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Don Byas
Takes His Place Among the Greats
A historical document of jazz at a time when the musicians, steeped in the swing tradition, were creating and setting the mold for the modern sounds of bebop.
Photograph by Charles B. Nadell
Coleman Hawkins. Lester Young. Ben Webster. Easy-to-name masters among the early tenor saxophone giants. But what about Don Byas?
Our new, stunning, comprehensive, and weighty 10-CD set: “Classic Don Byas Sessions 1944-1946” is a long-overdue tribute to a man whose work sits among the best in jazz.
An Underappreciated Master
While Don Byas is lauded for his breathtaking solos – sumptuous and creamy on ballads, thoughtful and potent on uptempo numbers – his absence from the scene in the U.S. and a lack of recorded evidence might be reasons he is unfairly overlooked.
Starting today, Mosaic Records presents that evidence.
Don Byas — who claimed to be inspired by Art Tatum more than any horn player — always considered himself more of a swing musician than a bebopper, but that might be because harmonic and rhythmic innovation were such important components of his personal style that he may not even have realized what an innovator and inspiration he was.
Tenor saxophonists who followed him couldn’t help but take note of his highly inventive phrasing, with melodies that disregarded bar lines when he was still working on a thought; notes that squeezed in hurriedly to ornament the end of a line; and seductive shifts in register that were always unexpected surprises. If your ears and experience prepared you for something more typical, Byas gave you that and more.
Byas could also employ every tool available to a wind musician to bring expression and originality to a solo. On ballads, his attack, his breath control, and his scoops and bends could nearly disguise the change from one note to another, leaving the listener in a dreamy trance. In full bebop mode, his crisp articulation and exceptional mastery of chromatics resulted in endless cascades and awe-inspiring leaps.
Byas’ versions of well-known songs were a special pleasure to hear because he always brought something new to his renditions. He played a counter melody to trumpeter Joe Thomas’ version of “Pennies From Heaven” that is neither showy nor invisible, a sparkling example of his taste and sensitivity.
You’d be hard pressed to find a lovelier extended solo that Byas’ take on “Old Folks,” or a more dizzying torrent than his rendition of “Cherokee.” Hearing him play “I Got Rhythm” with only Slam Stewart to accompany him in Timme Rosenkrantz’s apartment, will reveal to you why the song is called that to begin with.
“Years ago the game was vicious, cut-throat. Can you imagine Lester Young, Coleman Hawkins, Chu Berry, Don Byas, and Ben Webster on the same little jam session? And guess who won the fight? That’s what it was – a saxophone duel. Don Byas walked off with everything.” – Sonny Stitt
Rare Recordings
Some of the Greatest Musicians of the 1940s
Doc West (d), John Levy (b), Byas, Ellis Larkins (p), Hot Lips Page (tp)
Frank Newton Photograph by Red Wolf; Cozy Cole Photograph by William Gotlieb; Earl Bostic Photograph by James J. Kriegsmann.
This limited edition set documents a recording legacy in a way never-before possible, with sessions from both Savoy and National, and many from obscure labels where ownership has faded into oblivion.
An incredible revelation is the massive trove of “lost” home recordings from the collection of Timme Rosenkrantz, the Danish jazz aficionado. The sessions from Timme Rosenkrantz’s apartment are nothing short of remarkable. Freed from the spotlight and demands of a paying audience, musicians could stretch out, explore, and invent. Only a few have ever made their way to LPs or CDs. Thanks to a special arrangement with the Byas estate for this very limited release, we’ve gained access to this historical legacy.
In fact, throughout this collection you’ll hear musicians at the peak of their talents, contributing to the evolution in jazz in ways that were often unknown contemporaneously.
The “Classic Don Byas Sessions 1944-1946” features Byas in duet, quartet, quintette, and big band settings led by Byas and others including Emmett Berry, Hot Lips Page, Earl Bostic, Cozy Cole, Oscar Pettiford, Benny Carter, and more.
Sidemen are far too many to list here but include such important players as:
Charlie Shavers, Johnny Guarneri, Slam Stewart, Milt Hinton
J. C. Heard, Vic Dickinson, Benny Morton, Ike Quebec
Tiny Grimes, Red Norvo, Teddy Wilson, Lucky Thompson
Thelonious Monk, Coleman Hawkins, Charlie Parker
Benny Harris, Serge Chaloff, J.J. Johnson, Max Roach
Mosaic Records Limited Edition Box Set
Definitive Collection
This set of Don Byas recordings from 1944 to 1946 are gathered from sessions either led by Byas or where there is a significant solo or obbligato by him in the role of a sideman. This historical set is divided into three sections: The Savoy and National sessions which are owned by the Concord Music Group; The Timme Rosenkrantz home discs; and miscellaneous 78 labels where no ownership has been determined. The collection includes 193 tunes, including 40 previously unissued anywhere.
Superior Sound Quality
Mosaic’s superior sound quality is a combination of many factors including our ability to gain access to record company vaults, utilizing the best engineers, and having the passion to spend the time and resources to restoring this great music to the best you’ve ever heard.
In compiling our set, we accessed original 78s and lacquer discs, using the best-sounding source material available. All the Timme Rosenkrantz recordings were transferred directly from the original discs in the collection by Nils Winther, SteepleChase Studio, Klampenborg, Denmark.
Since these discs were made on a home disc machine that was capable of recording at a slower speed we have performances that far exceed the time restraints of a commercially issued 78 rpm record. However, due to the age and fragile nature of these non-professionally recorded discs, there will be some issues with the condition and pitch of some tracks.
Lacquer transfers¸ sound restoration and mastering were produced by Grammy winner Andreas Meyer and 78 transfers by Nancy Conforti and Andreas Meyer. 24 bit technology was utilized at all stages of the production of this Mosaic release.
Essay and Track-By-Track Analysis
Our deluxe box set features an exclusive, collector-worthy booklet containing an essay on Byas’ life and work by jazz scholar, musician and Grammy Award winner Loren Schoenberg; a track-by-track analysis of the songs and the details behind each recording; and rare photographs from the sessions and other performances. Our discography corrects a number of mistakes in other sources.
Order Now!
Due to the nature of our licenses with the owners of this music, the release is extremely and unalterably limited. Please place your order soon so you don’t miss out on this significant historic release.
Selected Audio Clips
Loren Schoenberg, liner note excerpts
Cherokee
Don Byas (ts), Teddy Brannon (p), Frank Skeete (b), Fred Radcliffe (d). – NYC, May 17, 1946
This historic session finds Byas at the peak of his art, using every facet of his improvisatory skills. Whether or not the musicians who followed in his wake chose to compete with this staggering whirlwind of perfectly articulated and harmonically correct patterns of notes, the fact that it had been done forever changed the range of possibilities and not just for the saxophone.
If this is what Byas could pull out in the inhibiting and unnatural confines of a recording studio, what he did when the juices were flowing in a jam session is almost unimaginable. How could he top this? Well, he did, and the legend that resulted should have ensured nothing but a wonderful career at the top of his profession. The newly issued material — two complete takes and two breakdowns — contains a tidal wave of saxophonistic wonders that still stagger the mind (not to mention the fingers).
Deep Purple
Buck Clayton (tp), Don Byas (ts), Johnny Guarnieri (p), Eddie Safranski (b), Denzil Best (d). – NYC, June 27, 1945
History repeated itself on this session, for it was just shy of three years earlier when Basie-ites Byas and Buck Clayton recorded a classic small group session with phenomenal results. As on the Basie date, every single note from every instrument meant something.
There were no tossed-away chords, rhetorically-repetitious solos, auto-pilot drum fills, or the like. Guarnieri is at the center of things, as he usually is, and we hear a level of sensitivity not evidenced before. He both leads and follows from the piano, sometimes shadowing the melody, poking at it to inspire the soloists or subtly shading his chords in the manner of a musical bespoke tailor.
Guarnieri’s chords throughout Deep Purple surround Byas and Clayton with heavenly options — use this melody, follow this chord, hear the texture — to which they respond and in turn lead him to new sounds. The introduction raises a false flag to the key of Db before reorienting us to F — a move recalled during Byas’ coda. Has there even been a more beautiful ballad recording in jazz? Well, there may be some, but this is certainly a contender, and after 186 seconds, it’s gone in the blink of an eye.
You Call It Madness But I Call It Love
Joe Thomas (tp), Don Byas (ts), Johnny Guarnieri (p), Billy Taylor, Sr. (b), Cozy Cole (d) – NYC, January 23, 1945
An Armstrong disciple known for his modest approach to the frequently fiery idiom of jazz trumpet, Missouri native Joe Thomas graduated from a decade in the big bands of the ’30s into top-shelf small-group work in the early ’40s. Pianist Johnny Guarnieri was known for his ability to synthesize all the classic piano styles into his own concoction, which is the roux that binds this musical gumbo into a cohesive whole.
You Call It Madness But I Call It Love had been a huge hit for singer Russ Columbo in 1931, and Byas croons the melody surrounded by his trademark harmonic connective tissue. Both Guarnieri and Thomas have short, sensitive eight-bar solos. Byas buttons the performance with an unaccompanied coda. It made some noise at the time — Metronome named it as one of the Records of the Year.
I Got Rhythm
Don Byas (ts), Slam Stewart (b) – Timme Rosenkrantz’s apartment, NYC, October 2, 1944
Inspiration clearly struck as Byas and Stewart dig into the two tunes they featured at the aforementioned June 9, 1945 Town Hall concert. There’s a true feeling of spontaneity here. Indiana has some Byas screams we’ve not heard before, but it is I Got Rhythm were the sparks fly. No one else had come close to this kind of sustained velocity on the tenor saxophone, as far as we can tell from recorded evidence. What we may hear as repeated material, predictable sequential phrasing, and rhythmic regularity was Byas’ own and was revolutionary at the time in its precision and ferocity.
Rarely, if ever, has the saxophone ever been played
more exquisitely than when in the hands of Don Byas.
The externals of style are in many ways analogous to clothing — an outer manifestation of an internal essence. In the jazz sense, the sound of an instrument, the articulation of the notes, the melodies generated, are all in service of an overarching conception. Coleman Hawkins and his progeny, starting with Lester Young , Ben Webster, Herschel Evans, and a handful of other true originals, created a matrix not only for their given instruments, but for jazz improvisation in general.
