mark Lopeman (f) on e.
a - Mark Lopeman (ts) 88 bars; John Mosca (tb) 88 bars; Sacha Perry (p) 44 bars; Neal Miner (b) 44 bars
b - John Mosca (tb) theme; Chris Byars (as) 12 bars; John Mosca (tb) theme
c - Sacha Perry (p) 48 bars; Scott Wendholt (t) 48 bars; Chris Byars (as) 48 bars; Mark Lopeman (ts) 60 bars; John Mosca (tb) 60 bars; Andy Farber (bar) 48 bars; Stefan Schatz (d) 72 bars
d - Chris Byars (as) 64 bars; Scott Wendholt (t) 4 + 84 bars; Sacha Perry (p) 64 bars
e - Neal Miner (b) 64 bars; Chris Byars (as) 32 bars; Stefan Schatz (d) 8 bars; Stefan Schatz (d) 8 bars
f - Scott Wendholt (t) 32 bars; Andy Farber (bar) 32 bars; Mark Lopeman (ts) 32 bars; Chris Byars (as) 32 bars; John Mosca (tb) 64 bars; Sacha Perry (p) 32 bars
g - Sacha Perry (p) 32 bars; Mark Lopeman (ts) 32 bars; Scott Wendholt (t) 32 bars; John Mosca (tb) 32 bars; Stefan Schatz (d) 32 bars
Date: October 8 & 16, 2010
Location: Simon Allen, eng., Dali, Cyprus
Label: Gallery (Isr.)
Yaala Ballin with Quartet and Quintet
Yaala Ballin (ldr), Zaid Nasser (as), Chris Byars (ts), Vahagn Hayrapertyan (p), Ari Roland (b), Keith Balla (d), Yaala Ballin (v)
| a. | Exactly Like You(Jimmy McHugh, Dorothy Fields) - 3:48 | |
| b. | Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye(Cole Porter) - 4:56 | |
| c. | Three Little Words(Harry Ruby, Bert Kalmar) - 2:39 | |
| d. | Evil Gal Blues(Lionel Hampton, Leonard Feather) - 3:59 | |
| e. | Salty Papa Blues(Leonard Feather, Lionel Hampton) | |
| f. | How I Wish (Ask Me Now)(Jon Hendricks, Thelonious Monk) - 3:11 | |
| g. | I Cried for You(Arthur Freed, Gus Arnheim, Abe Lyman) - 2:58 | |
| h. | I Can't Give You Anything but Love(Jimmy McHugh, Dorothy Fields) - 4:47 | |
| i. | More Than You Know(Vincent Youmans, Billy Rose, Edward Eliscu) - 3:23 | |
| j. | I'm Gonna Lock My Heart (and Throw Away the Key)(Jimmy Eaton, Terry Shand) - 3:53 | |
| k. | Long Gone Blues(Billie Holiday) - 5:24 | |
| l. | Wise Woman Blues(John Willie 'Shifty' Henry) | |
| m. | Bye Bye Baby(Jule Styne, Leo Robin) - 5:01 |
| All titles on: |
Gallery (Isr.) CD00012 — On The Road (2011)
|
d, e; k, l performed as medleys
Zaid Nasser (as) on a-e, h, j-l; Chris Byars (ts) on e, g, j, m; Vahagn Hayrapertyan (p) on a-h, j-m; Ari Roland (b) on a-e, g-m; Keith Balla (d) on a-e, g-h, j-m.
a - Vahagn Hayrapertyan (p) 8-bar intro; Yaala Ballin (v) with alto sax obbligato; Zaid Nasser (as) 16 bars; Vahagn Hayrapertyan (p) 16 bars entering at bridge; Ari Roland (b) 16 bars arco; Keith Balla (d) 16 bars entering at bridge; Yaala Ballin (v)
b - Vahagn Hayrapertyan (p) 4-bar intro; Yaala Ballin (v) with alto sax obbligato; Zaid Nasser (as) 18 bars; Yaala Ballin (v) with alto sax obbligato
c - Yaala Ballin (v); Zaid Nasser (as) 32 bars; Vahagn Hayrapertyan (p) 16 bars; Ari Roland (b) 16 bars arco entering at bridge; Keith Balla (d) 32 bars; Yaala Ballin (v) with alto sax obbligato
d - Zaid Nasser (as) 12 bars; Yaala Ballin (v) with alto sax obbligato; Zaid Nasser (as) 12 bars; Vahagn Hayrapertyan (p) 12 bars; Ari Roland (b) 12 bars arco
e - Yaala Ballin (v)
f - Yaala Ballin (v)
g - Chris Byars (ts) 8-bar intro; Yaala Ballin (v) with tenor sax obbligato; Chris Byars (ts) 40 bars; Chris Byars (ts) 40 bars 4-bar exchanges with Balla; Yaala Ballin (v) with tenor sax obbligato
h - Zaid Nasser (as) 8-bar intro; Yaala Ballin (v) with alto sax obbligato; Zaid Nasser (as) 16 bars; Vahagn Hayrapertyan (p) 16 bars; Ari Roland (b) 16 bars arco; Keith Balla (d) 16 bars; Yaala Ballin (v) with alto sax obbligato
i - Ari Roland (b) arco intro; Yaala Ballin (v)
j - Chris Byars (ts) 8-bar intro; Yaala Ballin (v) with tenor sax obbligato; Chris Byars (ts) 16 bars; Zaid Nasser (as) 16 bars; Vahagn Hayrapertyan (p) 16 bars; Ari Roland (b) 16 bars arco; Yaala Ballin (v) with alto sax obbligato
k - Yaala Ballin (v) with alto sax obbligato; Zaid Nasser (as) 12 bars
l - Yaala Ballin (v) with alto sax obbligato
m - Yaala Ballin (v); Yaala Ballin (v) with tenor sax obbligato; Vahagn Hayrapertyan (p) 16 bars; Chris Byars (ts) 20 bars; Ari Roland (b) 16 bars arco; Keith Balla (d) 20 bars; Yaala Ballin (v) with tenor sax obbligato
Track f is a vocal/piano duet; track i is a vocal/bass duet.
Date: February 2011
Location: Trading 8s Studios (Chris Sulit Eng.), Paramus, NJ
Label: SteepleChase (Dan.)
Chris Byars Octet plays the music of Freddie Redd
Chris Byars (ldr), Scott Wendholt (t), John Mosca (tb), Zaid Nasser (as), Chris Byars (ts), Mark Lopeman (bar), Sacha Perry (p), Ari Roland (b), Stefan Schatz (d)
| a. | Somewhere(Freddie Redd) / arr: Chris Byars - 3:55 | |
| b. | Music Forever(Freddie Redd) / arr: Chris Byars - 4:28 | |
| c. | Minor Interlude(Freddie Redd) / arr: Chris Byars - 7:57 | |
| d. | Time to Smile(Freddie Redd) / arr: Chris Byars - 8:02 | |
| e. | Just a Ballad for My Baby(Freddie Redd) / arr: Chris Byars - 4:45 | |
| f. | Emily Reno(Freddie Redd) / arr: Chris Byars - 8:09 | |
| g. | Old Spice(Freddie Redd) / arr: Chris Byars - 8:59 | |
| h. | The Thespian(Freddie Redd) / arr: Chris Byars - 8:10 |
| All titles on: |
SteepleChase (Dan.) CDSCCD 31743 — Music Forever (2012)
|
a, b performed as medley
a - Scott Wendholt (t) 32 bars; Mark Lopeman (bar) 32 bars; Ari Roland (b) 32 bars arco; Chris Byars (ts) 32 bars
b - Chris Byars (ts) 72 bars; Sacha Perry (p) 64 bars; John Mosca (tb) 64 bars; Stefan Schatz (d) 32 bars; Zaid Nasser (as) 64 bars
c - Sacha Perry (p) 16-bar intro; Sacha Perry (p) 16 bars; Scott Wendholt (t) 2-bar break + 32 bars; Zaid Nasser (as) 32 bars; Ari Roland (b) 32 bars arco; Mark Lopeman (bar) 32 bars; Chris Byars (ts) 32 bars; John Mosca (tb) 32 bars; Sacha Perry (p) 32 bars; Stefan Schatz (d) 32 bars; Sacha Perry (p) 16 bars; Sacha Perry (p) 16 bars
d - Chris Byars (ts) 32 bars; Scott Wendholt (t) 32 bars; Mark Lopeman (bar) 32 bars; John Mosca (tb) 32 bars; Ari Roland (b) 32 bars arco; Zaid Nasser (as) 32 bars; Sacha Perry (p) 2-bar break + 32 bars
e - Chris Byars (ts) 16 bars; John Mosca (tb) 4 bars entering at bridge
f - Stefan Schatz (d) 4-bar intro; Sacha Perry (p) 8 bars bridge; Sacha Perry (p) 32 bars; John Mosca (tb) 32 bars; Chris Byars (ts) 32 bars; Scott Wendholt (t) 32 bars; Mark Lopeman (bar) 32 bars; Zaid Nasser (as) 32 bars; Ari Roland (b) 32 bars arco; Stefan Schatz (d) 56 bars 4-bar exchanges with piano, trombone, tenor saxophone, trumpet, baritone saxophone, alto saxophone, arco bass; Stefan Schatz (d) 4 bars
g - John Mosca (tb) 32 bars; Zaid Nasser (as) 32 bars; Ari Roland (b) 32 bars arco; Scott Wendholt (t) 32 bars; Sacha Perry (p) 32 bars; Chris Byars (ts) 32 bars; Mark Lopeman (bar) 32 bars; Stefan Schatz (d) 16 bars entering at bridge
h - Mark Lopeman (bar) 32 bars; Scott Wendholt (t) 32 bars; Chris Byars (ts) 32 bars; John Mosca (tb) 32 bars; Zaid Nasser (as) 32 bars; Sacha Perry (p) 32 bars; Ari Roland (b) 32 bars arco; Stefan Schatz (d) 32 bars; Stefan Schatz (d) 4 bars; Stefan Schatz (d) 4 bars
Date: January 5, 2012
Location: Park West Studio, Brooklyn, NY
Label: Monky's Records (Jpn.)
