Jaki Byard – Blues For Smoke (2025 Remaster) (1971/2025) [FLAC 24bit/192kHz]

Jaki Byard – Blues For Smoke (2025 Remaster) (1971/2025)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/192 kHz | Time – 39:17 minutes | 1,60 GB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Candid

This 1960 solo album by pianist Byard gets a welcome remastering and reissue because Byard seems a largely forgotten figure. His powerful playing and inventiveness showed him capable of working in an almost barrelhouse style as well as playing with Charles Mingus (notably on Black Saint and the Sinner Lady), Art Blakey, Roland Kirk, George Benson and in big bands.

His distinctive solo style involves rapid tempo changes, oceanic runs and delightful phrases which go back to the pre-Bop era.

It can make for quite a roller-coast ride, but Byard will never bore you as he roams from ragtime to free form.Pianist Jaki Byard’s first recording as a leader was not released domestically until this 1988 CD. That fact seems strange for Byard is absolutely brilliant on the solo piano set. Many of his selections (all nine tunes are his originals) look both backwards to pre-bop styles and ahead to the avant-garde including such numbers as “Pete and Thomas (Tribute to the Ticklers),” “Spanish Tinge No. 1,” and “One, Two, Five.” The most remarkable selection is “Jaki’s Blues Next” which has Byard alternating between James P. Johnson-type stride and free form à la Cecil Taylor; at its conclusion he plays both styles at the same time. A highly recommended outing from a very underrated pianist. – Scott Yanow

Tracklist:

1-1. Jaki Byard – Excerpts From European Episodes a) Journey / Hollis Stomp b) Milan To Lyon (05:59)
1-2. Jaki Byard – Aluminum Baby (04:37)
1-3. Jaki Byard – Pete And Thomas (Tribute To Ticklers) (03:44)
1-4. Jaki Byard – Spanish Tinge No. 1 (04:14)
1-5. Jaki Byard – Flight Of The Fly (05:45)
1-6. Jaki Byard – Blues For Smoke (04:56)
1-7. Jaki Byard – Jaki’s Blues Next (02:08)
1-8. Jaki Byard – Diane’s Melody (05:11)
1-9. Jaki Byard – One Two Five (02:39)

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