At first it seemed as though there were only two options in creating a jazz solo: scaling the vertical harmonic structures for the melodies lurking just beneath the surface or placing the melody on the horizon and reflecting on its essence, using the allied harmonies as shades of color on a tonal palette. Gradually, younger musicians began to combine elements of these two seemingly disparate approaches and found their perfect apotheosis in Charlie Parker.
Parker’s achievement was both conceptual and technical and the sheer velocity of his language became a defining quality of its influence in the years to come. The aesthetic elements came from many places, none more significantly than from Lester Young’s floating rhythm and overwhelming feeling of spontaneity.
Parker is quoted as having said that Don Byas played everything there was to play, highlighting the technical achievement that Byas brought to the music. There had been many saxophonists with nimble fingers before him, but Byas’ ferocity, clean-as-a-whistle articulation of eighth notes, and willingness to take a deep dive into Parker’s and Gillespie’s new idiom distinguished him above all others.
And then there were the sumptuous ballads, sometimes bordering on the erotic. As Byas put it, “I don’t play the saxophone, I play the sexophone!” – Loren Schoenberg, liner notes
Limited Edition: 5000
(#277- 10 CDs)
Due to the nature of our licenses with the owners of this music, the release is extremely and unalterably limited. Please place your order soon so you don’t miss out on this significant historic release.
Order Now!
CLASSIC DON BYAS SESSIONS 1944-1946
DISC I
1. Dance Of The Tambourine (A1) 3:00
(Oran Page)
2. Paging Mr. Page (A1) 2:53
(Oran Page)
3. Riffin’ And Jivin’ (A2) 2:53
(Don Byas)
4. Free And Easy (A2) 2:48
(Don Byas)
5. Worried And Blue (A2) 3:12
(Don Byas)
6. Don’s Idea (A2) 2:52
(Don Byas)
7. Savoy Jam Party No. 2 (A3) 3:09
(Don Byas)
8. Savoy Jam Party No. 1 (A3) 2:55
(Don Byas)
9. 1944 Stomp (A3) 2:58
(Don Byas)
10. What Do You Want With My Heart (A3) 2:58
(Don Byas)
11. Bass C Jam (A3) 2:51
(Don Byas)
12. Sweet And Lovely (A4) 2:57
(Arnheim-Daniels-Tobias)
13. White Rose Kick (A4) 2:29
(Don Byas)
14. Deep Blue Dream (A4) 3:00
(D. Rivera-L. Troob)
15. Byas’d Opinions (A4) 2:36
(Don Byas)
16. I Got What It Takes (A5) 3:02
(Oran Page)
17. Dance Of The Tambourine (alt #1) (A1) 3:00
(Oran Page)
18. Dance Of The Tambourine (alt #2) (A1) 3:00
(Oran Page)
19. Paging Mr. Page (alt) (A1) 2:53
(Oran Page)
20. Free And Easy (alt) (A2) 3:39
(Don Byas)
21. Don’s Idea (BD) (A2) 2:50
(Don Byas)
22. Don’s Idea (alt) (A2) 2:50
(Don Byas)
23. 1944 Stomp (BD) (A3) 2:00
(Don Byas)
24. 1944 Stomp (alt) (A3) 2:58
(Don Byas)
25. Deep Blue Dream (alt) (A4) 3:00
(D. Rivera-L. Troob)
DISC II
1. Good For Stompin’ (-3) (A5) 3:02
(Oran Page)
2. Twilight In Teheran (A6) 2:59
(B. Ram-H. Kanner)
3. Swing Street (A6) 3:00
(Buck Ram)
4. Hank’s Pranks (A7) 2:45
(David Rivera)
5. Juke Box Judy (A7) 2:53
(Hank D’ Amico)
6. Shy Little Witch From Greenwich (A7) 2:54
(Frank Newton)
7. Gone At Dawn (A7) 2:49
(Bill Simon)
8. S.K. Blues – Part I (A8) 3:01
(Joe Turner)
9. S.K. Blues – Part II (A8) 2:59
(Joe Turner)
10. Johnson & Turner Blues (A8) 3:03
(Joe Turner)
11. Watch That Jive (A8) 3:01
(Joe Turner)
12. Evil Gal Blues (A9) 2:49
(Leonard Feather)
13. Salty Papa Blues (A9) 2:56
(Leonard Feather)
14. Albinia’s Blues (A9) 2:50
(Albinia Jones)
15. Don’t You Wear No Black (A9) 2:47
(Haynes-Ramson-Smith)
16. Candy (A10) 3:15
(David-Whitney-Kramer)
17. How High The Moon (A10) 2:53
(N. Hamilton-M. Lewis)
18. Donby (A10) 3:09
(Don Byas)
19. Byas-A-Drink (A10) 2:43
(Don Byas)
20. Good For Stompin’ (-1) (A5) 3:02
(Oran Page)
21. Good For Stompin’ (BD) (A5) 3:02
(Oran Page)
22. Twilight In Teheran (alt) (A6) 2:59
(B. Ram-H. Kanner)
23. Swing Street (alt) (A6) 3:00
(Buck Ram)
24. Johnson And Turner Blues (alt) (A8) 3:03
(Joe Turner)
25. Candy (alt #1) (A10) 3:15
(David-Whitney-Kramer)
26. Candy (alt #2) (A10) 3:15
(David-Whitney-Kramer)
DISC III
1. Hurricane Blues (A11) 3:21
(E. Bostic-? Mason)
2. All On (A11) 3:32
(E. Bostic-L. Hampton)
3. I Don’t Know Why (A12) 2:58
(R. Turk-F. Ahlert)
4. London-Donnie (A12) 2:47
(trad)
5. Old Folks (A12) 3:00
(W. Robison-D. Hill)
6. Cherokee (A12) 2:58
(Ray Noble)
7. September In The Rain (A12) 2:56
(A. Dubin-H. Warren)
8. Living My Life (A13) 2:41
(Don Byas)
9. To Each His Own (A13) 2:54
(R. Evans-J. Livingston)
10. They Say It’s Wonderful (A13) 2:21
(Irving Berlin)
11. Cynthia’s In Love (A13) 2:43
(Gish-Owens-White)
12. September Song (A13) 2:51
(M. Anderson-K. Weill)
13. St. Louis Blues (A13) 2:56
(W.C. Handy)
14. I Found A New Baby (A13) 2:35
(J. Palmer-S. Williams)
15. Marie (A13) 2:53
(Irving Berlin)
16. I Don’t Know Why (alt) (A12) 2:58
(R. Turk-F. Ahlert)
17. Danny Boy (London-Donnie) (alt) (A12) 2:47
(trad)
18. Cherokee (alt #1) (A12) 2:58
(Ray Noble)
19. Cherokee (BD #1) (A12) 2:58
(Ray Noble)
20. Cherokee (BD #2) (A12) 2:58
(Ray Noble)
21. Cherokee (alt #2) (A12) 2:58
(Ray Noble)
22. September In The Rain (BD #1) (A12) 2:56
(A. Dubin-H. Warren)
23. September In The Rain (BD #2) (A12) 2:56
(A. Dubin-H. Warren)
24. September In The Rain (alt) (A12) 2:56
(A. Dubin-H. Warren)
25. September Song (alt) (A13) 2:51
(M. Anderson-K. Weill)
DISC IV
1. Whispering (B1) 4:20
(Coburn-Rose-Schonberger)
2. Star Dust (B1) 5:30
(H. Carmichael-M. Parish)
3. Medley (B2) 11:31
My Ideal
(Robin-Whiting-Chase)
Sweet Lorraine
(M. Parrish-C. Burwell)
Sweet And Lovely
(Arnheim-Daniels-Tobias)
4. Don’t Blame Me (B2) 7:47
(J. McHugh-D. Fields)
5. Medley (B2) 10:51
Star Dust
(H. Carmichael-M. Parish)
Memories Of You
(E. Blake-A. Razaf)
I Can’t Get Started
(V. Duke-I. Gershwin)
6. My Gal Sal (B3) 5:45
(Paul Dresser)
7. Indiana (B4) 4:50
(J. Hanley-B. MacDonald)
8. I Got Rhythm (B4) 4:33
(G. Gershwin-I. Gershwin)
9. Rose Room (B4) 7:20
(A. Hickman-H. Williams)
10. Sometimes I’m Happy (B4) 7:00
(Caesar-Youmans-Grey)
DISC V
1. Don’t Blame Me (B4) 15:15
(J. McHugh-D. Fields)
2. Worried And Blue (B4) 7:00
(unidentified)
3. I Gotta Right To Sing The Blues (B5) 5:00
(H. Arlen-T. Koehler)
4. Embraceable You (B5) 4:00
(G. Gershwin-I. Gershwin)
5. These Foolish Things (B6) 8:21
(Strachey-Marvell-Link)
6. Tea For Two (B6) 16:54
(V. Youmans-I. Caesar)
7. Lady Be Good (B7) 4:30
(G & I Gershwin)
8. Embraceable You (B8) 9:30
(G. Gershwin-I. Gershwin)
9. Moonglow (B8) 6:35
(Hudson-DeLange-Mills)
DISC VI
1. Medley (B8) 9:43
Just You, Just Me
(J. Greer-R. Klages)
How High The Moon
(N. Hamilton-M. Lewis)
2. Rose Room (B8) 7:02
(A. Hickman-H. Williams)
3. Body And Soul (B9) 11:46
(Green-Heyman-Eyton-Sour)
4. Cherokee (B9) 10:41
(Ray Noble)
5. unidentified title (B10) 5:47
(unidentified composer)
6. Crazy Rhythm (beginning cut) (B10) 8:38
(Meyer-Kahn-Caesar)
7. Lullaby In Rhythm (B10) 10:13
(Goodman-Hirsch-Profit-Sampson)
8. What Is This Thing Called Love? (beginning cut) (B10) 11:11
(Cole Porter)
DISC VII
1. I Got Rhythm #1 (ending) (B10) 0:44
(G & I Gershwin)
2. I Got Rhythm #2 (beginning cut) (B10) 8:29
(G & I Gershwin)
3. Sweet Georgia Brown (beginning cut) (B10) 9:25
(Bernie-Casey-Pinkard)
4. Cuckoo (Swing Test) (B11) 2:45
(improvisation)
5. Sometimes I’m Happy (B11) 2:16
(Caesar-Youmans-Grey)
6. Body And Soul (B11) 1:34
(Green-Heyman-Eyton-Sour)
7. Indiana (B11) 3:20
(J. Hanley-B. MacDonald)
8. Comes The Don (C1) 2:38
(Thomas-Cole-Byas)
9. Rosetta (C2) 4:48
(E. Hines-H. Woode)
10. What’s The Matter Now? (C3) 2:53
(composer unknown)
11. 4-F Blues [G.I. Blues] (C3) 2:23
(Rubberlegs Williams)