Dizzy Yoshimoto Trio, Quartet and Quintet
Dizzy Yoshimoto (ldr), John Marshall (t), Chris Byars (ts, f), Tardo Hammer (p), Dizzy Yoshimoto (b), Yoichi Kobayashi (d)
| a. | Love Is a Many Splendored Thing(Sammy Fain, Paul Francis Webster) | |
| b. | Can't Help Lovin' That Man(Jerome Kern, Oscar Hammerstein II) | |
| c. | The Trolley Song(Hugh Martin, Ralph Blane) | |
| d. | Mr. Wonderful(Lawrence Holofcener, Jerry Bock, George David Weiss) | |
| e. | You're Sensational(Cole Porter) - 5:25 | |
| f. | From This Moment On(Cole Porter) - 5:33 | |
| g. | Don't Take Your Love from Me(Henry Nemo) | |
| h. | Oh, Look at Me Now(Joe Bushkin, John De Vries) | |
| i. | They Didn't Believe Me(Jerome Kern, Anne Caldwell) |
| All titles on: |
Monky's Records (Jpn.) CDMKY 0004 — On Broadway (2012)
|
John Marshall (t) on a-b, f; Chris Byars (ts) on a, c-d, f, h-i, (f) on e.
e - Chris Byars (f) 40 bars; Tardo Hammer (p) 16 bars
f - Chris Byars (ts) 2-bar break + 68 bars; John Marshall (t) 68 bars; Tardo Hammer (p) 68 bars
Only tracks e and f have been auditioned.
Date: January 2013
Location: Tedesco Studios (Tom Tedesco, Eng.), Paramus, NJ
Label: SteepleChase (Dan.)
Chris Byars Quintet, Sextet, Septet
Chris Byars (ldr), John Mosca (tb), Chris Byars (as), Stefano Doglioni (bcl), James Byars (enh), Mine Sandrazam (p), Ari Roland (b), Phil Stewart (d)
| a. | Shhh...It's A Library (Riverdale Suite Part V)(Chris Byars) / arr: Chris Byars - 6:52 | |
| b. | Say You'll Stay(Chris Byars) / arr: Chris Byars - 5:11 | |
| c. | Mustang(Chris Byars) / arr: Chris Byars - 6:55 | |
| d. | I Know It's You(Chris Byars) / arr: Chris Byars - 6:33 | |
| e. | Jasmine Flower (Mo Li Hua)(Chris Byars) / arr: Chris Byars - 6:12 | |
| f. | Lucky Swing(Chris Byars) / arr: Chris Byars - 7:25 | |
| g. | The Wind on the Bridge(Chris Byars) / arr: Chris Byars - 6:36 | |
| h. | Rose Water(Chris Byars) / arr: Chris Byars - 7:15 | |
| i. | Bye, Sandy(Chris Byars) / arr: Chris Byars - 4:31 | |
| j. | Song from Morocco(Chris Byars) / arr: Chris Byars - 6:09 |
| All titles on: |
SteepleChase (Dan.) CDSCCD 31773 — Jasmine Flower (2013)
|
James Byars (enh) on a-b, e-f, i; Mine Sandrazam (p) on e.
a - Chris Byars (as) 34 bars; John Mosca (tb) 34 bars; Stefano Doglioni (bcl) 34 bars; Ari Roland (b) 34 bars arco; Phil Stewart (d) breaks
b - Chris Byars (as) 28 bars
c - Chris Byars (as) 60 bars; Stefano Doglioni (bcl) 2-bar break + 64 bars; John Mosca (tb) 64 bars; Ari Roland (b) 60 bars arco; Phil Stewart (d) 4-bar exchanges with horns and bass; Phil Stewart (d)
d - Chris Byars (as) 2-bar break + 32 bars; John Mosca (tb) 32 bars; Stefano Doglioni (bcl) 32 bars; Ari Roland (b) 32 bars arco; Phil Stewart (d) 4-bar exchanges with horns and bass
e - Chris Byars (as) 32 bars; Stefano Doglioni (bcl) 32 bars; John Mosca (tb) 32 bars; Ari Roland (b) 24 bars arco
f - Phil Stewart (d) 4-bar intro; Chris Byars (as) 2-bar break + 74 bars; Stefano Doglioni (bcl) 2-bar break + 74 bars; John Mosca (tb) 2-bar break + 74 bars; Ari Roland (b) 2-bar break + 74 bars arco; Phil Stewart (d) 2-bar break + 74 bars
g - Stefano Doglioni (bcl) 36 bars; John Mosca (tb) 36 bars; Chris Byars (as) 36 bars; Ari Roland (b) 36 bars arco
h - Phil Stewart (d) 4-bar intro; Chris Byars (as) 2-bar break + 64 bars; Stefano Doglioni (bcl) 2-bar break + 64 bars; John Mosca (tb) 64 bars; Ari Roland (b) 64 bars arco; Phil Stewart (d) 64 bars 4-bar exchanges with horns
i - Ari Roland (b) 24 bars arco; Stefano Doglioni (bcl) 24 bars; John Mosca (tb) 24 bars; Chris Byars (as) 24 bars
j - Chris Byars (as) 32 bars; John Mosca (tb) 16 bars; Stefano Doglioni (bcl) 16 bars; Ari Roland (b) 32 bars arco 4-bar exchanges with drums
Date: February 2, 2014
Location: Trading 8s Studios (Chris Sulit, Eng.), Paramus, NJ
Label: SteepleChase (Dan.)
Chris Byars Septet and Octet plays the music of Duke Jordan
Chris Byars (ldr), John Mosca (tb), Chris Byars (as, f), Janita Byars (cl), Stefano Doglioni (bcl), Pasquale Grasso (g), Mine Sadrazam (p), Ari Roland (b), Stefan Schatz (d), Yaala Ballin (v)
| a. | Jordanish (Flight to Jordan, East of Cairo)(Duke Jordan) / arr: Chris Byars - 6:11 | |
| b. | Undecided Lady(Duke Jordan) / arr: Chris Byars - 7:17 | |
| c. | There's a Star for You(Duke Jordan) / arr: Chris Byars - 6:56 | |
| d. | If I did, Would You?(Duke Jordan) / arr: Chris Byars - 5:25 | |
| e. | The Bullet (Shinkansen)(Duke Jordan) / arr: Chris Byars - 5:27 | |
| f. | Gabrielle's Wish (Two Loves)(Duke Jordan) / arr: Chris Byars - 3:07 | |
| g. | Lesson In Love (I’m Gonna Learn Your Style, I’ve Got To Learn Your Style, Street Jam)(Duke Jordan) / arr: Chris Byars - 4:10 | |
| h. | Paula(Duke Jordan) / arr: Chris Byars - 6:35 | |
| i. | Glad I Met Pat(Duke Jordan) / arr: Chris Byars - 9:11 | |
| j. | Sultry Eve (Orange Mist)(Duke Jordan) / arr: Chris Byars - 6:44 | |
| k. | Forecast (Table Chess)(Duke Jordan) / arr: Chris Byars - 6:10 |
| All titles on: |
SteepleChase (Dan.) CDSCCD 31787 — The Music Of Duke Jordan (2014)
|
Chris Byars (f) on j; Mine Sadrazam (p) on j; Yaala Ballin (v) on d, g.
a - Chris Byars (as) 32 bars; Stefano Doglioni (bcl) 2-bar break + 32 bars; Pasquale Grasso (g) 32 bars; John Mosca (tb) 32 bars; Ari Roland (b) 32 bars arco; Stefan Schatz (d) 32 bars 4-bar exchanges with alto saxophone, bass clarinet, guitar, trombone
b - Chris Byars (as) 32 bars; John Mosca (tb) 32 bars; Pasquale Grasso (g) 32 bars; Stefano Doglioni (bcl) 32 bars; Ari Roland (b) 32 bars arco
c - Chris Byars (as) 2-bar break + 36 bars; John Mosca (tb) 36 bars; Pasquale Grasso (g) 36 bats; Stefano Doglioni (bcl) 36 bars; Ari Roland (b) 36 bars arco; Stefan Schatz (d) 72 bars 4-bar exchanges with alto saxophone, trombone, guitar, bass clarinet, arco bass
d - Yaala Ballin (v); Chris Byars (as) 16 bars; John Mosca (tb) 16 bars; Pasquale Grasso (g) 16 bars; Stefano Doglioni (bcl) 16 bars; Yaala Ballin (v)
e - Chris Byars (as) 64 bars; Stefano Doglioni (bcl) 32 bars; Pasquale Grasso (g) 32 bats; John Mosca (tb) 32 bars; Ari Roland (b) 32 bars aeco; Stefan Schatz (d) 64 bars
g - Yaala Ballin (v); Ari Roland (b) 32 bars arco; Chris Byars (as) 4 bars; Stefano Doglioni (bcl) 4 bars; Pasquale Grasso (g) 8 bars bridge; John Mosca (tb) 4 bars; Yaala Ballin (v)
h - Pasquale Grasso (g) 4-bar intro; Chris Byars (as) 16 bars; John Mosca (tb) 16 bars; Pasquale Grasso (g) 16 bars; Stefano Doglioni (bcl) 16 bars; Ari Roland (b) 16 bars
i - Chris Byars (as) 64 bars in 3/4; John Mosca (tb) 64 bars in 3/4; Pasquale Grasso (g) 64 bars in 3/4; Stefano Doglioni (bcl) 64 bars in 3/4; Ari Roland (b) 64 bars in 3/4 arco; Stefan Schatz (d) 64 bars 8-bar exchanges with alto saxophone, trombone, guitar, bass clarinet
j - Mine Sadrazam (p)
k - Stefan Schatz (d) 4-bar intro; Chris Byars (as) 64 bars; John Mosca (tb) 32 bars; Pasquale Grasso (g) 32 bars; Stefano Doglioni (bcl) 32 bars; Ari Roland (b) 32 bars arco; Chris Byars (as) 32 bars 4-bar exchanges with trombone, bass clarinet; Stefan Schatz (d) 32 bars
Date: February 4, 2014
Location: Trading 8s Studios (Chris Sulit, Eng.), Paramus, NJ
Label: SteepleChase (Dan.)
