Don Byas

American jazz saxophonist (1912–1972)

Born: 21 October 1912
Muskogee
Died: 24 August 1972
Amsterdam
Country: United States
Record labels: Savoy Records, Polydor Records, Black & Blue, Barclay, Disques Vogue
Discography: 11 albums

Biography

Don Byas was a jazz musician who played tenor saxophone. Don Byas was born on 21 October 1912 in Muskogee and died on 24 August 1972 in Amsterdam. The music is usually filed under jazz, swing and bebop. Record labels: Savoy Records, Polydor Records, Black & Blue and Barclay. The discography here lists 11 albums, from “Beryl Booker Trio With Don Byas in París” (1954) to “Don Byas at Nalen with Jan Johansson - Live in Swedish Harlem” (2012). Honours include Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame (2020).

Carlos Wesley "Don" Byas (October 21, 1912 – August 24, 1972) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist, associated with swing and bebop. He played with Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Art Blakey, and Dizzy Gillespie, among others, and also led his own band. He lived in Europe for the last 26 years of his life.

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Discography

Studio and live albums

Beryl Booker Trio With Don Byas in París 1954

Encontro com Don Byas 1972

Midnight at Minton’s 1973 · Live

The Mary Lou Williams Quartet Featuring Don Byas 1974

A Night in Tunisia 1989 · Live

Autumn Leaves 1998 · Live

Don Byas at Nalen with Jan Johansson - Live in Swedish Harlem 2012 · Live

All the Things You Are · Live

Anthropology

Ballads for Swingers

Live at the Montmartre Copenhagen · Live

Also plays on

Albums where Don Byas is credited as a sideman

1957	Dizzy at Home and Abroad — Dizzy Gillespie	tenor saxophone
1995	Love Me or Leave Me — Billie Holiday	tenor saxophone

Analysed solos by Don Byas

Be-Boptenor saxophone · 289 BPM · F-min · 1945-01-09
Out of Nowheretenor saxophone · 56 BPM · G-maj · 1945-06-27
Harvard Bluestenor saxophone · 99 BPM · Db-maj · 1945-08-30
Harvard Bluestenor saxophone · 99 BPM · Db-maj · 1945-08-30
Body and Soultenor saxophone · 99 BPM · Db-maj · 1947
Infidele (Cry)tenor saxophone · 120 BPM · Bb-maj · 1952-02-06
Un Amour Pleuraittenor saxophone · 106 BPM · F-maj · 1952-02-06
Cognac Bluestenor saxophone · 116 BPM · F-maj · 1952-03-25

Awards

2020 Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame

Historic 78 rpm records

Some of These Days Benny Carter and His All Star Orchestra · Trummy Young · Benny… archive.org ↗
I'm the Caring Kind Benny Carter and His All Star Orchestra · Maxine Sullivan · Benny… archive.org ↗
Three O'Clock In the Morning Don Byas Quartet · Slam Stewart · Erroll Garner · Harold West ·… archive.org ↗
ARMAND THE GROOVE GUARNIERI QUARTET · Leo Guarnieri · Don Byas · J.C. Heard · Johnny… archive.org ↗
I'd Do Anything For You Guarnieri Quartet · Hopkins · Williams · Hill · Leo Guarnieri · Don… archive.org ↗
I GOT RHYTHM Don Byas · Slam Stewart · George & Ira Gerhswin · TIMME ROSENKRANTZ archive.org ↗
THE SHEIK OF ARABY DON BYAS QUARTET · Don Byas · John Guarnieri · Sid Catlett · Al Hall… archive.org ↗
Dot's My Baby Guarnieri Quartet · Guarnieri · Leo Guarnieri · Don Byas · J. C… archive.org ↗

Frequently asked questions

What instrument did Don Byas play?

Don Byas is known for playing tenor saxophone.

When and where was Don Byas born?

Don Byas was born 21 October 1912 in Muskogee.

What are Don Byas's best-known albums?

Albums in our database include Beryl Booker Trio With Don Byas in París (1954), Encontro com Don Byas (1972), Midnight at Minton’s (1973), The Mary Lou Williams Quartet Featuring Don Byas (1974) and A Night in Tunisia (1989).

External links

Data compiled from open sources; see the source links below. Spotted an error? Let us know.