12. Seventh Avenue (C3) 2:56
(S. Powell-I. Higginbotham)
13. Sorta Kinda (C3) 2:47
(Trummy Young)
14. Ooh! Ooh! My! My! Oh! Oh! (C3) 2:49
(Paparelli-Toomas-Leveen)
15. Something For You (C4) 2:30
(O. Pettiford-I Berman)
16. Worried Life (C4) 2:50
(Maceo Merriweather)
17. Empty Bed Blues – Part 1 (C4) 2:31
(J.C. Johnson)
18. Empty Bed Blues – Part 2 (C4) 2:31
(J.C. Johnson)
19. Comes The Don (alt) (C1) 2:30
(Thomas-Cole-Byas)
20. Rosetta (alt) (C2) 4:48
(E. Hines-H. Woode)
21. 4-F Blues [G.I. Blues] (alt) (C3) 2:33
(Rubberlegs Williams)
DISC VIII
1. Good Bait (C5) 2:58
(D. Gillespie-T. Dameron)
2. Salted Peanuts [Salt Peanuts] (C5) 2:58
(D. Gillespie-K. Clarke)
3. Be-Bop [Dizzy Fingers] (C5) 3:07
(Dizzy Gillespie)
4. Pennies From Heaven (C6) 3:17
(A. Johnston-J. Burke)
5. Should I? (C6) 2:42
(H. Brown-A. Freed)
6. You Call It Madness, But I Call It Love (C6) 2:54
(Conrad-DuBois-Columbo-Gregory)
7. Jamboree Jump (C6) 3:01
(Don Byas)
8. The Jeep’s Jumpin’ (C7) 4:44
(J. Hodges-D. Ellington)
9. Daddy-O (C8) 2:50
(Timmie Rogers)
10. All Alone (C8) 2:56
(Irving Berlin)
11. Double Talk (C9) 3:35
(Don Byas)
12. Fruit Salad (C9) 2:59
(D. Byas-?. Shad)
13. Don John (C9) 3:00
(Don Byas)
14. Spots (C9) 2:57
(D. Byas-?. Shad)
15. Hallelujah (C10) 3:10
(Robin-Grey-Youmans)
16. Through For The Night (C10) 2:37
(Trummy Young)
17. Morning Madness (C11) 4:02
(Cyril Haynes)
18. One Sad Thursday (C11) 3:53
(Cyril Haynes)
19. Across The Road (C11) 3:47
(Cyril Haynes)
20. Cedar Manor (C11) 3:44
(Cyril Haynes)
21. I’d Do Anything For You (C12) 2:44
(C. Friend-L. Pollack)
22. Sophisticated Lady (C12) 3:09
(Ellington-Parish-Mills)
23. Armand The Groove (C12) 3:03
(Johnny Guarnieri)
24. Dot’s My Baby (C12) 2:54
(Johnny Guarnieri)
DISC IX
1. Little White Lies (C13) 2:52
(Walter Donaldson)
2. Deep Purple (C13) 3:08
(P. DeRose-M. Parrish)
3. Them There Eyes (C13) 3:06
(Pinkard-Tauber-Tracey)
4. You Came Along (From Out Of Nowhere) (C13) 3:21
(E. Heyman-J. Green)
5. Four Or Five Times (C14) 5:08
(Byron Gay)
6. I Want A Little Girl (C14) 5:34
(M. Mencher-B. Moll)
7. Three O’ Clock In The Morning (C15) 2:58
(Julian Robledo)
8. One O’ Clock Jump (C15) 2:44
(Count Basie)
9. Harvard Blues (C15) 3:06
(Frazier-Smith-Basie)
10. Slam-In’ Around (C15) 2:43
(Don Byas) )
11. A Woman Gets Tired Of One Man (C16) 3:00
(Charles Booker)
12. Don’t Care Blues (C16) 3:00
(Perry Bradford)
13. Laura (C17) 2:46
(D. Raksin-J. Mercer)
14. Star Dust (C17) 3:01
(H. Carmichael-M. Parish)
15. Slam, Don’t Shake Like That (C17) 3:00
(D. Byas-S. Stewart)
16. Dark Eyes (C17) 3:00
(trad.)
17. The Lady In Debt (C18) 2:26
(Leonard Feather)
18. They Raided The Joint (C18) 2:53
(Eldridge-Jackson-Page)
19. Willie Mae Willow Foot (C18) 2:43
(Hot Lips Page)
20. Race Horse Mama Blues (C18) 2:37
(Hot Lips Page)
21. Embraceable You (C19) 3:00
(G. Gershwin-I. Gershwin)
22. The Sheik Of Araby (C19) 3:01
(H. Smith-T. Snyder)
23. Super Session (C19) 2:57
(Don Byas)
24. Melody In Swing (C19) 3:14
(S. Catlett-T. Grimes)
DISC X
1. The Gypsy (C20) 2:22
(William Gordon Reid)
2. Nancy (C20) 2:44
(P. Silvers-J. Van Heusen)
3. Poor Butterfly (C20) 2:59
(J.L.Golden-R.Hubbell)
4. Annie Laurie (C21) 3:00
(Scott-Douglas)
5. Once In A While (C22) 3:22
(M. Edwards-B. Green)
6. Avalon (C22) 3:08
(Rose-DeSylva-Jolson)
7. Blue And Sentimental (C22) 3:17
(Basie-David-Livingston)
8. My Melancholy Baby (C22) 3:06
(Norton-Watson-Burnett)
9. Humoresque (C23) 2:52
(Anton Dvorak)
10. Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams (C23) 3:01
(Koehler-Barris-Moll)
11. Smoke Gets In Your Eyes (C23) 2:50
(O. Harbach-J. Kern)
12. Slamboree (C23) 3:00
(Stewart-Byas-Garner-West)
13. Diga Diga Do (C24) 2:53
(D. Fields-J. McHugh)
14. Some Of These Days (C24) 2:45
(Shelton Brooks)
15. Rose Room (C25) 2:54
(A. Hickman-H. Williams)
16. Dark Glasses (C26) 2:38
(Don Redman)
17. Mickey Finn (C26) 2:28
(Don Redman)
18. You Go To My Head (C27) 2:50
(J.F. Coots-H. Gillespie)
19. Don’t You Know I Care? (Or Don’t You Care To Know) (C27) 2:50
(D. Ellington-D. Mack)
20. Gloomy Sunday (C27) 3:03
(Javor-Seress-Lewis)
21. More Than A Mood [At Home With The Blues] (C27) 2:51
(Bill Simon)
For the purposes of this discography, only the first release of each matrix is listed. All commercially issued titles were released initially on 78 except where noted as Long Playing (LP) or Compact Disc (CD). Since it is not known the exact order in which the titles were recorded, we’ve put any alternate takes first and the master take second. However, some recently discovered information from the original lacquer discs on the Savoy and National labels are shown in the order they were recorded.
Because of contractual arrangements, the CDs will not be heard in chronological order as is shown in this discography. Therefore, the Savoy, Majestic and National sides are heard on Discs I, II and III; the Timme Rosenkrantz jam sessions on Discs IV, V, VI and part of VII; and the remainder of the music from miscellaneous 78 labels on Discs VII through X.
To make it easier to navigate the discography, track listing and liner notes, we have devised the session letters as (A1) through (A13) for Savoy; (B1) through (B12) for Rosenkrantz; and (C1) through (C27) for miscellaneous.
The following reference materials were used for this discography: materials provided by Cornelis Hazevoet; Benny Carter: A Life In American Music by Morroe Berger, Ed Berger, James Patrick (Scarecrow Press); Jan Evensmo’s website: www.jazzarcheology.com; The Jazz Discography by Tom Lord: www.lordisco.com (Lord Music Reference, Inc.); The Savoy Label: A Discography by Michel Ruppli and Bob Porter (Greenwood Press).
Abbreviations: Amer for American Records; Cont for Continental; HNS for H.N. Society Records; Inter for International Series; Jam for Jamboree; Maj for Majestic; Mas for Masterseal; Nat for National; Ply for Plymouth; SD for Super Disc; Sav for Savoy; Stor for Storyville.
Other abbreviations: alt for alternate take; BD for breakdown; inc. for a short incomplete track; FS for false start.
__________________________________________________________________
(A1) “HOT LIPS” PAGE’S SWING SEVEN: Hot Lips Page (tp, mel, vcl), Floyd “Horsecollar” Williams, George Johnson (as), Don Byas (ts), Clyde Hart (p), John Simmons (b), Sid Catlett (d).
NYC, June 14, 1944
Probably supervised by Buck Ram
S5462-1 (FS) Dance Of The Tambourine unissued
S5462-2 (alt #1) Dance Of The
Tambourine (HLP-vcl) previously unissued
S5462-3 (alt #2) Dance Of The
Tambourine (HLP-vcl) –
S5462-4 Dance Of The
Tambourine (HLP-vcl) Sav 521
S5464 -1 (FS #1) Paging Mr. Page unissued
S5464-2 (FS #2) Paging Mr. Page –
S5464-3 (alt) Paging Mr. Page Sav SJL 2246 (LP)
S5464 -4 Paging Mr. Page Sav 520
The other titles from this session do not feature Byas.
__________________________________________________________________
HOT LIPS PAGE ORCHESTRA: Hot Lips Page, Charlie Shavers (tp), Trummy Young (tb), Ernie Caceres (as, bari), Budd Johnson (as, ts), Don Byas (ts), Johnny Guarnieri (p), Al Casey (g), Billy Taylor, Sr. (b), Cozy Cole (d).
NYC, Summer 1944
Witch Walk unissued
Morning Mist –
Twilight Of The Tootside Roll –
Note: These masters may exist in storage with other Savoy and National 16” lacquers but they are at the moment unobtainable at the time of this release. These titles may or may not contain solo efforts by Byas.
__________________________________________________________________
(A2) DON BYAS’S SWING SHIFTERS: Charlie Shavers (tp), Don Byas (ts), Clyde Hart (p, celeste), Slam Stewart (b), Jack Parker (d).