Chris Byars Sextet plays mostly the music of Chris Byars
Chris Byars (ldr), John Mosca (tb), Chris Byars (as), Stefano Doglioni (bcl), Pasquale Grasso (g), Ari Roland (b), Stefan Schatz (d)
| a. | Little India(Chris Byars) / arr: Chris Byars - 5:15 | |
| b. | Taxi Bird(Chris Byars) / arr: Chris Byars - 5:02 | |
| c. | Express(Chris Byars) / arr: Chris Byars - 4:45 | |
| d. | Hello Pork Pie Hat(Chris Byars) / arr: Chris Byars - 8:04 | |
| e. | Berk-Bop(Chris Byars) / arr: Chris Byars - 5:47 | |
| f. | Danny Boy(Traditional, Fred E. Weatherly) / arr: Chris Byars - 8:08 | |
| g. | Seabreeze (Sea Breeze)(Larry Douglas, Fred Norman, Romare Bearden) / arr: Chris Byars - 10:31 | |
| h. | Soultrane(Tadd Dameron) / arr: Chris Byars - 5:21 | |
| i. | Lady Linda(Duke Jordan) / arr: Chris Byars - 6:10 | |
| j. | Crazeology(Charlie Parker, Bennie Harris) / arr: Chris Byars - 6:52 |
| All titles on: |
SteepleChase (Dan.) CDSCCD 31807 — Two Fives (2015)
|
John Mosca (tb) on a-h, j; Stefano Doglioni (bcl) on a-h, j.
a - Chris Byars (as) 34 bars; Stefano Doglioni (bcl) 34 bars; Pasquale Grasso (g) 34 bars; John Mosca (tb) 34 bars; Ari Roland (b) 34 bars arco; Stefan Schatz (d) 4 bars; Stefan Schatz (d) 4 bars; Stefan Schatz (d) 6 bars
b - Chris Byars (as) 32 bars
c - Chris Byars (as) 4 bars; Chris Byars (as) 52 bars; John Mosca (tb) 32 bars; Pasquale Grasso (g) 32 bars; Stefano Doglioni (bcl) 32 bars; Ari Roland (b) 32 bars arco; Stefan Schatz (d) 4 bars; Stefan Schatz (d) 20 bars
d - Chris Byars (as) 32 bars; John Mosca (tb) 32 bars; Pasquale Grasso (g) 32 bars; Stefano Doglioni (bcl) 32 bars; Ari Roland (b) 32 bars arco; Stefan Schatz (d) 4 X 4 bars; Stefan Schatz (d) 8 bars
e - Chris Byars (as) 32 bars; John Mosca (tb) 32 bars; Pasquale Grasso (g) 32 bars; Stefano Doglioni (bcl) 32 bars; Ari Roland (b) 32 bars arco; Stefan Schatz (d) 32 bars
f - Chris Byars (as) 32 bars; John Mosca (tb) 32 bars; Pasquale Grasso (g) 32 bars; Stefano Doglioni (bcl) 32 bars; Ari Roland (b) 32 bars arco; Stefan Schatz (d) 32 bars 4-bar exchanges with alto saxophone, trombone, guitar, bass clarinet
g - Chris Byars (as) 2-bar break + 44 bars; Stefano Doglioni (bcl) 44 bars; Pasquale Grasso (g) 44 bars; John Mosca (tb) 44 bars; Ari Roland (b) 44 bars arco; Stefan Schatz (d) 44 bars 4-bar exchanges with alto saxophone, bass clarinet, guitar, tromnone
h - Pasquale Grasso (g) 4-bar intro; Chris Byars (as) 32 bars; Chris Byars (as) cadenza
i - Chris Byars (as) 32 bars; Pasquale Grasso (g) 32 bars; Ari Roland (b) 32 bars arco; Stefan Schatz (d) 48 bars 8-bar exchanges with alto saxophone, guitar, arco bass
j - Stefan Schatz (d) 8-bar intro; Chris Byars (as) 64 bars; John Mosca (tb) 64 bars; Pasquale Grasso (g) 64 bars; Stefano Doglioni (bcl) 64 bars; Ari Roland (b) 64 bars arco; Chris Byars (as) 32 bars 4-bar exchanges with trombone, bass clarinet; Stefan Schatz (d) 64 bars
“Express” shares its harmonic structure with “Lullaby in Rhythm.”
Trombone and bass clarinet are out on track i.
Date: October 12, 2014
Location: Bunker Studio, Brooklyn, NY
Label: Elabeth (Fr.)
Fabien Mary Quintets play mostly Fabien Mary compositions
Fabien Mary (ldr), Fabien Mary (t), Steve Davis (tb), Chris Byars (ts, f), Frank Basile (bar), David Wong (b), Pete Van Nostrand (d)
| a. | Trips and Quads(Fabien Mary) / arr: Fabien Mary - 7:33 | |
| b. | The Camel Step(Fabien Mary) / arr: Fabien Mary - 5:40 | |
| c. | You're Not on the Map(Fabien Mary) / arr: Fabien Mary - 6:31 | |
| d. | The Little Tower on a Hill(Fabien Mary) / arr: Fabien Mary - 4:51 | |
| e. | Ydal Drib(Fabien Mary) / arr: Fabien Mary - 5:25 | |
| f. | Lament(J. J. Johnson) / arr: Fabien Mary - 5:23 | |
| g. | Yellow Dog(Fabien Mary) / arr: Fabien Mary - 6:34 | |
| h. | Adam 1890 Blues(Fabien Mary) / arr: Fabien Mary - 6:11 | |
| i. | Line on Rhythm(Fabien Mary) / arr: Fabien Mary - 5:13 |
| All titles on: |
Elabeth (Fr.) CDELA 621064 — Three Horns Two Rhythm (2015)
|
Steve Davis (tb) on a-b, d-f, h; Chris Byars (ts) on a, c-g, i, (f) on b, h; Frank Basile (bar) on c, g, i.
a - Fabien Mary (t) 48 bars in 6/4; Steve Davis (tb) 48 bars in 6/4; Chris Byars (ts) 48 bars in 6/4
b - Chris Byars (f) 64 bars; Fabien Mary (t) 32 bars
c - Chris Byars (ts) 96 bars; Fabien Mary (t) 96 bars; Frank Basile (bar) 96 bars; Pete Van Nostrand (d) 64 bars 8- and 4-bar exchanges with Byars, Mary, Basile
d - Fabien Mary (t) 16 bars; David Wong (b) 16 bars
e - Pete Van Nostrand (d) 4-bar intro; Chris Byars (ts) 48 bars; Fabien Mary (t) 2=bar breal + 48 bars; Steve Davis (tb) 48 bars; Pete Van Nostrand (d) 4X4-bar breaks
f - Steve Davis (tb) 32 bars; Fabien Mary (t) 32 bars
g - Fabien Mary (t) 80 bars; Frank Basile (bar) 80 bars; Chris Byars (ts) 80 bars; David Wong (b) 40 bars
h - Steve Davis (tb) 48 bars; Chris Byars (f) 36 bars; Fabien Mary (t) 48 bars; David Wong (b) 48 bars arco
i - Fabien Mary (t) 2-bar break + 64 bars; Frank Basile (bar) 64 bars; Chris Byars (ts) 64 bars; Pete Van Nostrand (d) 4 bars; Pete Van Nostrand (d) 12 bars; Pete Van Nostrand (d) 4 bars
Not surprisingly, “Ydal Drib” is based on the harmonic structure of Tadd Dameron’s “Lady Bird.”
Date: November 29, 2014
Location: Trading 8s Studios (Chris Sulit, Eng.), Paramus, NJ
Label: SteepleChase (Dan.)
Freddie Redd Quartet, Quintet, Sextet play the music of Freddie Redd
Freddie Redd (ldr), John Mosca (tb), Chris Byars (as, f), James Byars (o), Freddie Redd (p), Jay Anderson (b), Billy Drummond (d)
| a. | Reminiscing(Freddie Redd) - 7:13 | |
| b. | I'm Gonna Be Happy(Freddie Redd) - 7:19 | |
| c. | Melanie(Freddie Redd) - 9:18 | |
| d. | Blue Hue(Freddie Redd) - 7:23 |
| All titles on: |
SteepleChase (Dan.) CDSCCD 31817 — With Due Respect (2016)
|
Chris Byars (as) on c-d, (f) on a; James Byars (o) on a.
a - Jay Anderson (b) 4-bar intro; Freddie Redd (p) 52 bars; John Mosca (tb) 26 bars; Chris Byars (f) 26 bars; Jay Anderson (b) 26 bars
b - John Mosca (tb) 64 bars; Freddie Redd (p) 64 bars; Jay Anderson (b) 32 bars; Billy Drummond (d) 64 bars 8- and 4-bar exchanges with Mosca, Redd
c - Chris Byars (as) 64 bars; John Mosca (tb) 48 bars; Freddie Redd (p) 80 bars; Jay Anderson (b) 48 bars; Billy Drummond (d) 64 bars 8-bar exchanges with Byars, Mosca, Redd, Anderson
d - Chris Byars (as) 48 bars; John Mosca (tb) 48 bars; Freddie Redd (p) 60 bars; Jay Anderson (b) 36 bars; Billy Drummond (d) 72 bars 4-bar exchanges with Byars, Mosca, Redd, Anderson
Date: February 7, 2015
Location: Trading 8s Studios (Chris Sulit, Eng.), Paramus, NJ
Label: SteepleChase (Dan.)
Freddie Redd Sextet plays the music of Freddie Redd
Freddie Redd (ldr), John Mosca (tb), Chris Byars (as), Stefano Doglioni (bcl), Freddie Redd (p), Jay Anderson (b), Billy Drummond (d)
| a. | Lady J Blues(Freddie Redd) - 8:13 | |
| b. | A Night in Nalen(Freddie Redd) - 6:54 | |
| c. | O.D. (Overdose)(Freddie Redd) - 7:16 | |
| d. | Olé(Freddie Redd) - 6:26 | |
| e. | With Due Repect(Freddie Redd) - 3:23 |
| All titles on: |
SteepleChase (Dan.) CDSCCD 31817 — With Due Respect (2016)
|
a - Freddie Redd (p) 48 bars; Stefano Doglioni (bcl) 36 bars; John Mosca (tb) 36 bars; Chris Byars (as) 36 bars; Jay Anderson (b) 36 bars
b - John Mosca (tb) 4-bar break + 64 bars; Freddie Redd (p) 128 bars; Stefano Doglioni (bcl) 64 bars; Chris Byars (as) 64 bars; Billy Drummond (d) 64 bars 8-bar exchanges with Mosca, Redd, Doglioni, Byars
c - Chris Byars (as) 64 bars; Stefano Doglioni (bcl) 64 bars; John Mosca (tb) 64 bars; Freddie Redd (p) 64 bars; Billy Drummond (d) 64 bars 8-bar exchanges with Byars, Doglioni, Mosca, Redd
d - Stefano Doglioni (bcl) 32 bars; John Mosca (tb) 32 bars; Chris Byars (as) 32 bars; Freddie Redd (p) 64 bars; Jay Anderson (b) 32 bars
There are no improvised solos on track e.
Date: December 9, 2015
Location: Trading 8s Studios (Chris Sulit, Eng.), Paramus, NJ
Label: SteepleChase (Dan.)