NYC, July 28, 1944
Probably supervised by Buck Ram
S5490 Riffin’ And Jivin’ Sav 582
S5491-1 (alt) Free And Easy Sav SJL 2213 (LP)
S5491-2 Free And Easy Sav 524
S5492 Worried And Blue Sav 582
S5493-1 (FS) Don’s Idea unissued
S5493-2 (BD) Don’s Idea previously unissued
S5493-3 (FS) Don’s Idea unissued
S5493-4 (alt) Don’s Idea Sav SJL 2213 (LP)
S5493-5 Don’s Idea Sav 552
__________________________________________________________________ (A3) JAM SESSION AT SAVOY: Charlie Shavers (tp), Rudy Williams (as), Don Byas (ts), Clyde Hart (p), Slam Stewart (b), Jack Parker (d).
NYC, August 17, 1944
Probably supervised by Buck Ram
S5700 Savoy Jam Party No. 2 Sav XP 8078 (EP), MG 9030 (10” LP)
S5701 Savoy Jam Party No. 1 Sav XP 8077 (EP), –
DON BYAS: same personnel
S5702-1 (BD) 1944 Stomp previously unissued
S5702-2 (alt) 1944 Stomp –
S5702-3 1944 Stomp Sav SJL 2213 (LP)
DON BYAS: Don Byas (ts), Clyde Hart (p), Slam Stewart (b), Jack Parker (d).
S5703-1 What Do You Want
With My Heart Sav 552
DON BYAS’S SWING SHIFTERS: Charlie Shavers (tp), Rudy Williams (as), Don Byas (ts), Clyde Hart (p), Slam Stewart (b), Jack Parker (d).
S5704-1 Bass C Jam Sav 524
Note: 1944 stomp is also known as Just can’t make up my mind.
__________________________________________________________________
(B1) DON BYAS: poss. Tony Scott (cl), Don Byas (ts), unidentified (p), (b), (d), Symphony Sid Torin (mc).
Three Deuces, 72 W. 52nd St., NYC,
July or late August 1944
Whispering previously unissued
Star Dust –
Note: Star dust has “bleeding” from another radio station throughout the track.
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(A4) THE EMMETT BERRY FIVE: Emmett Berry (tp), Don Byas (ts), Dave Rivera (p), Milt Hinton (b), J.C. Heard (d).
NYC, August 31, 1944
Supervised by Herb Abramson
NCS-1A Sweet And Lovely Nat 9001
NCS-2B White Rose Kick –
NCS-? (alt) Deep Blue Dream Sav SJL 2213 (LP)
NCS-3B Deep Blue Dream Nat 9002
NCS-4C Byas’d Opinions –
___________________________________________________________________
(B2) DON BYAS: Don Byas (ts), Jimmy Jones (p) -1, John Mehegan (p) -2.
Timme Rosenkrantz’s apartment
7 West 46th St., NYC, September 2, 1944
Medley -1: Caete (Dan) CALP 1 (LP)
My Ideal
Sweet Lorraine
Sweet And Lovely
Worried And Blue (inc.) -1 unissued
Don’t Blame Me -1 Caete (Dan) CALP 1 (LP)
Medley -2: –
Star Dust
Memories Of You
I Can’t Get Started
Note: The catalog number is “1” on the label but “2” on the jacket.
Slam Stewart is listed on the Caete jacket but is not heard.
__________________________________________________________________ (A5) HOT LIPS PAGE and Orchestra: Hot Lips Page (tp, vcl), Jesse Brown, Joe Keyes (tp), Vic Dickenson, Benny Morton (tb), Earl Bostic, Floyd “Horsecollar” Williams (as), Don Byas, Ike Quebec (ts), Clyde Hart (p, cel), Tiny Grimes (el-g), Al Lucas (b), Jack Parker (d).
NYC, September 12, 1944
Supervised by Buck Ram
S-5706 I Got What It Takes (HLP-vcl) Sav 700
S-5707-1 Good For Stompin’ Sav SJL2246 (LP)
S-5707-2 (BD) Good For Stompin’ previously unissued
S-5707-3 Good For Stompin’ Sav SJL2208 (LP)
Note: The other titles from this session do not feature Byas.
__________________________________________________________________
(A6) BUCK RAM’S ALL STARS: Shad Collins, Frankie Newton (tp), Tyree Glenn (tb), Earl Bostic (as), Don Byas (ts), Ernie Caceres (bari), Red Norvo (vib), Teddy Wilson (p), Remo Palmieri (el-g), Slam Stewart (b), Cozy Cole (d).
NYC, September 18, 1944
Supervised by Buck Ram
5714 (alt) Twilight In Teheran Sav SJL 2246 (LP)
5714 Twilight In Teheran Sav 572
5716 (alt) Swing Street Sav SJL 2208 (LP)
5716 Swing Street Sav 572
Note: The other titles from this session do not feature Byas.
__________________________________________________________________
(B3) DON BYAS:
Don Byas (ts), Slam Stewart (b) -1
Don Byas (ts), Jimmy Jones (p), Slam Stewart (b) -2
Timme Rosenkrantz’s apartment
7 West 46th St., NYC, September 18, 1944
My Gal Sal -1 previously unissued
It Could Happen To You -2 unissued
Foolin’ Around -2 –
Note: It could happen to you is damaged beyond any repair and could not be a part of this set (although Byas’s tenor solo has been salvaged and in the hands of collectors but not commercially released). Foolin’ around is also not a part of this set as it is heavily damaged and basically just some rehearsing by the musicians.
__________________________________________________________________
(B4) DON BYAS:
Don Byas (ts), Slam Stewart (b) -1
Kirk Bradford (as), Don Byas (ts), Joe Turner (p), Slam Stewart (b) -2
Gene Sedric, Don Byas (ts), Vic Dickenson (tb), Jimmy Jones (p), Slam Stewart (b) -3
Don Byas (ts), Jimmy Jones (p), Slam Stewart (b), Inez Cavanaugh (vcl) -4
Don Byas (ts), Jimmy Jones (p), Slam Stewart (b) -5
Jimmy Jones (p), Inez Cavanaugh (vcl) -6
Gene Sedric (cl), Don Byas (ts), Jimmy Jones (p), Slam Stewart (b) -7
Timme Rosenkrantz’s apartment
7 West 46th St., NYC, October 2, 1944
Indiana -1 Caete (Dan) CALP 1 (LP)
I Got Rhythm -1 –
Rose Room -2 –
Sometimes I’m Happy (inc.) -3 previously unissued
Don’t Blame Me (IC-vcl) -4 –
Worried And Blue (inc.) -5 unissued
Stormy Weather (IC-vcl) -6 –
Worried And Blue -7 Caete (Dan) CALP 1 (LP)
Note: The catalog number on the Caete LP lists “1” on the label but “2” on the jacket.
Copies of Sometimes I’m happy and Don’t blame me have surfaced in private collections.
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(A7) THE HANK D’AMICO SEXTET: Frankie Newton (tp), Hank D’Amico (cl), Don Byas (ts), Dave Rivera (p), Sid Weiss (b), Cozy Cole (d).
NYC, October 10, 1944
Supervised by Herb Abramson
NSC 9 Hank’s Pranks Nat 9047
NSC 10 Juke Box Judy –
NSC 11-B Shy Little Witch From Greenwich Nat 9004
NSC 12 Gone At Dawn Nat 9003
Note: The flip sides of both National 9003 and 9004 are by Warren Evans and his Orchestra and do not include Byas.
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(B5) DON BYAS: Don Byas (ts), unidentified (p), unidentified (brushes), Nita Bradley (vcl).
Timme Rosenkrantz’s apartment
7 West 46th St., NYC, November 3, 1944
I Gotta Right To Sing The Blues (NB-vcl) previously unissued
Embraceable You (inc.) unissued
Embraceable You (inc.) –
Embraceable You (NB-vcl) previously unissued
Note: The beginning is cut on I gotta right to sing the blues.
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(B6) DON BYAS: Don Byas (ts), John Levy (p), Ted Sturgis (b).
Timme Rosenkrantz’s apartment
7 West 46th St., NYC, November 6, 1944
These Foolish Things (inc.) unissued
These Foolish Things previously unissued
Tea For Two -1 (inc.) unissued
Tea For Two -1 previously unissued
-1 add unidentified (brushes)
Note: Both titles have surfaced in private collections but not commercially released.
__________________________________________________________________
(B7) DON BYAS: Don Byas (ts), Sammy Benskin (p), unidentified (brushes).
Timme Rosenkrantz’s apartment
7 West 46th St., NYC, November 19, 1944
Oh, Lady Be Good previously unissued
Note: This title has surfaced in private collections but not commercially released.
___________________________________________________________________
(B8) DON BYAS: Don Byas (ts), Sammy Benskin (p), Harold McFadden (g, el-g), Kenneth Jackman (vcl).
Timme Rosenkrantz’s apartment
7 West 46th St., NYC, November 20, 1944
Embraceable You (KJ-vcl) Stor (Dan) 101-8439 (CD)
Moonglow previously unissued
Medley: –
Just You, Just Me
How High The Moon
Rose Room -1 (inc.) unissued
Rose Room -1 previously unissued
-1 add Vic Dickenson (tb) and unidentified (brushes).
Note: First pressings of Storyville (Dan) 101-8439 (CD) incorrectly gives a different performance of <SC>embraceable you<XC> dated November 3, 1944, with different musicians and a female vocalist.
Copies of Moonglow, Medley and Rose room have surfaced in private collections but not commercially released.
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(B9) DON BYAS: Kirk Bradford (as), Don Byas, Lucky Thompson (ts), Teddy Brannon (p), Al Hall (b).
Timme Rosenkrantz’s apartment
7 West 46th St., NYC, Autumn 1944
Body And Soul previously unissued
Cherokee -1 –
-1 add unidentified (brushes)
Note: The beginning is cut on Body and soul.
There is a skip on Cherokee at 0:26 which could not be repaired.
________________________________________________________________
(B10) DON BYAS:
Kirk Bradford (as), Don Byas, Lucky Thompson (ts), Thelonious Monk (p), Al Hall (b), unknown (brushes) -1
Hot Lips Page (tp), Kirk Bradford (as), Don Byas, Lucky Thompson (ts), Thelonious Monk (p), Al Hall (b), unknown (brushes) -2
Don Byas (ts), Al Hall (b) -3
Lucky Thompson (ts), Thelonious Monk (p), Al Hall (b) -4
Kirk Bradford (as), Thelonious Monk (p), Al Hall (b) -5
Timme Rosenkrantz’s apartment
7 West 46th St., NYC, Autumn 1944
unidentified title -1 Stor (Dan) 101-8439 (CD)
Crazy Rhythm (beginning cut) -2 previously unissued
Lullaby In Rhythm -2 –
What Is This Thing Called Love? (beginning cut) -2 –
I Got Rhythm #1 (ending) -3 –
I Got Rhythm #2 (beginning cut) -4 –
Sweet Georgia Brown (beginning cut) -5 –
Note: First pressings of Storyville (Dan) 101-8439 (CD) incorrectly gives the unidentified title as Let’s go. This title has also been given as Variation on Rockin’ in rhythm.