Chris Byars Sextet and Septet play the Music of Frank Strozier
Chris Byars (ldr), John Mosca (tb), Chris Byars (as, f), Stefano Doglioni (bcl), James Byars (o), Pasquale Grasso (g), Ari Roland (b), Stefan Schatz (d)
| a. | Extension 27(Frank Strozier) / arr: Chris Byars
- 8:32 SteepleChase (Dan.) CDSCCD 31824 — The Music of Frank Strozier (2016)
|
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| b. | Neicy(Frank Strozier) / arr: Chris Byars
- 7:07 SteepleChase (Dan.) CDSCCD 31824 — The Music of Frank Strozier (2016)
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| c. | Remember Me(Frank Strozier) / arr: Chris Byars
- 6:43 SteepleChase (Dan.) CDSCCD 31824 — The Music of Frank Strozier (2016)
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| d. | Idle One(Frank Strozier) / arr: Chris Byars
- 4:39 SteepleChase (Dan.) CDSCCD 31824 — The Music of Frank Strozier (2016)
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| e. | The Crystal Ball (For Chris, Pacemaker Suite, Part 3)(Frank Strozier) / arr: Chris Byars
- 7:26 SteepleChase (Dan.) CDSCCD 31824 — The Music of Frank Strozier (2016)
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| f. | Long Night (Pacemaker Suite, Part 5)(Frank Strozier) / arr: Chris Byars
- 9:53 SteepleChase (Dan.) CDSCCD 31824 — The Music of Frank Strozier (2016)
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| g. | Just Think It Over (Pacemaker Suite, Part 4)(Frank Strozier) / arr: Chris Byars
- 6:54 SteepleChase (Dan.) CDSCCD 31824 — The Music of Frank Strozier (2016)
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| h. | Some Other Time(Frank Strozier) / arr: Chris Byars
- 6:49 SteepleChase (Dan.) CDSCCD 31824 — The Music of Frank Strozier (2016)
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| i. | Ollie(Frank Strozier) / arr: Chris Byars
- 4:01 SteepleChase (Dan.) CDSCCD 31824 — The Music of Frank Strozier (2016)
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| j. | Will I Forget?(Frank Strozier) / arr: Chris Byars
- 7:50 SteepleChase (Dan.) CDSCCD 31824 — The Music of Frank Strozier (2016)
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| k. | The Need for Love (Pacemaker Suite, Part 2)(Frank Strozier) / arr: Chris Byars
- 7:02 unissued
|
Chris Byars (as) on a, c-d, f-g, i, k, (f) on b, e, h, j; James Byars (o) on b-k.
a - Stefan Schatz (d) 4-bar intro; Chris Byars (as) 54 bars; John Mosca (tb) 54 bars; Pasquale Grasso (g) 54 bars; Stefano Doglioni (bcl) 54 bars; Ari Roland (b) 54 bars arco; Stefan Schatz (d) 108 bars exchanges with alto saxophone, trombone, guitar, bass clarinet, arco bass; Stefan Schatz (d) 6 bars
b - Chris Byars (f) 68 bars in 3/4; John Mosca (tb) 68 bars in 3/4; Stefano Doglioni (bcl) 68 bars in 3/4; Ari Roland (b) 68 bars in 3/4 arco
c - Pasquale Grasso (g) 40 bars; Stefano Doglioni (bcl) 40 bars; John Mosca (tb) 40 bars; Ari Roland (b) 40 bars; Chris Byars (as) 40 bars
d - Pasquale Grasso (g) 16 bars
e - Chris Byars (f) 32 bars; Stefano Doglioni (bcl) 32 bars; Pasquale Grasso (g) 32 bars; John Mosca (tb) 32 bars; Ari Roland (b) 32 bars; Stefan Schatz (d) 32 bars 4-bar exchanges with flute, bass clarinet, guitar, trombone
f - Chris Byars (as) 24 bars; John Mosca (tb) 24 bars; Pasquale Grasso (g) 24 bars; Stefano Doglioni (bcl) 24 bars; Ari Roland (b) 24 bars arco
g - Chris Byars (as) 88 bars; John Mosca (tb) 44 bars; Pasquale Grasso (g) 44 bars; Stefano Doglioni (bcl) 44 bars; Ari Roland (b) 44 bars arco; Stefan Schatz (d) 88 bars 4-bar exchanges with alto saxophone, trombone, guitar, bass clarinet, arco bass
h - Chris Byars (f) 32 bars; Stefano Doglioni (bcl) 32 bars; Pasquale Grasso (g) 32 bars; John Mosca (tb) 32 bars; Ari Roland (b) 32 bars arco; Stefan Schatz (d) 80 bars 8-bar exchanges with flute, bass clarinet, guitar, trombone, arco bass
i - Chris Byars (as) 20 bars
j - Chris Byars (f) 32 bars; John Mosca (tb) 32 bars; Pasquale Grasso (g) 32 bars; Stefano Doglioni (bcl) 32 bars; Ari Roland (b) 32 bars arco; Stefan Schatz (d) 32 bars 4-bar exchanged with flute, trombone, guitar, bass clarinet
k - Chris Byars (as) 64 bars; John Mosca (tb) 64 bars; Pasquale Grasso (g) 64 bars; Stefano Doglioni (bcl) 64 bars; Ari Roland (b) 64 bars arco; Stefan Schatz (d) 32 bars
Track e is called "For Chris."
Date: December 8, 2016
Location: Trading 8s Studio (Chris Sulit, Eng.), Paramus, NJ
Label: SteepleChase (Dan.)
Chris Byars Sextet
Chris Byars (ldr), John Mosca (tb), Chris Byars (as), Stefano Doglioni (bcl), Pasquale Grasso (g), Ari Roland (b), Stefan Schatz (d)
| a. | Transfiguration(Gigi Gryce) / arr: Chris Byars - 5:59 | |
| b. | Quick Turnaround(Chris Byars) / arr: Chris Byars - 8:11 | |
| c. | Dawn in the City(Freddie Redd) / arr: Chris Byars - 6:01 | |
| d. | Hot Dog(Chris Byars) / arr: Chris Byars - 8:12 | |
| e. | No Message(Chris Byars) / arr: Chris Byars - 6:48 | |
| f. | Chess(Chris Byars) / arr: Chris Byars - 9:08 | |
| g. | Bridge of Locks (Köln Evolution Suite Part V)(Chris Byars) / arr: Chris Byars - 5:13 | |
| h. | The General's Song(Tarek Abdel-Hakim) / arr: Chris Byars - 5:50 | |
| i. | B. G.'s Holiday(Gigi Gryce) / arr: Chris Byars - 9:21 |
| All titles on: |
SteepleChase (Dan.) CDSCCD 31842 — New York City Jazz (2018)
|
a - Chris Byars (as) 2-bar break + 32 bars; John Mosca (tb) 32 bars; Pasquale Grasso (g) 32 bars; Stefano Doglioni (bcl) 32 bars; Ari Roland (b) 32 bars arco; Stefan Schatz (d) 32 bars 4-bar exchanges with trombone, guitar, bass clarinet, arco bass
b - Chris Byars (as) 32 bars; John Mosca (tb) 32 bars; Pasquale Grasso (g) 32 bars; Stefano Doglioni (bcl) 32 bars; Ari Roland (b) 32 bars arco; Stefan Schatz (d) 32 bars 4-bar exchnages with trombone, guitar, bass clarinet, arco bass; Stefan Schatz (d) 4 bars
c - Chris Byars (as) 16 bars; Pasquale Grasso (g) 14 bars entering at bridge
d - Chris Byars (as) 4-bar break + 128 bars; John Mosca (tb) 4-bar break + 64 bars; Pasquale Grasso (g) 64 bars; Stefano Doglioni (bcl) 64 bars; Ari Roland (b) 64 bars arco bass; Stefan Schatz (d) 64 bars; Chris Byars (as) cadenza
e - Chris Byars (as) 36 bars; Pasquale Grasso (g) 36 bars; John Mosca (tb) 2-bar break + 36 bars; Stefano Doglioni (bcl) 36 bars; Ari Roland (b) 36 bars arco
f - Chris Byars (as) 64 bars; John Mosca (tb) 64 bars; Pasquale Grasso (g) 64 bars; Stefano Doglioni (bcl) 64 bars; Ari Roland (b) 64 bars arco; Stefan Schatz (d) 64 bars 4-bar exchanges with alto saxophone, trombone, guitar, bass clarinet, arco bass
g - Chris Byars (as) 18 bars in 5/4
h - Pasquale Grasso (g) 32 bars; Chris Byars (as) 32 bars; Stefano Doglioni (bcl) 32 bars; John Mosca (tb) 32 bars; Ari Roland (b) 32 bars arco; Stefan Schatz (d) 32 bars
i - Stefan Schatz (d) 8-bar intro; Chris Byars (as) 64 bars; Stefano Doglioni (bcl) 64 bars; Pasquale Grasso (g) 64 bars; John Mosca (tb) 64 bars; Ari Roland (b) 64 bars arco; Stefan Schatz (d) 32 bars
Although the CD indicates that Byars performs on flute, that instrument is not heard on any of the tracks.
“Transfiguration” shares its harmonic structure with the standard “Gone with the Wind.” “Chess” is harmonically very close to “Woody’n You.” On “The General’s Song,” the solos are based on the chords of “Sweet Georgia Brown.”