I got rhythm #2 has a drop out at 1:09.
Both I got rhythm and Sweet Georgia Brown have less than desirable surface quality and are incomplete with beginnings cut. But given the importance of the musicians involved, as well as the lively performances, we have kept this jam session intact.
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(C1) COZY COLE’S ALL STARS: Charlie Shavers (tp), Hank D’Amico (cl), Don Byas, Coleman Hawkins (ts), Johnny Guarnieri (p), Tiny Grimes (el-g), Slam Stewart (b), Cozy Cole (d).
NYC, November 21, 1944
Supervised by Don Gabor
S-3284-1 Comes The Don Cont C-6004
S-3284-2 (alt) Comes The Don Mas MSLP 5013 (LP)
Note: Other titles from this session do not feature Byas or have limited solo participation.
__________________________________________________________________ (C2) V-DISC ALL STAR JAM SESSION: Charlie Shavers (tp), Trummy Young (tb), Ernie Caceres (cl), Don Byas (ts), Bill Clifton (p), Herb Ellis (g), Bob Haggart (b), Specs Powell (d).
NBC Radio City Studio, NYC
December 6, 1944
Supervised by Tony Janak and
George T. Simon
VP-1055-D4-TC-541-2 Rosetta Pumpkin 103 (LP)
VP-1055-D4-TC-541-1 Rosetta V-Disc 384 (12”) /
Navy V-Disc 164 (12”)
Note: Although this session has been dated as either December 6th or 7th, the V-Disc files indicate that all but one title (I’m confessin’ by Louis Armstrong and the V-Disc All-Stars) were recorded after midnight on the 7th.
The reverse of both the Army and Navy V-Discs is by “V-Disc All Star Jam Session featuring Jack Teagarden and Louis Armstrong”.
__________________________________________________________________
(C3) CLYDE HART’S ALL STARS -1 / RUBBERLEGS WILLIAMS with CLYDE HART’S ALL STARS -2 / DIZZIE GILLESPIE with Clyde Hart’s All Stars -3 / James “Trummie” Young’s All Stars -4: Dizzy Gillespie (tp), Trummy Young (tb, vcl), Charlie Parker (as), Don Byas (ts), Clyde Hart (p, arr), Mike Bryan (g), Al Hall (b), Specs Powell (d), Rubberlegs Williams (vcl).
NYC, January 4, 1945
Supervised by Teddy Reig
W3301 What’s The Matter Now
(CH-arr) (RW-vcl) -1 Cont C-6013
W3304 (alt) 4-F Blues [G.I. Blues] (RW-vcl) -2 Ply 100-38 (10” LP)
W3304 4-F Blues [G.I. Blues] (RW-vcl) -2 Cont C-6020
W3306 Seventh Avenue (TY-vcl) -4 Cont C-6005
W3307 Sorta Kinda (TY-vcl) -4 –
W3308 Ooh! Ooh! My! My! Oh! Oh! (TY-vcl) -3 Cont C-6060
Note: Other titles from this session do not feature Byas or have limited solo participation.
The label of Ooh! ooh! my! my! oh! oh! incorrectly lists Rubberlegs Williams as the vocalist.
__________________________________________________________________
(C4) OSCAR PETTIFORD AND HIS 18 ALL STARS -1 / OSCAR PETTIFORD AND HIS ORCHESTRA -2: Dizzy Gillespie, Bill Coleman, Benny Harris, unidentified (tp), Trummy Young, poss. Benny Morton, Vic Dickenson, unidentified (tb), Johnny Bothwell, unidenfied (as), Don Byas, unidentified (ts), Serge Chaloff (bari), Clyde Hart (p), Al Casey (g), Oscar Pettiford (b), Shelly Manne (d), Rubberlegs Williams (vcl).
NYC, January 9, 1945
Possibly supervised by Irving Berman
W-1218-W Something For You -1 Manor 1034
W-1219-W Worried Life (RW-vcl) -2 Manor 1002
W-1220-W Empty Bed Blues – Part 1 (RW-vcl) -2 –
W-1221-W Empty Bed Blues – Part 2 (RW-vcl) -1 Manor 1034
__________________________________________________________________
(C5) DIZZY GILLESPIE SEXTET: Dizzy Gillespie (tp, vcl), Trummy Young (ts), Don Byas (ts), Clyde Hart (p), Oscar Pettiford (b), Shelly Manne (d).
NYC, January 9, 1945
Possibly supervised by Irving Berman
W-1224-W Good Bait Manor 1042
W-1225-W Salted Peanuts [Salt Peanuts] (DG-vcl) Manor 5000
W-1226-W Be-Bop [Dizzy Fingers] –
Note: The other title from this session does not feature Byas. __________________________________________________________________
(C6) DON BYAS ALL STAR QUINTET: Joe Thomas (tp), Don Byas (ts), Johnny Guarnieri (p), Billy Taylor, Sr. (b), Cozy Cole (d).
NYC, January 23, 1945
Possibly supervised by Morty Kline
J 7001 Pennies From Heaven Jam 901
J 7002 Should I Jam 900
J 7003 You Call It Madness
But I Call It Love –
J 7004-2 Jamboree Jump Jam 901
__________________________________________________________________
(C7) NAT JAFFE AND THE V-DISC JUMPERS: Charlie Shavers (tp), Don Byas (ts), Nat Jaffe (p), Billy Taylor, Sr. (b), Doc West (d).
Vanderbilt Theater, 148 West 58th St.,
NYC, January 24, 1945
Supervised by George T. Simon
VP-JDB 1626 The Jeep’s Jumpin’ V-Disc 764
Note: Some discographies list possibly Mike Bryan as a guitarist and the drummer as Johnny Blowers.
__________________________________________________________________
(A8) JOE TURNER with PETE JOHNSON’S ALL STARS: Frankie Newton (tp), Don Byas (ts), Pete Johnson (p), Leonard Ware (el-g), Al Hall (b), Doc West (d), Joe Turner (vcl).
NYC, February 2, 1945
Supervised by Herb Abramson
NSC 33 S.K. Blues – Part I (JT-vcl) Nat 9010
NSC 34 S.K. Blues – Part II (JT-vcl) –
NSC 35 (alt) Johnson & Turner Blues (JT-vcl) Sav SJL 2223 (LP)
NSC 35 Johnson & Turner Blues (JT-vcl) Nat 9011
NSC 36 Watch That Jive (JT-vcl) –
__________________________________________________________________
(C8) TIMMIE ROGERS AND HIS ALL STAR ORCHESTRA -1 / SAVANNAH CHURCHILL AND HER ALL STAR ORCHESTRA -2: Benny Carter (as, tp, ldr), William Johnson, Talib Dawud (Alfonso Barrymore), Felix Barboza, Loyal Walker (tp), Alton “Slim” Moore, Shorty Haughton, George Washington, J.J. Johnson (tb), Porter Kilbert, Jewell Grant (as), Harold Clark, Don Byas (ts), Willard Brown (bari), Rufus Webster (p), Herman Mitchell (g), Charlie Drayton (b), Max Roach (d), Timmie Rogers, Savannah Churchill (vcl).
NYC, February 26, 1945
Supervised by Irving Berman
W-1256-W Daddy-O (TR-vcl) -1 Regis 7001
W-1261-W All Alone (SC-vcl) (BC-arr) -2 Manor 1004
Note: Other titles from this session (matrices W-1258 and W-1262) have limited solo participation by Byas.
It is not known if matrices W1257, W1259 or W1260 were used. However, two titles are known to have been made but they went unissued and the masters no longer exist: Capacity and If you can’t smile and Say yes, don’t smile and say no.
__________________________________________________________________
(C9) DON BYAS AND ORCHESTRA -1 / DON BYAS QUARTET -2 / DON BYAS -3: Don Byas (ts), Kenny Watts (p), John Levy (b), Slick Jones (d).
NYC, c. March 1945
Possibly supervised by Ben Bart
HU-414 Double Talk -1 HUB 3022
HU-415-B Fruit Salad -2 HUB 3002
HU-416 Don John -3 King EP-343 (EP)
HU-417-B Spots -3 HUB 3002
Note: The sides with Big Bill Broonzy (credited on the labels as Little Sam and Orchestra) that make up the rest of this session have faint obbligato only by Byas.
__________________________________________________________________
(C10) COZY COLE AND HIS QUINTETTE: Don Byas (ts), prob. Billy Taylor (p), Tiny Grimes (el-g), Billy Taylor Sr. (b), Cozy Cole (d), June Hawkins (vcl).
NYC, March 19, 1945
601-B Hallelujah Guild 119
604-B Through For The Night (JH-vcl) –
Note: The other titles from this session do not feature Byas or have limited solo participation.
__________________________________________________________________
(A9) ALBINIA JONES with DON BYAS’ SWING SEVEN: Dizzy Gillespie (tp), Gene Sedric (cl, ts), Don Byas (ts), Sammy Price (p), Leonard Ware (el-g), Oscar Smith (b), Doc West (d), Albinia Jones (vcl).
NYC, April 14, 1945
Supervised by Herb Abramson
NSC 49 Evil Gal Blues (AJ-vcl) Nat 9012
NSC 50-C Salty Papa Blues (AJ-vcl) Nat 9013
NSC 51-II Albinia’s Blues (AJ-vcl) –
NSC 52-II Don’t You Wear No Black (AJ-vcl) Nat 9012
Note: Savoy SJL 2233 (LP) titles Don’t you wear no black as What’s the matter with you.
The label of National 9012 lists Sammy Price as “Bubber Prince”, while National 9013 lists Dizzy Gillespie as “John Kildare” and Sammy Price as “Bubber Prince”.
__________________________________________________________________
(C11) CYRIL HAYNES SEXTET: Dick Vance (tp), Don Byas (ts), Cyril Haynes (p), Al Casey (el-g), John Levy (b), Doc West (d).