Date: January 23, 2017
Location: Michiko Studios, New York City
Label: [private recording]
Chris Byars Sextet
Chris Byars (ldr), John Mosca (tb), Chris Byars (as), Stefano Doglioni (bcl), Pasquale Grasso (g), Ari Roland (b), Stefan Schatz (d)
| a. | Hot Dog(Chris Byars) - 4:20 | |
| b. | Chess(Chris Byars) - 3:38 |
| Both titles unissued. |
a - Chris Byars (as) 2-bar break + 32 bars; John Mosca (tb) 32 bars; Pasquale Grasso (g) 4-bar break + 32 bars; Stefano Doglioni (bcl) 32 bars; Ari Roland (b) 32 bars arco; Ari Roland (b) 32 bars; Chris Byars (as) cadenza
b - Chris Byars (as) 32 bars; Stefano Doglioni (bcl) 16 bars; Pasquale Grasso (g) 16 bars entering at bridge; John Mosca (tb) 16 bars; Ari Roland (b) 16 bars arco entering at bridge; Stefan Schatz (d) 4 bars; Stefan Schatz (d) 4 bars
Track a:
Track b:
Date: March 31, 2017
Location: Borbeck Castle, Essen, Germany
Label: [private recording]
WDR Bigband and Chris Byars - Monk@100 Concert
Chris Byars, WDR Big Band (ldr), Wim Both, Ruud Breuls, Andy Haderer, John Marshall (t), Shannon Barnett, Andy Hunter, Ludwig Nuss (tb), Mattis Cederberg (btb), Johan Hörlen, Karolina Strassmayer (as), Chris Byars (ts, con), Paul Heller, Olivier Peters (ts), Jens Neufang (bar), Paul Shigihara (g), Reiner Böhn (p), John Goldsby (b), Hans Dekker (d)
| a. | I Mean You(Thelonious Monk) / arr: Chris Byars - 8:34 | |
| b. | Evidence(Thelonious Monk) / arr: Chris Byars - 6:02 | |
| c. | Crepuscule with Nellie(Thelonious Monk) / arr: Chris Byars - 7:45 | |
| d. | Abide with Me(William H. Monk) / arr: Chris Byars - 0:54 | |
| e. | Well, You Needn't(Thelonious Monk) / arr: Chris Byars - 8:36 | |
| f. | Bye Ya(Thelonious Monk) / arr: Chris Byars - 8:41 | |
| g. | 52nd Street Theme(Thelonious Monk) / arr: Chris Byars - 7:39 | |
| h. | Blue Monk(Thelonious Monk) / arr: Chris Byars - 4:49 | |
| i. | Rhythm-A-Ning(Thelonious Monk) / arr: Chris Byars - 6:55 | |
| j. | Gallop's Gallop(Thelonious Monk) / arr: Chris Byars - 8:54 | |
| k. | Ruby, My Dear(Thelonious Monk) / arr: Chris Byars - 8:23 | |
| l. | Ugly Beauty(Thelonious Monk) / arr: Chris Byars - 16:43 | |
| m. | Let's Cool One(Thelonious Monk) / arr: Chris Byars | |
| n. | Epistrophy (Fly Right)(Thelonious Monk, Kenny Clarke) / arr: Chris Byars | |
| o. | Straight, No Chaser(Thelonious Monk) / arr: Chris Byars | |
| p. | 'Round Midnight(Thelonious Monk, Bernie Hanighen, Cootie Williams) / arr: Chris Byars - 7:44 |
| All titles unissued. |
l, m, n, o performed as medley
Tracks l-o:
Date: July 2, 2017
Location: Church Street Music School (Paul Sikivie, Eng.), New York City
Label: Cellar Live (Can.)
Phil Stewart Trio, Quartet, Sextet
Phil Stewart (ldr), Joe Magnarelli (t), Grant Stewart (as, ts), Chris Byars (ts), Sacha Perry (p), Paul Sikivie (b), Phil Stewart (d)
| a. | Manteca(Dizzy Gillespie, Walter 'Gil' Fuller, Chano Pozo) - 5:42 | |
| b. | Dance of the Infidels(Bud Powell) - 6:01 | |
| c. | Far Sure(Sacha Perry) - 4:39 | |
| d. | The Sumo(Josh Benko) - 5:44 | |
| e. | Erratic(Sacha Perry) - 4:46 | |
| f. | This Is All I Ask(Gordon Jenkins) - 7:39 | |
| g. | Apache Dance(George Coleman) - 8:44 | |
| h. | Eronel(Thelonious Monk, Sadik Hakim, Sahib Shihab) - 5:35 | |
| i. | The Doctor Is In(Chris Byars) - 6:45 | |
| j. | Livin' with Hobson(Sacha Perry) - 8:44 |
| All titles on: |
Cellar Live (Can.) CDCLO 81517 — Introducing Phil Stewart: Melodious Drum (2018)
|
Joe Magnarelli (t) on a-b, g; Grant Stewart (as) on d, (ts) on b, f-g; Chris Byars (ts) on b, e, g, i.
a - Phil Stewart (d) intro; Joe Magnarelli (t) 80 bars; Sacha Perry (p) 80 bars; Phil Stewart (d) 48 bars
b - Grant Stewart (ts) 36 bars; Joe Magnarelli (t) 36 bars; Chris Byars (ts) 36 bars; Sacha Perry (p) 48 bars; Paul Sikivie (b) 36 bars
c - Sacha Perry (p) 68 bars; Paul Sikivie (b) 32 bars
d - Grant Stewart (as) 64 bars; Sacha Perry (p) 64 bars
e - Phil Stewart (d) 8-bar intro; Chris Byars (ts) 64 bars; Sacha Perry (p) 64 bars; Phil Stewart (d) 64 bars 8-bar exchanges with Byars, Perry
f - Grant Stewart (ts) 32 bars; Sacha Perry (p) 32 bars
g - Phil Stewart (d) 8-bar intro; Phil Stewart (d) breaks; Chris Byars (ts) 128 bars; Joe Magnarelli (t) 128 bars; Grant Stewart (ts) 128 bars; Sacha Perry (p) 128 bars; Phil Stewart (d) 128 bars; Phil Stewart (d) breaks
h - Sacha Perry (p) 64 bars; Paul Sikivie (b) 64 bars; Sacha Perry (p) 64 bars 4-bar exchanges with Stewart
i - Phil Stewart (d) 4-bar intro; Chris Byars (ts) 64 bars; Sacha Perry (p) 64 bats; Paul Sikivie (b) 64 bars; Phil Stewart (d) 64 bars 4-bar exchanges with Byars, Perry
j - Paul Sikivie (b) 4-bar intro walking; Sacha Perry (p) 72 bars; Paul Sikivie (b) 24 bars
Track g is identified as “Apache.” It is tenor saxophonist George Coleman’s “Cherokee” contrafact “Apache Dance.”
Date: July 21, 2017
Location: Smalls Jazz Club, New York City
Label: [private recording]
Chris Byars-Pasquale Grasso Quartet live at Smalls
Chris Byars, Pasquale Grasso (ldr), Chris Byars (ts), Pasquale Grasso (g), Ari Roland (b), Renaud Penant (d)
| a. | In the Mood for a Classic(Bud Powell) - 9:30 |
| unissued |
a - Chris Byars (ts) 108 bars; Pasquale Grasso (g) 108 bars; Ari Roland (b) 108 bars arco; Renaud Penant (d) 72 bars 4-bar exchanges with tenor sax, guitar, arco bass
Date: February 4, 2018
Location: Trading 8s Recording Studio (Chris Sulit, Eng.), Paramus, NJ
Label: SteepleChase (Dan.)
Chris Byars Original Sextet plays Chris Byars compositions
Chris Byars (ldr), John Mosca (tb), Zaid Nasser (as), Chris Byars (ts), Stefano Doglioni (bcl), Ari Roland (b), Phil Stewart (d)
| a. | Intention(Chris Byars) / arr: Chris Byars - 8:15 | |
| b. | A Hundred Years from Today(Victor Young, Joe Young, Ned Washington) / arr: Chris Byars - 5:16 | |
| c. | San Juan Hill(Chris Byars) / arr: Chris Byars - 6:09 | |
| d. | Money Can't Buy(Chris Byars) / arr: Chris Byars - 5:25 | |
| e. | All the Things Are Redd (Walrafplatz: Köln Evolution Suite Part VI)(Chris Byars) / arr: Chris Byars - 7:40 | |
| f. | Lovelace(Chris Byars) / arr: Chris Byars - 5:49 | |
| g. | Elevated Tracks(Chris Byars) / arr: Chris Byars - 5:22 | |
| h. | Flight(Chris Byars) / arr: Chris Byars - 5:27 | |
| i. | Incognito(Chris Byars) / arr: Chris Byars - 5:52 | |
| j. | Mountain Top(Chris Byars) / arr: Chris Byars - 9:11 |
| All titles on: |
SteepleChase (Dan.) CDSCCD 31868 — A Hundred Years From Today (2019)
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a - Zaid Nasser (as); John Mosca (tb); Chris Byars (ts); Stefano Doglioni (bcl); Ari Roland (b) arco; Phil Stewart (d)
b - Chris Byars (ts); Zaid Nasser (as); John Mosca (tb) bridge; Stefano Doglioni (bcl); Ari Roland (b) bridge arco; Phil Stewart (d) exchanges with ensemble\
c - Chris Byars (ts); John Mosca (tb); Zaid Nasser (as); Stefano Doglioni (bcl); Ari Roland (b) arco; Phil Stewart (d) 4- and 2-bar exchanges with ensemble
d - Chris Byars (ts); Stefano Doglioni (bcl); Zaid Nasser (as); John Mosca (tb); Ari Roland (b) arco
e - Chris Byars (ts); Zaid Nasser (as); John Mosca (tb); Stefano Doglioni (bcl); Ari Roland (b); Phil Stewart (d) 4-bar exchanges with ensemble
f - Phil Stewart (d) intro; John Mosca (tb); Zaid Nasser (as); Stefano Doglioni (bcl); Chris Byars (ts); Ari Roland (b) arco; Phil Stewart (d)
g - Zaid Nasser (as); John Mosca (tb); Chris Byars (ts); Stefano Doglioni (bcl); Ari Roland (b) arco; Phil Stewart (d) 4-bar exchanges with horns; Phil Stewart (d)
h - Zaid Nasser (as); John Mosca (tb); Chris Byars (ts); Stefano Doglioni (bcl); Ari Roland (b) arco; Phil Stewart (d)
i - Zaid Nasser (as); Stefano Doglioni (bcl); Chris Byars (ts); John Mosca (tb); Ari Roland (b) arco
j - Stefano Doglioni (bcl); Zaid Nasser (as); John Mosca (tb); Chris Byars (ts); Ari Roland (b) arco
See my essay on this session including the album notes.
Date: June 19, 2018
Location: Neal Miner Apartment, New York City
Label: Gut String Records
Neal Miner duets with Chris Byars
Neal Miner (ldr), Chris Byars (ts, f), Neal Miner (b)
| a. | Silver Line(Neal Miner) - 4:59 | |
| b. | Indian Summer(Victor Herbert, Al Dubin) - 4:38 | |
| c. | Late Nite(Neal Miner) - 4:30 | |
| d. | Autumn in New York(Vernon Duke) - 4:08 | |
| e. | Flamingo(Ted Grouya, Edmund Anderson) - 5:42 | |
| f. | Bernie's Tune (Bobby Socks, The Baron)(Bernie Miller, Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller) - 3:24 | |
| g. | I Can Dream, Can't I(Sammy Fain, Irving Kahal) - 3:56 | |
| h. | Deep Purple(Peter De Rose, Mitchell Parish) - 4:55 | |
| i. | Dreams of Youth(Neal Miner) - 4:28 | |
| j. | Timeline(Neal Miner) - 5:09 |
| All titles on: |
Gut String Records CDGSR 040 — Timeline (2019)
|
Chris Byars (ts) on a-d, f-h, j, (f) on e, i.
a - Chris Byars (ts) 2-bar break + 32 bars; Neal Miner (b) 32 bars; Chris Byars (ts) 64 bars 8- and 4-bar exchanges with Miner
b - Chris Byars (ts) 32 bars; Neal Miner (b) 32 bars; Chris Byars (ts) 32 bars 4-bar exchanges with Miner
c - Chris Byars (ts) 2-bar break + 32 bars; Neal Miner (b) 32 bars; Chris Byars (ts) 32 bars 4-bar exchanges with Miner
d - Chris Byars (ts) 16 bars; Neal Miner (b) 16 bars
e - Chris Byars (f) 32 bars; Neal Miner (b) 32 bars; Chris Byars (f) 32 bars 8-bar exchanges with Miner
f - Neal Miner (b) 8 bars walking intro; Chris Byars (ts) 64 bars; Neal Miner (b) 64b bars walking; Chris Byars (ts) 8 bars bridge
g - Neal Miner (b) 32 bars; Chris Byars (ts) 32 bars
h - Neal Miner (b) 32 bars; Chris Byars (ts) 32 bars; Neal Miner (b) 32 bars 8-bar exchanges with Byars
i - Neal Miner (b) 16 bars; Chris Byars (f) 8 bars
j - Neal Miner (b) intro; Chris Byars (ts) 2-bar break + 32 bars; Neal Miner (b) 32 bars; Chris Byars (ts) 32 bars 8-bar exchanges with Miner
Track a shares its chord structure with the standard, “Look for the Silver Lining.” Track j shares its chord structure with the standard, “Time on My Hands.”