NYC, May or June 1945
Supervised by Les Schriber
T-4A Morning Madness Comet T4 (12”)
T-4B One Sad Thursday –
T-5A Across The Road Comet T5 (12”)
T-5B Cedar Manor –
__________________________________________________________________
(C12) GUARNIERI QUARTET: Don Byas (ts), Johnny Guarnieri (p), Leo Guarnieri (b), J.C. Heard (d).
NYC, c. June 1945
Supervised by Bill Simon
500 C I’d Do Anything For You HNS 102
501 A Sophisticated Lady HNS 101
502 C Armand The Groove HNS 102
503 B Dot’s My Baby HNS 101
__________________________________________________________________
(C13) DON BYAS’ ALL STAR QUINTET: Buck Clayton (tp), Don Byas (ts), Johnny Guarnieri (p), Eddie Safranski (b), Denzil Best (d).
NYC, June 27, 1945
Possibly supervised by Morty Kline
7005 Little White Lies Jam 902
7006 Deep Purple Jam 903
7007 Them There Eyes –
7008 You Came Along
(From Out Of Nowhere) Jam 902
Note: Some copies of Jamboree 903 list <SC>deep purple<XC> as <SC>deep blue<XC>.
__________________________________________________________________
(B11) DON BYAS WITH FRANK FROEBA AND HIS BOYS IN THE BACK ROOM: Don Byas (ts), Frank Froeba (p), Merle Pitt (celeste), Dick Kissinger (b), Sid Catlett (d), Ann Hathaway (vcl), Art Ford (ann).
Sunday Afternoon Swing Club,
WNEW, NYC, July 15, 1945
2:00-2:30 pm
Cuckoo (Swing Test) Stor (Dan) 101-8439 (CD)
Sometimes I’m Happy (AH-vcl) -1 –
Body And Soul (beginning cut) previously unissued
Indiana -2 –
-1 possibly Nat Brown (cl) added
-2 add Merle Pitt (accordion)
Note: Storyville (Dan) 101-8439 (CD) randomly gives the title as Cuckoo. During the “Sunday Afternoon Swing Club” program, there was a “swing test” with an untitled improvised jam.
The label of Cuckoo and Sometimes I’m happy is dated as “7-15-45” while Body and Soul and Indiana show a date of “7-18-45” (which was a Wednesday.) It is a safe assumption that these are all from the same Sunday Afternoon Swing Club program.
Body and Soul and Indiana have surfaced in private collections but were not commercially released.
__________________________________________________________________
(C14) TRUMMY YOUNG AND THE GUYS FROM V-DISCS -1 / HENRY WELLS, TRUMMY YOUNG AND THE GUYS FROM V-DISCS -2: Buck Clayton (tp), Trummy Young, Henry Wells (tb, vcl), Bill Stegmeyer (as), Don Byas (ts), Ken Kersey (p), Mike Bryan (el-g), Bob Haggart (b), Jimmy Crawford (d).
NYC, July 18, 1945
Supervised by Tony Janak
and George T. Simon
VP 1519 / XP 35151-1 Four Or Five Times (TY-vcl) -1 V-Disc 538 (12”)
Willie Smith (as) replaces Stegmeyer.
NVP 1563-2 I Want A Little Girl (HW, TY-vcl) -2 V-Disc 559 (12”)
Goodnight My Love (HW-vcl) unissued
Blues –
Jumpin’ For The Boys –
Note: The unissued titles appear in discographies but not known to exist.
The reverse side of V-Disc 538 is by Dave Matthews and his Orchestra. The reverse of V-Disc 559 is by Evelyn Knight.
__________________________________________________________________
(C15) DON BYAS QUARTET: Don Byas (ts), Erroll Garner (p), Slam Stewart (b), Doc West (d).
NYC, August 30, 1945
MF14 -7A Three O’ Clock In The Morning SD 1006
MF15 One O’ Clock Jump –
MF16 Harvard Blues SD 1007
MF18-7a Slam-In’ Around SD 1008
Note: The reverse side of both Super Disc 1007 and Super Disc 1008 are by Erskine Butterfield.
__________________________________________________________________
(C16) GEORGE WILLIAMS AND ORCHESTRA: unidentified (tp), Don Byas (ts), unidentified (p), probably Eddie Durham (el-g), unidentified (b), unidentified (d), George Williams (vcl).
NYC, Summer or Autumn 1945
Possibly supervised by Ben Bart
450-B A Woman Gets Tired Of One Man (GW-vcl) HUB 2013
451-B Don’t Care Blues (GW-vcl) –
__________________________________________________________________
(C17) THE DON BYAS QUARTET: Don Byas (ts), Johnny Guarnieri (p), Slam Stewart (b), J.C. Heard (d).
NYC, September 6, 1945
Supervised by Bill Simon
1001 Laura Amer A-1001
1002 Star Dust Amer A-1002
1003 Slam, Don’t Shake Like That Amer A-1003
1004 Dark Eyes Amer A-1004
Note: The American Records catalog numbering system were issued sequentially: American A-1001 is backed with A-1002 and American A-1003 is backed with A-1004. These titles also appeared on the International label.
__________________________________________________________________
(C18) HOT LIPS PAGE AND HIS ORCHESTRA -1: Hot Lips Page (tp, vcl), J.C. Higginbotham (tb), Earl Bostic (as), Don Byas (ts), Rufus Webster (p), unidentified (el-g), unidentified (b), Buford Oliver (d).
HOT LIPS PAGE AND HIS ORCHESTRA -2: Hot Lips Page (tp, vcl), Buck Clayton, unidentified (tp), Benny Morton, J.C. Higginbotham, Sandy Williams (tb), Earl Bostic, unidentified (as), Don Byas, Ben Webster (ts), unknown (bari), Rufus Webster (p), unidentified (el-g), unidentified (b), Buford Oliver (d).
NYC, September 7, 1945
Poss. supervised by Don Gabor
W3397 The Lady In Debt (HLP-vcl) -1 Cont C-6015
W3399 They Raided The Joint (HLP-vcl) -2 Cont C-6017
W3401 Willie Mae Willow Foot (HLP-vcl) -2 Cont C-6061
W3404 Race Horse Mama Blues -1 Cont C-6025
Note: The other titles from this session do not feature Byas.
__________________________________________________________________
(C19) THE DON BYAS QUARTET: Don Byas (ts), Johnny Guarnieri (p), Al Hall (b), Sid Catlett (d).
NYC, September 12, 1945
MF24 -8a Embraceable You SD 1011
MF25 -8a The Sheik Of Araby –
MF26 -1 Super Session SD 1010
MF27 -1 Melody In Swing –
__________________________________________________________________
(C20) DON BYAS: unidentified (tp), Jimmy Powell (as), Don Byas, Hal Singer (ts), unidentified (p), unidentified (b), unidentified (d), Rubel Blakey (vcl).
NYC, Autumn 1945
Possibly supervised by Ben Bart
HU-474 Gypsy (RB-vcl) HUB 3017
HU-477 Nancy (RB-vcl) –
HU-483 Poor Butterfly HUB 3022
__________________________________________________________________
(C21) ALL STAR RHYTHM SECTION: Don Byas (ts), Gene Schroeder (p), Tony Gottuso (g), Slam Stewart (b), Johnny Blowers (d).
NYC, Autumn 1945
Supervised by Bill Simon
WEB 355A Annie Laurie Inter 1
Note: This was probably from an American Record label session. The reverse side is Dark eyes from the September 6, 1945 Don Byas session on American.
__________________________________________________________________
(C22) DON BYAS ALL STAR QUARTET: Don Byas (ts), Johnny Guarnieri (p, cel), Eddie Safranski (b), J.C. Heard (d).
NYC, October 3, 1945
Possibly supervised by Morty Kline
MJ-7009 Once In A While Jam 904
MJ-7010 Avalon Jam 905
MJ-7011 Blue And Sentimental –
MJ-7012 My Melancholy Baby Jam 904
__________________________________________________________________
(C23) DON BYAS QUARTET: Don Byas (ts), Erroll Garner (p), Slam Stewart (b), Doc West (d).
NYC, November 1, 1945
WS-501 Humoresque Arista 5000
WS-502 Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams –
WS-503 Smoke Gets In Your Eyes Arista 5001
WS-504 Slamboree –
__________________________________________________________________
(A10) DON BYAS QUINTETTE: Benny Harris (tp), Don Byas (ts), Jimmy Jones (p), John Levy (b), Fred Radcliffe (d).
NYC, November 26, 1945
Supervised by Teddy Reig
SAV5845-1 (alt #1) Candy previously unissued
SAV5845-2 (alt #2) Candy –
SAV5845-3 Candy Sav 574
SAV5846 How High The Moon Sav 597
SAV5847 Donby Sav XP 8039 (EP) /
MG 12203 (LP)
SAV5848 Byas-A-Drink Sav 574
_________________________________________________________________
(A11) EARL BOSTIC AND HIS ORCHESTRA: Benny Harris, Roger Jones, Dick Vance (tp), Claude Jones, Benny Morton (tb), Eddie Barefield (cl, as), Earl Bostic (as, vcl, arr), Don Byas, Walter “Foots” Thomas (ts), Ed Finkel (p), Tiny Grimes (el-g), Al Hall (b), Cozy Cole (d).
NYC, c. November 1945
T-615-8 Hurricane Blues (EB-vcl) (EB-arr) Maj 1055
T-617-4 All On (EB-arr) Maj 1056
Note: The other titles from this session do not feature Byas.
All on has been found on Majestic 1056 has having take numbers -4, -6, -8 and -10, however, they are all the same performance.
__________________________________________________________________
(C24) BENNY CARTER AND HIS ALL STAR ORCHESTRA: Emmett Berry, Joe Newman, Shorty Rogers (tp), Neal Hefti (tp, arr), Alton Moore, Dicky Wells, Sandy Williams, Trummy Young (tb), Benny Carter, Russell Procope, Tony Scott (as), Don Byas, Flip Phillips (ts), Willard Brown (bari), Sonny White (p), Al Casey (g), John Simmons (b), J.C. Heard (d), James Cannady (arr).
NYC, January 7, 1946
D 168 Diga Diga Do (JC-arr) De Luxe 1028
D 170 Some Of These Days (NH-arr) De Luxe 1012
Note: The other title from this session does not feature Byas.
Swingtime (Dan) ST 1013 (LP) has been noted in discographies as having an alternate take for Diga Diga Do. However, it plays the same as the master take.
_________________________________________________________________
(C25) BENNY CARTER AND HIS ORCHESTRA: Emmett Berry, Joe Newman, Shorty Rogers, Neal Hefti (tp), Alton Moore, Charles Johnson, Trummy Young, Al Grey (tb), Benny Carter, Russell Procope, Tony Scott (as), Don Byas, Dexter Gordon (ts), Willard Brown (bari), Sonny White (p), Freddie Green (g), John Simmons (b), J.C. Heard (d), Frank Comstock (arr).
NYC, January 8, 1946
D 173 Rose Room (FC-arr) De Luxe 1028
Note: The other titles from this session do not feature Byas and are not included in this set.
The 78 lists Benny Carter as the arranger but according to the Carter discography A Life In American Music it has been confirmed that Comstock is the arranger.
__________________________________________________________________
(C26) DON REDMAN AND HIS ORCHESTRA: Hot Lips Page, Dick Vance, Harold “Money” Johnson, Henry Glover (tp), Henderson Chambers, 2 unidentified (tb), Don Redman (as, vcl), Burnie Peacock (as), Don Byas, unidentified (ts), Bob Wyatt (p), unidentified (b), Cozy Cole (d).
NYC, January 29, 1946
Possibly supervised by Les Schriber
SG6 Dark Glasses (DR-vcl) Pick-Up 1003, Swan 7502
SG7 Mickey Finn Pick-Up 1002, Swan 7501
Note: The other titles from this session do not feature Byas and are not included in this set.
__________________________________________________________________
(A12) DON BYAS QUARTETTE -1 / DON BYAS QUARTET -2: Don Byas (ts), Teddy Brannon (p, cel), Frank Skeete (b), Fred Radcliffe (d).
NYC, May 17, 1946
Supervised by Teddy Reig
S59048-1 (alt) I Don’t Know Why -1 previously unissued
SAV59048-2 I Don’t Know Why -1 Sav 609
S59049-1 (BD #1) Danny Boy -2 unissued
S59049-2 (alt) Danny Boy -2 previously unissued
S59049-3 (BD #2) Danny Boy -2 unissued
S59049-4 London-Donnie -2 Sav 628
S59050-1 (FS) Old Folks -2 unissued
S59050-2 Old Folks -2 Sav 628
S59051-1 (FS #1) Cherokee -1 unissued
S59051-2 (FS #2) Cherokee -1 –
S59051-3 (alt #1) Cherokee -1 previously unissued
S59051-4 Cherokee -1 Sav 609
S59051-5 (FS #3) Cherokee -1 unissued
S59051-6 (FS #4) Cherokee -1 –
S59051-7 (BD #1) Cherokee -1 previously unissued
S59051-8 (FS #5) Cherokee -1 unissued
S59051-9 (BD #2) Cherokee -1 previously unissued
S59051-10 (alt #2) Cherokee -1 –
S59052-1 (FS #1) September In The Rain -1 unissued
S59052-2 (BD #1) September In The Rain -1 previously unissued
S59052-3 (FS #2) September In The Rain -1 unissued
S59052-4 (BD #2) September In The Rain -1 previously unissued
S59052-5 (alt) September In The Rain -1 –
S59052-6 September In The Rain -1 Sav 621
Note: On the original lacquer disc, matrix S59049 is shown as Danny boy while on the Savoy 78 release it is shown as London-Donnie.
The reverse of Savoy 621 is by Allan Eager.
__________________________________________________________________
(A13) DON BYAS QUARTETTE -1 / DON BYAS QUARTET -2: Don Byas (ts), Sanford Gold (p), Leonard Gaskin (b), Max Roach (d).
NYC, August 21, 1946
Supervised by Teddy Reig
S3329-A Living My Life -1 Sav 640
S3330-A To Each His Own -1 –
S3331-A They Say It’s Wonderful -2 Sav 625
S3332-A Cynthia’s In Love -2 –
S3333 (alt) September Song -2 Sav SJL 2213 (LP)
S3333-A September Song -2 Sav 626
S3334-A St. Louis Blues -2 –
S3335-A I Found A New Baby -2 Sav 627
S3336-A Marie -2 –
S3337 If I Loved You unissued, master no longer exists
__________________________________________________________________
(C27) DON BYAS and his TENOR SAX: Don Byas (ts), Beryl Booker (p), John Simmons (b), Fred Radcliffe (d).
Majestic Studios, W. 57th St., NYC, September 7, 1946
Supervised by Bill Simon
S1-182 You Go To My Head Gotham 132
S1-183 Don’t You Know I Care
(Or Don’t You Care To Know) –
S1-184 Gloomy Sunday Gotham 131
Tony Scott (p) replaces Booker.
S1-185 More Than A Mood
[At Home With The Blues] –
__________________________________________________________________
Album Index:
78 album
Savoy S-500 (552) Various artists – Tenor sax
Savoy S-506 (625-628) Don Byas – Saxophone improvisations
by Don Byas
EP
King EP-343 Don Byas
Savoy XP 8039 Don Byas – Don Byas vol. 5
Savoy XP 8077 Various artists – Jam session at Savoy vol. 1
Savoy XP 8078 Various artists – Jam session at Savoy vol. 2
10” LP
Plymouth P-100-38 Various artists – The birth of bebop and blues
Savoy MG 9030 Various artists – Jam session at Savoy
12” LP
Caete (Dan) CALP-1 Don Byas – Private recordings 1944-45
Masterseal MSLP-5013 Various artists – Hi-Fi jazz session
Pumpkin 103 Louis Armstrong & Jack Teagarden and the v-disc All
Stars – Midnight at v-disc
Savoy MG 12203 Don Byas – Jazz – free and easy
Savoy SJL 2208 Various artists – The changing face of Harlem
Savoy SJL 2213 Don Byas – Savoy jam party
Savoy SJL 2223 Joe Turner–Have no fear Big Joe Turner is here
Savoy SJL 2246 Various artists – The black swing tradition
CD
Storyville (Dan) 101-8439 Various artists – Timme’s treasures
___________________________________________________________________________________
Produced for release by Scott Wenzel
Executive Producer: Michael Cuscuna
78 transfers by Nancy Conforti and Andreas Meyer
Lacquer transfers by Andreas Meyer
Transfers from the original discs of the Timme Rosenkrantz collection by Nils Winther, SteepleChase Studio, Klampenborg, Denmark
Sound restoration and mastering by Andreas Meyer.
24 bit technology was utilized at all stages of the production of this Mosaic release.
The Majestic, National and Savoy tracks courtesy of The Concord Music Group. The Timme Rosenkrantz recordings appear under license from SteepleChase Productions ApS.
Special Thanks: James Accardi, Mark Cantor, Con Chapman, Michael Cuscuna, David Fletcher, Kenneth Gross, Dr. Cornelis Hazevoet, Dan Morgenstern, Lloyd Rauch, Matthew Rivera, Michael Steinman and Nils Winther.
We are especially grateful to Jan Evensmo and Tom Buhmann who guided us to Nils Winther of Steeplechase Records who gave us access to the home recordings of Timme Rosenkrantz. Mention should also be made to Frank Buchmann-Moller and Hans Henning Jensen for developing and bringing the catalog of the Rosenkrantz Collection out of oblivion. Masters of the Timme Rosenkrantz recordings are courtesy of The University Library of Southern Denmark, Timme Rosenkrantz Collection. A very special thanks to Anne Helle Jespersen, research librarian.
The remaining 78s were provided by The Institute of Jazz Studies, Lloyd Rauch, Matthew Rivera and Scott Wenzel.
This compilation ©2023 Mosaic Records L.L.C. All rights reserved. Phone: 203-327-7111/Fax 203-323-3526/e-mail: info@mosaicrecords.com. Web site: www.mosaicrecords.com.
Printed in the U.S.A.
Producer’s Note: This set of Don Byas recordings from 1944 to 1946 are gathered from sessions either led by Byas or where there is a significant solo or obbligato by him in the role of a sideman. As diagramed at the beginning of the discography, this set is divided into three sections: The Savoy and National sessions which are owned by the Concord Music Group; The Timme Rosenkrantz home discs; and miscellaneous 78 labels where no ownership has been determined.
The following Don Byas sessions of 1944-46 are not included in this set as they are under ownership of various parent labels:
Albert Ammons and his Rhythm Kings (Commodore – February 12, 1944)
Coleman Hawkins and his Orchestra (Apollo – February 16 and 22, 1944)
Eddie Heywood and his Orchestra (Signature – May 2, 1944)
Coleman Hawkins and his Sax Ensemble (Keynote – May 24, 1944)
Mary Lou Williams and her Orchestra (Asch – June 5, 1944)
“Hot Lips” Page and his Orchestra (Commodore – September 29, 1944)
Trummy Young and his Orchestra (Signature – December 4, 1944)
Cozy Cole’s Orchestra (Keynote – February 2, 1945)
Esquire All American 1946 Award Winners (RCA Victor–January 10 & 11, 1946)
Dizzy Gillespie and his Orchestra (RCA Victor – February 22, 1946)
Teddy Wilson Octet (Musicraft – August 19, 1946)
Tyree Glenn and his Orchestra/Don Byas and his Orchestra/Peanuts Holland and his Orchestra (Swing – December 4, 1946)
Also not included in this set is a session by the Bantam Blues Quartet on Super Disc which has been listed in discographies as having Don Byas on tenor. The tenor heard is Johnny Richard. And some discographies list a session with Frank Humphries as the leader on Pick-Up 1001 that includes a “Don Juan” but this is actually Don Warren and not Don Byas.
The Savoy material is shown here in order of performance regardless of what take might be shown on the original 78s. For example, the master take shown on the 78 for Don’s idea is -2 but it is actually the fifth attempt of the tune (there are 3 breakdowns and then a full alternate take followed by the master.) Visually, the initial releases on the Savoy label used the “band logo” while re-issues used the “note” label.
Sources: Below is a listing of the sources we have transferred for this set. In some cases, an LP source (mostly on the Savoy / National labels) was used as they were taken from the original lacquers (which were not made available to us) and is the best sound quality we were able to obtain. All sources from the collection of Timme Rosenkrantz (B1 through B12) come from lacquer discs. Lacquer discs are noted as L.