Date: February 8, 2019
Location: Trading 8s Studio (Chris Sulit, Eng.), Paramus, NJ
Label: SteepleChase (Dan.)
Chris Byars' Original Sextet plays Chris Byars compositions
Chris Byars (ldr), John Mosca (tb), Zaid Nasser (as), Chris Byars (ts), Stefano Doglioni (bcl), Ari Roland (b), Phil Stewart (d)
| a. | Big Red(Tommy Turrentine) / arr: Chris Byars - 6:10 | |
| b. | Keeper(Chris Byars) / arr: Chris Byars - 4:34 | |
| c. | Closer(Chris Byars) / arr: Chris Byars - 7:18 | |
| d. | Nashville(Chris Byars) / arr: Chris Byars - 10:19 | |
| e. | Arizona(Chris Byars) / arr: Chris Byars - 6:15 | |
| f. | Philadelphia(Chris Byars) / arr: Chris Byars - 5:54 | |
| g. | Ste. Phanourios(Chris Byars) / arr: Chris Byars - 10:08 | |
| h. | Third Culture Kid(Chris Byars) / arr: Chris Byars - 8:46 | |
| i. | Moscow(Chris Byars) / arr: Chris Byars - 5:28 |
| All titles on: |
SteepleChase (Dan.) CDSCCD 31888 — On The Shoulders Of Giants (2020)
|
a - Chris Byars (ts) 32 bars; Stefano Doglioni (bcl) 32 bars; Zaid Nasser (as) 32 bars; John Mosca (tb) 32 bars; Ari Roland (b) 32 bars arco; Phil Stewart (d) 8 bars; Phil Stewart (d) 8 bars
b - Chris Byars (ts) 32 bars
c - Zaid Nasser (as) 2-bar break + 56 bars; Stefano Doglioni (bcl) 2-bar break + 56 bars; Chris Byars (ts) 56 bars; John Mosca (tb) 2-bar break + 56 bars; Ari Roland (b) 52 bars arco; Phil Stewart (d) 52 bars
d - Zaid Nasser (as) 2-bar break + 32 bars; John Mosca (tb) 32 bars; Chris Byars (ts) 32 bars; Stefano Doglioni (bcl) 32 bars; Ari Roland (b) 32 bars arco
e - Ari Roland (b) 64 bars arco; Stefano Doglioni (bcl) 28 bars; Zaid Nasser (as) 32 bars; John Mosca (tb) 28 bars; Chris Byars (ts) 32 bars; Phil Stewart (d) 8 bars; Phil Stewart (d) 4 bars
f - Phil Stewart (d) 32 bars; John Mosca (tb) 32 bars; Chris Byars (ts) 32 bars; Stefano Doglioni (bcl) 32 bars; Zaid Nasser (as) 32 bars; Ari Roland (b) 32 bars arco; Phil Stewart (d) 3X4 bars; 2X8 bars
g - Stefano Doglioni (bcl) 2-bar break + 64 bars; Zaid Nasser (as) 64 bars; John Mosca (tb) 62 bars; Chris Byars (ts) 64 bars; Ari Roland (b) 64 bars arco; Phil Stewart (d) 64 bars
h - Chris Byars (ts) 56 bars; Stefano Doglioni (bcl) 56 bars; Zaid Nasser (as) 56 bars; John Mosca (tb) 56 bars; Ari Roland (b) 56 bars arco; Phil Stewart (d) 50 bars; Phil Stewart (d) 8 bars
i - John Mosca (tb) 2-bar break + 64 bars; Zaid Nasser (as) 32 bars; Stefano Doglioni (bcl) 32 bars; Chris Byars (ts) 32 bars; Ari Roland (b) 32 bars arco; Phil Stewart (d) 32 bars; John Mosca (tb) cadenza
Date: April 5, 2019
Location: Stiftisches Gymnasium, Düren, Germany
Label: [radio broadcast]
WDR Bigband with Pasquale Grasso and Chris Byars
Chris Byars, Pasquale Grasso, WDR Big Band (ldr), Wim Both, Ruud Breuls, Rob Bruynen, Andy Haderer (t), Mattis Cederberg, Andy Hunter, Ludwig Nuss, Tobias Wember (tb), Paul Heller, Johan Hörlen, Jens Neufang, Olivier Peters, Karolina Strassmayer (ww), Pasquale Grasso (g), John Goldsby (b), Hans Dekker (d), Chris Byars (con)
| a. | Monopoly(Bud Powell) / arr: Chris Byars - 8:37 | |
| b. | Let's(Thad Jones) / arr: Chris Byars - 5:36 | |
| c. | Un Poco Loco(Bud Powell) / arr: Chris Byars - 7:47 | |
| d. | I'll Keep Loving You(Bud Powell) / arr: Chris Byars - 5:20 | |
| e. | Elegy(Bud Powell) / arr: Chris Byars - 13:30 | |
| f. | Audrey(Bud Powell) / arr: Chris Byars | |
| g. | 52nd Street Theme(Thelonious Monk) / arr: Chris Byars - 6:36 | |
| h. | Celia(Bud Powell) / arr: Chris Byars - 9:40 | |
| i. | Elevated Tracks(Chris Byars) / arr: Chris Byars - 6:50 | |
| j. | Ruby, My Dear(Thelonious Monk) / arr: Chris Byars - 8:50 | |
| k. | Parisian Thoroughfare(Bud Powell) / arr: Chris Byars - 7:50 | |
| l. | 'Round Midnight(Thelonious Monk, Bernie Hanighen, Cootie Williams) / arr: Chris Byars - 6:00 |
| All titles unissued. |
e, f performed as medley
This concert has not been auditioned.
Date: April 8, 2019
Location: WDR Studio 4, Cologne, Germany
Label: [private recording]
WDR Bigband with Pasquale Grasso and Chris Byars
Chris Byars, Pasquale Grasso, WDR Big Band (ldr), Wim Both, Ruud Breuls, Rob Bruynen, Andy Haderer (t), Mattis Cederberg, Andy Hunter, Ludwig Nuss, Tobias Wember (tb), Paul Heller, Johan Hörlen, Jens Neufang, Olivier Peters, Karolina Strassmayer (ww), Pasquale Grasso (g), John Goldsby (b), Hans Dekker (d), Chris Byars (con)
| a. | Parisian Thoroughfare(Bud Powell) / arr: Chris Byars - 8:05 | |
| b. | Monopoly(Bud Powell) / arr: Chris Byars - 8:54 |
| Both titles unissued. |
a - Johan Hörlen (ww) on alto sax; Andy Hunter (tb); Pasquale Grasso (g); John Goldsby (b); Hans Dekker (d)
b - Pasquale Grasso (g); Andy Hunter (tb); Karolina Strassmayer (ww) on alto saxophone; Ruud Breuls (t)
Video of track a is available here.
Track b:
Date: July 18-20, 2019
Location: Tetracordo Summit 2019, Isernia, Italy
Label: [private recording]
Chris Byars' "Jazz from the World" All Stars live in Italy
Chris Byars (ldr), Tom Kirkpatrick (t), Zaid Nasser (as), Chris Byars (ts), Stefan Melovsky (g), Vahagn Hayrapertyan (p), Ari Roland (b), Joe Farnsworth (d), Yaala Ballin (v)
| a. | Broadway(Bill Bird, Henri Woode, Teddy McRae) - 8:14 | |
| b. | What a Wonderful World(George David Weiss, Bob Thiele) - 2:27 | |
| c. | Evil Gal Blues(Lionel Hampton, Leonard Feather) - 5:59 | |
| d. | A Night in Tunisia(Dizzy Gillespie, Frank Paparelli) - 8:35 |
| All titles unissued. |
Tom Kirkpatrick (t) on d; Stefan Melovsky (g) on c-d; Yaala Ballin (v) on c.
a - Joe Farnsworth (d) 4-bar intro; Zaid Nasser (as) 64 bars; Joe Farnsworth (d) 8 bars bridge; Chris Byars (ts) 64 bars; Vahagn Hayrapertyan (p) 96 bars; Ari Roland (b) 64 bars arco; Joe Farnsworth (d) 32 bars 4-bar exchanges with alto saxophone, tenorer saxophone, piano, arco bass; Joe Farnsworth (d) 8 bars bridge
b - Zaid Nasser (as) 32 bars theme with embellishment
c - Vahagn Hayrapertyan (p) 12-bar intro; Yaala Ballin (v); Zaid Nasser (as) 24 bars; Chris Byars (ts) 24 bars; Stefan Melovsky (g) 24 bars; Vahagn Hayrapertyan (p) 24 bars; Ari Roland (b) 24 bars arco; Yaala Ballin (v)
d - Joe Farnsworth (d); Tom Kirkpatrick (t) 4-bar break + 64 bars; Chris Byars (ts) 32 bars; Zaid Nasser (as) 32 bars; Stefan Melovsky (g) 32 bars; Vahagn Hayrapertyan (p) 32 bars; Ari Roland (b) 32 bars arco; Joe Farnsworth (d)
Timings shown do not include announcements or applause.
Date: November 16-17, 2019
Location: New Jersey
Label: [private recording]
Hilary Kole with Quintet
Hilary Kole (ldr), Chris Byars (ts, cl, f), Tom Beckham (vib), John Hart (g), Adam Birnbaum (p), Paul Gill (b), Aaron Kimmel (d), Hilary Kole (v)
| a. | Sophisticated Lady(Duke Ellington, Mitchell Parish, Irving Mills)
- 4:26 [private recording] CDunnumbered — Sophisticated Lady (2021)
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| b. | That Old Devil Moon(Burton Lane, E. Y. Harburg)
- 5:47 [private recording] CDunnumbered — Sophisticated Lady (2021)
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| c. | The Best Thing for You(Irving Berlin)
- 4:09 [private recording] CDunnumbered — Sophisticated Lady (2021)
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| d. | Somebody Loves Me(George Gershwin, Buddy DeSylva, Ballard MacDonald)
- 4:56 [private recording] CDunnumbered — Sophisticated Lady (2021)
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| e. | Make Me Rainbows(Alan Bergman, Marilyn Bergman, John Williams)
- 5:12 [private recording] CDunnumbered — Sophisticated Lady (2021)
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| f. | Love Dance(Paul Williams, Ivan Lins, Vitor Martins)
- 5:46 [private recording] CDunnumbered — Sophisticated Lady (2021)
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| g. | In a Sentimental Mood(Duke Ellington, Irving Mills, Manny Kurtz)
- 5:02 [private recording] CDunnumbered — Sophisticated Lady (2021)
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| h. | Let's Face the Music and Dance(Irving Berlin)
- 6:01 [private recording] CDunnumbered — Sophisticated Lady (2021)
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| i. | 'Round Midnight(Thelonious Monk, Bernie Hanighen, Cootie Williams)
- 5:52 [private recording] CDunnumbered — Sophisticated Lady (2021)
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| j. | It's You or No One(Jule Styne, Sammy Cahn)
- 5:08 [private recording] CDunnumbered — Sophisticated Lady (2021)
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| k. | The Sweetest Sounds(Richard Rodgers)
- 5:37 [private recording] CDunnumbered — Sophisticated Lady (2021)
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| l. | Knock Me a Kiss(Andy Razaf, Mike Jackson) - 6:07 |
| All titles on: |
Victor (Jpn.) CDVICJ 61788 — Sophisticated Lady (2021)
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Chris Byars (ts) on c-d, h, j, l, (cl) on a, k, (f) on b, f-g; Tom Beckham (vib) on a-d, f-h, j-l; Adam Birnbaum (p) on a-h, j-l; Paul Gill (b) on a-h, j-l; Aaron Kimmel (d) on a-h, j-l.
a - Hilary Kole (v); Hilary Kole (v)
b - Hilary Kole (v); Tom Beckham (vib) 8 bars; Chris Byars (f) 4 bars; Chris Byars (f) 4 bars; Hilary Kole (v) 6 bars scatting; Hilary Kole (v); Adam Birnbaum (p) 8 bars
c - Hilary Kole (v); Hilary Kole (v) 8 bars scatting bridge; Tom Beckham (vib) 36 bars; Chris Byars (ts) 36 bars; John Hart (g) 36 bars; Hilary Kole (v) 36 bars scatting; Aaron Kimmel (d) 4 bars; Aaron Kimmel (d) 12 bars; Hilary Kole (v)
d - Hilary Kole (v); Tom Beckham (vib) 2 bars + 32 bars; Chris Byars (ts) 32 bars; Paul Gill (b) 32 bars arco; Hilary Kole (v)
e - Hilary Kole (v); Aaron Kimmel (d) 16 bars; Paul Gill (b) 16 bars; John Hart (g) 16 bars; Aaron Kimmel (d) 8 bars; Hilary Kole (v)
f - Hilary Kole (v); Chris Byars (f) 20 bars; Paul Gill (b) 20 bars; Hilary Kole (v)
g - Hilary Kole (v); Paul Gill (b) 8 bars; John Hart (g) 8 bars; Hilary Kole (v)
h - Hilary Kole (v); John Hart (g) 16 bars; Adam Birnbaum (p) 20 bars; Tom Beckham (vib) 20 bars; Hilary Kole (v)
i - Hilary Kole (v); John Hart (g) 16 bars; Hilary Kole (v)
j - Hilary Kole (v); Hilary Kole (v) 24 bars scatting; Hilary Kole (v) 28 bars scatting; Adam Birnbaum (p) 32 bars; Aaron Kimmel (d) 8 bars; Aaron Kimmel (d) 8 bars; John Hart (g) 18 bars; Hilary Kole (v)
k - Hilary Kole (v); Hilary Kole (v) 16 bars scatting; John Hart (g) 4 bars + 40 bars; Adam Birnbaum (p) 40 bars; Hilary Kole (v) 8 bars scatting; Aaron Kimmel (d) 8 bars; Hilary Kole (v) 8 bars scatting; Aaron Kimmel (d) 8 bars; Hilary Kole (v) 8 basr scatting; Hilary Kole (v); Hilary Kole (v) 48 bars coda scatting
Track l is a bonus track only available on the Japanese Victor CD. I have not auditioned it in its entirety.
On track i, Kole is accompanied only by Hart.
Date: December 30, 2019
Location: Neal Miner Apartment (Neal Miner, Eng.), New York City
Label: Gut String Records
Neal Miner Quintet plays Neal Miner compositions
Neal Miner (ldr), Chris Byars (as, ts), Greg Ruggiero (g), Michael Kanan (p), Neal Miner (b), Joe Strasser (d)
| a. | Timeline(Neal Miner) - 3:11 | |
| b. | At the Bistro(Neal Miner) - 7:58 | |
| c. | Blues Okura(Neal Miner) - 3:15 | |
| d. | Shades of Blue(Neal Miner) - 7:16 | |
| e. | Silver Line(Neal Miner) - 4:51 | |
| f. | Locke Bop(Neal Miner) - 4:00 | |
| g. | Late Nite(Neal Miner) - 4:20 | |
| h. | Contemplations(Neal Miner) - 6:19 | |
| i. | Dog House Blues(Neal Miner) - 5:00 |
| All titles on: |
Gut String Records CDGSR 050 — Dog House Blues (2020)
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Chris Byars (as) on f, (ts) on a-e, g-i.
a - Chris Byars (ts) 2-bar break + 32 bars; Greg Ruggiero (g) 8 bars; Neal Miner (b) 8 bars; Greg Ruggiero (g) 8 bars; Neal Miner (b) 8 bars
b - Neal Miner (b) 2-bar break + 36 bars; Greg Ruggiero (g) 36 bars; Chris Byars (ts) 36 bars; Michael Kanan (p) 36 bars; Joe Strasser (d) 4 bars; Joe Strasser (d) 12 bars; Joe Strasser (d) 8 bars
c - Joe Strasser (d) 8-bar intro; Michael Kanan (p) 24 bars; Greg Ruggiero (g) 24 bars; Chris Byars (ts) 24 bars; Neal Miner (b) 24 bars 4-bar exchanges with Strasser
d - Chris Byars (ts) 32 bars; Greg Ruggiero (g) 32 bars; Michael Kanan (p) 32 bars 8-bar exchanges wirh Miner; Joe Strasser (d) 12 bars; Joe Strasser (d) 12 bars
e - Michael Kanan (p) 2-bar break + 32 bars; Chris Byars (ts) 32 bars 8-bar exchanges with Ruggiero; Neal Miner (b) 32 bars; Joe Strasser (d) 32 bars
f - Joe Strasser (d) 8-bar intro; Chris Byars (as) 36 bars; Michael Kanan (p) 4 bars; Michael Kanan (p) 12 bars; Michael Kanan (p) 8 bars; Greg Ruggiero (g) 36 bars; Joe Strasser (d) 6 bars; Joe Strasser (d) 14 bars; Joe Strasser (d) 10 bars
g - Neal Miner (b) 2-bar break + 32 bats; Chris Byars (ts) 8 bars; Greg Ruggiero (g) 8 bars; Michael Kanan (p) 8 bars; Chris Byars (ts) 8 bars; Greg Ruggiero (g) 4 bars; Michael Kanan (p) 4 bars; Chris Byars (ts) 4 bars; Greg Ruggiero (g) 4 bars; Michael Kanan (p) 4 bars; Chris Byars (ts) 4 bars; Greg Ruggiero (g) 4 bars; Michael Kanan (p) 4 bars
h - Neal Miner (b) 32 bar walking intro; Chris Byars (ts) 64 bars; Greg Ruggiero (g) 8 bars; Greg Ruggiero (g) 40 bars; Michael Kanan (p) 64 bars; Joe Strasser (d) 8 bars; Joe Strasser (d) 40 bars
i - Greg Ruggiero (g) 8 bars; Greg Ruggiero (g) 32 bars; Michael Kanan (p) 36 bars; Chris Byars (ts) 36 bars; Neal Miner (b) 24 bars; Joe Strasser (d) 8 bars; Joe Strasser (d) 8 bars
Track a is based on the chord changes of “Time On My Hands.” Track b is based on the chord changes of “All the Things You Are.” Track e is based on the chord changes of “Look for the Silver Lining.” Track f is based on the chord changes of “The Best Thing for You.”
Date: August 21, 2020
Location: Rolf Liebermann Studio (NDR Studio 10), Hamburg, Germany
Label: NDR (Ger.)
NDR Bigband livestream - Bird@100 (Chris Byars arrangements)
Jörg Achim Keller, NDR Bigband (ldr), Thorsten Benkenstein, Ingolf Burkhardt, Percy Pursglove, Claus Stötter (t), Dan Gottschall, Klaus Heidenreich, Ingo Lahme, Stefan Lotterman (tb), Peter Bolte, Fiete Felsch (as), Gabriel Coburger (ts), Frank Delle (ts, f), Luigi Grasso (bar, bcl), Sandra Hempel (g), Boris Netsvetaev (p, elp), Ingmar Heller (b), Marcel Serierse (d), Jörg Achim Keller (con)
| a. | Anthropology(Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie) / arr: Chris Byars - 7:49 | |
| b. | Flight(Chris Byars) / arr: Chris Byars - 7:42 | |
| c. | Billie's Bounce(Charlie Parker) / arr: Chris Byars - 8:33 | |
| d. | Sincerely Yours(Chris Byars) / arr: Chris Byars - 7:32 | |
| e. | Relaxing With Lee(Charlie Parker) / arr: Chris Byars - 6:16 | |
| f. | Birdography Part 1: The End(Chris Byars) / arr: Chris Byars - 17:43 | |
| g. | Birdography Part 2: Midtown(Chris Byars) / arr: Chris Byars | |
| h. | Birdography Part 3: Kansas City(Chris Byars) / arr: Chris Byars | |
| i. | Ornithology(Charlie Parker, Bennie Harris) / arr: Chris Byars - 7:15 |
| All titles unissued. |
f, g, h performed as medley
This virtual concert, taking place during the COVID-19 pandemic, was a celebration of Charlie Parker’s centennial. No live audience is present.
Tracks f-h comprise a suite 17:43 in duration.
This concert has not been auditioned.
Date: November 25, 2020
Location: Kampnagel Theater, Hamburg, Germany
Label: NDR (Ger.)
NDR Bigband livestream - Bird@100 (Chris Byars arrangements)
Jörg Achim Keller, NDR Bigband (ldr), Thorsten Benkenstein, Ingolf Burkhardt, Percy Pursglove, Claus Stötter (t), Dan Gottschall, Klaus Heidenreich, Ingo Lahme, Stefan Lotterman (tb), Peter Bolte, Fiete Felsch (as), Frank Delle (ts, f), Julius Gawlik (ts), Luigi Grasso (bar, bcl), Sandra Hempel (g), Boris Netsvetaev (p, elp), Ingmar Heller (b), Peter Gall (d), Jörg Achim Keller (con)
| a. | Anthropology(Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie) / arr: Chris Byars - 7:25 | |
| b. | Billie's Bounce(Charlie Parker) / arr: Chris Byars - 8:55 | |
| c. | Sincerely Yours(Chris Byars) / arr: Chris Byars - 7:05 | |
| d. | Relaxing With Lee(Charlie Parker) / arr: Chris Byars - 6:20 | |
| e. | Birdography Part 1: The End(Chris Byars) / arr: Chris Byars - 8:17 | |
| f. | Birdography Part 2: Midtown(Chris Byars) / arr: Chris Byars - 4:03 | |
| g. | Birdography Part 3: Kansas City(Chris Byars) / arr: Chris Byars - 3:54 | |
| h. | Ornithology(Charlie Parker, Bennie Harris) / arr: Chris Byars - 6:54 |
| All titles unissued. |
e, f, g performed as medley
This virtual concert, taking place during the COVID-19 pandemic, was a celebration of Charlie Parker’s centennial. No live audience is present.
Kampnagel Theater is a former factory converted into a performing space.
Track a:
Track c:
Tracks e-g:
Tracks b, d and h have not been auditioned.
Date: December 8, 2021
Location: Trading 8s Studio (Chris Sulit, Eng.), Paramus, NJ
Label: SteepleChase (Dan.)
Chris Byars Original Sextet plays blues and rhythm changes
Chris Byars (ldr), John Mosca (tb), Zaid Nasser (as), Chris Byars (ts), Stefano Doglioni (bcl), Ari Roland (b), Phil Stewart (d)
| a. | Salute to the Mailbox(Chris Byars) / arr: Chris Byars - 7:48 | |
| b. | New Cards(Chris Byars) / arr: Chris Byars - 10:32 | |
| c. | Minor Miracle(Chris Byars) / arr: Chris Byars - 5:32 | |
| d. | Sincerely Yours(Chris Byars) / arr: Chris Byars - 7:28 | |
| e. | I'm Here for You(Chris Byars) / arr: Chris Byars - 4:47 | |
| f. | Look Up, Look Down(Chris Byars) / arr: Chris Byars - 5:32 | |
| g. | Shimmering (Excerpt from Bop-ography)(Chris Byars) / arr: Chris Byars - 8:55 | |
| h. | Bye, Sandy(Chris Byars) / arr: Chris Byars - 5:58 | |
| i. | Interstate(Chris Byars) / arr: Chris Byars - 6:36 | |
| j. | Farewell to Sweden(Freddie Redd) / arr: Chris Byars - 9:44 |
| All titles on: |
SteepleChase (Dan.) CDSCCD 31929 — Rhythm And Blues Of The 20s (2022)
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a - Zaid Nasser (as) 48 bars (4 choruses); Stefano Doglioni (bcl) 48 bars (4 choruses); Chris Byars (ts) 48 bars (4 choruses); John Mosca (tb) 48 bars (4 choruses); Ari Roland (b) 48 bars (4 choruses) arco; Phil Stewart (d) 24 bars (2 choruses); Phil Stewart (d) 4 bars; Phil Stewart (d) 4 bars
b - John Mosca (tb) 2 bars + 32 bars (2 choruses); Zaid Nasser (as) 32 bars (2 choruses); Stefano Doglioni (bcl) 32 bars (2 choruses); Chris Byars (ts) 32 bars (2 choruses); Ari Roland (b) 32 bars (2 choruses) arco; Phil Stewart (d) 3X4-bar breaks and 2-bar break
c - Phil Stewart (d) 4-bar intro; Chris Byars (ts) 2 bars + 32 bars (1 chorus); Stefano Doglioni (bcl) 32 bars (1 chorus); Zaid Nasser (as) 32 bars (1 chorus); John Mosca (tb) 32 bars (1 chorus); Ari Roland (b) 2 bars + 32 bars (1 chorus); Phil Stewart (d) 32 bars (1 chorus)
d - Zaid Nasser (as) 16 bars; Zaid Nasser (as) 32 bars; Chris Byars (ts) 12 bars (1 chorus); John Mosca (tb) 12 bars (1 chorus); Stefano Doglioni (bcl) 12 bars (1 chorus); Ari Roland (b) 12 bars (1 chorus) arco
e - John Mosca (tb) 16 bars
f - Zaid Nasser (as) 32 bars (1 chorus); Stefano Doglioni (bcl) 32 bars (1 chorus); Chris Byars (ts) 32 bars (1 chorus); John Mosca (tb) 32 bars (1 chorus); Ari Roland (b) 32 bars (1 chorus) arco; Phil Stewart (d) 16 bars
g - Phil Stewart (d) interlude; Chris Byars (ts) 24 bars (2 choruses); Stefano Doglioni (bcl) 24 bars (2 choruses); Zaid Nasser (as) 24 bars (2 choruses); John Mosca (tb) 24 bars (2 choruses); Ari Roland (b) 20 bars arco
h - Chris Byars (ts) 24 bars (2 choruses); Stefano Doglioni (bcl) 24 bars (2 choruses); Zaid Nasser (as) 24 bars (2 choruses); John Mosca (tb) 24 bars (2 choruses); Ari Roland (b) 24 bars (2 choruses) arco
i - Phil Stewart (d) 8-bar intro; Zaid Nasser (as) 4 bars; Zaid Nasser (as) 52 bars; Stefano Doglioni (bcl) 64 bars (2 choruses); Chris Byars (ts) 4 bars; Chris Byars (ts) 52 bars; John Mosca (tb) 64 bars (2 choruses); Ari Roland (b) 64 bars (2 choruses) arco; Phil Stewart (d) 64 bars (2 choruses)
j - Ari Roland (b) 36 bars (1 chorus) arco; Chris Byars (ts) 36 bars (1 chorus); John Mosca (tb) 36 bars (1 chorus); Zaid Nasser (as) 36 bars (1 chorus); Stefano Doglioni (bcl) 36 bars (1 chorus)
Tracks a, b, d, g, h are blues or modified blues. Tracks c, f, i have 32-bar harmonic structures related to that of Gershwin’s "I Got Rhythm."
Date: April 29, 2022
Location: Trading 8s Studios (Chris Sulit, Eng.), Paramus, NJ
Label: SteepleChase (Dan.)
Chris Byars Quartet plays Chris Byars compositions
Chris Byars (ldr), Chris Byars (ts), Pasquale Grasso (g), Ari Roland (b), Keith Balla (d)
| a. | Times Square Lights(Chris Byars) - 6:54 | |
| b. | Melatonin'(Chris Byars) - 6:33 | |
| c. | Look Ahead(Chris Byars) - 6:01 | |
| d. | Endure and Remain(Chris Byars) - 5:44 | |
| e. | Bopthalmology(Chris Byars) - 5:37 | |
| f. | Little Quito(Chris Byars) - 6:33 | |
| g. | 3D Flat(Chris Byars) - 5:48 | |
| h. | Four for Plov(Chris Byars) - 5:42 | |
| i. | Blessings for Giacomo(Chris Byars) - 4:30 | |
| j. | This Account Is Private(Chris Byars) - 7:29 |
| All titles on: |
SteepleChase (Dan.) CDSCCD 31945 — Look Ahead (2023)
|
a - Chris Byars (ts) 2-bar break + 96 bars (3 choruses); Pasquale Grasso (g) 64 bars (2 choruses); Ari Roland (b) 64 bars (2 choruses) arco; Chris Byars (ts) 64 bars (2 choruses) 4-bar exchanges with drums
b - Pasquale Grasso (g) 32 bars (1 chorus); Chris Byars (ts) 64 bars (2 choruses); Ari Roland (b) 32 bars (1 chorus) arco; Pasquale Grasso (g) 32 bars (1 chorus) 4-bar exchanges with drums alternatiing with tenor sax and arco bass
c - Chris Byars (ts) 2-bar break + 64 bars (2 choruses); Pasquale Grasso (g) 64 bars (2 choruses); Ari Roland (b) 64 bars (2 choruses) arco; Keith Balla (d) 64 bars (2 choruses)
d - Chris Byars (ts) 32 bars (1 chorus)
e - Keith Balla (d) 8-bar intro; Chris Byars (ts) 72 bars (2 choruses); Pasquale Grasso (g) 72 bars (2 choruses); Ari Roland (b) 72 bars (2 choruses) arco; Keith Balla (d) 36 bars (1 chorus) 4-bar exchanges with tenor sax, guitar, arco bass
f - Pasquale Grasso (g) 2-bar break + 36 bars (1 chorus); Chris Byars (ts) 72 bars (2 choruses); Ari Roland (b) 36 bars (1 chorus)
g - Ari Roland (b) 32 bars (1 chorus) arco; Chris Byars (ts) 64 bars (2 choruses); Pasquale Grasso (g) 32 bars (1 chorus)
h - Keith Balla (d) 8-bar intro; Chris Byars (ts) 2-bar break + 96 bars (3 choruses); Pasquale Grasso (g) 64 bars (2 choruses); Ari Roland (b) 64 bars (2 choruses) arco; Keith Balla (d) 64 bars (2 choruses)
i - Chris Byars (ts) 64 bars (2 choruses) in 3/4
j - Keith Balla (d) 8-bar intro; Chris Byars (ts) 112 bars (2 choruses); Pasquale Grasso (g) 112 bars (2 choruses); Ari Roland (b) 56 bars (1 chorus) arco; Chris Byars (ts) 112 bars (2 choruses) 8-bar exchanges with drums alternating with guitar and arco bass
Several of the Byars compositions have harmonic structures similar, but not identical, to those of standard tunes:
Track b - "This Time the Dream’s on Me" (Arlen/Mercer)
Track c - "What Is this Thing Called Love" (Porter)
Track e - "I Only Have Eyes for You" (Warren/Dubin)
Track g - "I Got Rhythm" (Gershwin/Gershwin)
Track h - "Tea for Two" (Youmans/Caesar)
Track j - "Lover Come Back to Me" (Romberg/Hammerstein II)