For Pick-Up session used Swan labels
SAVOY / NATIONAL / MAJESTIC LABELS
(A1) “HOT LIPS” PAGE’S SWING SEVEN
S5462-2 (alt #1) Dance Of The Tambourine L
S5462-3 (alt #2) Dance Of The Tambourine L
S5462-4 Dance Of The Tambourine L
S5464-3 (alt) Paging Mr. Page Sav SJL 2246 (LP)
S5464 -4 Paging Mr. Page L
__________________________________________________________________
(A2) DON BYAS’S SWING SHIFTERS
S5490 Riffin’ And Jivin’ Sav SJL 2213 (LP)
S5491-1 Free And Easy Sav SJL 2213 (LP)
S5491-2 Free And Easy Sav SJL 2213 (LP)
S5492 Worried And Blue Sav SJL 2213 (LP)
S5493-2 (BD) Don’s Idea L
S5493-4 (alt) Don’s Idea L
S5493-5 Don’s Idea L
__________________________________________________________________ (A3) JAM SESSION AT SAVOY
S5700 Savoy Jam Party No. 2 Sav SJL 2213 (LP)
S5701 Savoy Jam Party No. 1 Sav SJL 2213 (LP)
DON BYAS
S5702-1 (BD) 1944 Stomp L
S5702-2 (alt) 1944 Stomp L
S5702-3 1944 Stomp Sav SJL 2213 (LP)
DON BYAS
S5703-1 What Do You Want With My Heart L
DON BYAS’S SWING SHIFTERS
S5704-1 Bass C Jam Sav SJL 2213 (LP)
__________________________________________________________________
(A4) THE EMMETT BERRY FIVE
NCS-1A Sweet And Lovely Nat 9001
NCS-2B White Rose Kick L
NCS-? (alt) Deep Blue Dream L
NCS-3B Deep Blue Dream Sav SJL 2213 (LP)
NCS-4C Byas’d Opinions Nat 9002
__________________________________________________________________
(A5) HOT LIPS PAGE and Orchestra
S-5706 I Got What It Takes Sav 700
S-5707-1 Good For Stompin’ L
S-5707-2 (BD) Good For Stompin’ L
S-5707-3 Good For Stompin’ L
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(A6) BUCK RAM’S ALL STARS
5714 (alt) Twilight In Teheran Sav SJL 2246 (LP)
5714 Twilight In Teheran Sav 572
5716 (alt) Swing Street Sav SJL 2246 (LP)
5716 Swing Street Sav 572
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(A7) THE HANK D’AMICO SEXTET
NSC 9 Hank’s Pranks Sav SJL 2224 (LP)
NSC 10 Juke Box Judy Sav SJL 2224 (LP)
NSC 11-B Shy Little Witch From Greenwich Nat 9004
NSC 12 Gone At Dawn Nat 9003
__________________________________________________________________
(A8) JOE TURNER with PETE JOHNSON’S ALL STARS
NSC 33 S.K. Blues – Part I Sav SJL 2223 (LP)
NSC 34 S.K. Blues – Part II Sav SJL 2223 (LP)
NSC 35-alt Johnson & Turner Blues Sav SJL 2223 (LP)
NSC 35 Johnson & Turner Blues Sav SJL 2223 (LP)
NSC 36 Watch That Jive Sav SJL 2223 (LP)
__________________________________________________________________
(A9) ALBINIA JONES with DON BYAS’ SWING SEVEN
NSC 49 Evil Gal Blues Sav SJL 2223 (LP)
NSC 50-C Salty Papa Blues Sav SJL 2223 (LP)
NSC 51-II Albinia’s Blues Sav SJL 2223 (LP)
NSC 52-II Don’t You Wear No Black Sav SJL 2223 (LP)
__________________________________________________________________
(A10) DON BYAS QUINTETTE
SAV5845-1 (alt #1) Candy L
SAV5845-2 (alt #2) Candy L
SAV5845-3 Candy L
SAV5846 How High The Moon Sav SJL 2213 (LP)
SAV5847 Donby Sav SJL 2213 (LP)
SAV5848 Byas-A-Drink Sav SJL 2213 (LP)
_________________________________________________________________
(A11) EARL BOSTIC AND HIS ORCHESTRA
T-615-8 Hurricane Blues Royale 18174 (LP) (10”)
T-617-4 All On Royale 18174 (LP) (10”)
__________________________________________________________________
(A12) DON BYAS QUARTETTE -1 / DON BYAS QUARTET -2
S59048-1 (alt) I Don’t Know Why -1 L
SAV59048-2 I Don’t Know Why -1 L
S59049-2 (alt) Danny Boy -2 L
S59049-4 London-Donnie -2 L
S59050-2 Old Folks -2 L
S59051-3 (alt #1) Cherokee -1 L
S59051-4 Cherokee -1 L
S59051-7 (BD #1) Cherokee -1 L
S59051-9 (BD #2) Cherokee -1 L
S59051-10 (alt #2) Cherokee -1 L
S59052-2 (BD #1) September In The Rain -1 L
S59052-4 (BD #2) September In The Rain -1 L
S59052-5 (alt) September In The Rain -1 L
S59052-6 September In The Rain -1 L
__________________________________________________________________
(A13) DON BYAS QUARTETTE -1 / DON BYAS QUARTET -2
S3329-A Living My Life -1 Sav MG 9007 (10” LP)
S3330-A To Each His Own -1 Sav 640
S3331-A They Say It’s Wonderful -2 Sav 625
S3332-A Cynthia’s In Love -2 Sav 625
S3333 (alt) September Song -2 Sav SJL 2213 (LP)
S3333-A September Song -2 Sav 626
S3334-A St. Louis Blues -2 Sav SJL 2213 (LP)
S3335-A I Found A New Baby -2 Sav SJL 2213 (LP)
S3336-A Marie -2 Sav SJL 2213 (LP)
__________________________________________________________________
(C1) COZY COLE’S ALL STARS
S-3284-1 Comes The Don Cont C-6004
S-3284-2 (alt) Comes The Don Mas MSLP 5013 (LP)
__________________________________________________________________ (C2) V-DISC ALL STAR JAM SESSION
VP-1055-D4-TC-541-2 Rosetta Pumpkin 103 (LP)
VP-1055-D4-TC-541-1 Rosetta V-Disc 384 (12”)
__________________________________________________________________
(C3) CLYDE HART’S ALL STARS -1 / RUBBERLEGS WILLIAMS with CLYDE HART’S ALL STARS -2 / DIZZIE GILLESPIE with Clyde Hart’s All Stars -3 / James “Trummie” Young’s All Stars -4
W3301 What’s The Matter Now -1 Cont C-6013
W3304 (alt) 4-F Blues [G.I. Blues] -2 Ply 100-38 (10” LP)
W3304 4-F Blues [G.I. Blues] -2 Cont C-6020
W3306 Seventh Avenue -4 Cont C-6005
W3307 Sorta Kinda -4 Cont C-6005
W3308 Ooh! Ooh! My! My! Oh! Oh! -3 Cont C-6060
__________________________________________________________________
(C4) OSCAR PETTIFORD AND HIS 18 ALL STARS -1 / OSCAR PETTIFORD AND HIS ORCHESTRA -2
W-1218-W Something For You -1 Manor 1034
W-1219-W Worried Life -2 Manor 1002
W-1220-W Empty Bed Blues – Part 1 -2 Manor 1002
W-1221-W Empty Bed Blues – Part 2 -1 Manor 1034
__________________________________________________________________
(C5) DIZZY GILLESPIE SEXTET
W-1224-W Good Bait Manor 1042
W-1225-W Salted Peanuts [Salt Peanuts] Manor 5000
W-1226-W Be-Bop [Dizzy Fingers] Manor 5000
__________________________________________________________________
(C6) DON BYAS ALL STAR QUINTET
J 7001 Pennies From Heaven Jam 901
J 7002 Should I Jam 900
J 7003 You Call It Madness Jam 900
J 7004-2 Jamboree Jump Jam 901
__________________________________________________________________
(C7) NAT JAFFE AND HIS V-DISC JUMPERS
VP-JDB 1626 The Jeep’s Jumpin’ V-Disc 764
__________________________________________________________________
(C8) TIMMIE ROGERS AND HIS ALL STAR ORCHESTRA -1 / SAVANNAH CHURCHILL AND HER ALL STAR ORCHESTRA -2
W-1256-W Daddy-O -1 Regis 7001
W-1261-W All Alone -2 Blue Star (F) 116
__________________________________________________________________
(C9) DON BYAS AND ORCHESTRA -1 / DON BYAS QUARTET -2 / DON BYAS -3
HU-414 Double Talk -1 HUB 3022
HU-415-B Fruit Salad -2 HUB 3002
HU-416 Don John -3 King EP-343 (EP)
HU-417-B Spots -3 HUB 3002
__________________________________________________________________
(C10) COZY COLE AND HIS QUINTETTE
601-B Hallelujah Guild 119
604-B Through For The Night Guild 119
__________________________________________________________________
(C11) CYRIL HAYNES SEXTET
T-4A Morning Madness Comet T4 (12”)
T-4B One Sad Thursday Comet T4 (12”)
T-5A Across The Road Comet T5 (12”)
T-5B Cedar Manor Comet T5 (12”)
__________________________________________________________________
(C12) GUARNIERI QUARTET
500 C I’d Do Anything For You HNS 102
501 A Sophisticated Lady HNS 101
502 C Armand The Groove HNS 102
503 B Dot’s My Baby HNS 101
__________________________________________________________________
(C13) DON BYAS’ ALL STAR QUINTET
7005 Little White Lies Jam 902
7006 Deep Purple Jam 903
7007 Them There Eyes Jam 903
7008 You Came Along Jam 902
__________________________________________________________________
(C14) TRUMMY YOUNG AND THE GUYS FROM V-DISCS -1 / HENRY WELLS, TRUMMY YOUNG AND THE GUYS FROM V-DISCS -2
VP 1519 / XP 35151-1 Four Or Five Times -1 V-Disc 538 (12”)
NVP 1563-2 I Want A Little Girl -2 V-Disc 559 (12”)
__________________________________________________________________
(C15) DON BYAS QUARTET
MF14 -7A Three O’ Clock In The Morning SD 1006
MF15 One O’ Clock Jump –
MF16 Harvard Blues SD 1007
MF18-7a Slam-In’ Around SD 1008
__________________________________________________________________
(C16) GEORGE WILLIAMS AND ORCHESTRA
450-B A Woman Gets Tired Of One Man HUB 2013
451-B Don’t Care Blues HUB 2013
__________________________________________________________________
(C17) THE DON BYAS QUARTET
1001 Laura Amer A-1001
1002 Star Dust Amer A-1002
1003 Slam, Don’t Shake Like That Amer A-1003
1004 Dark Eyes International 1
__________________________________________________________________
(C18) HOT LIPS PAGE AND HIS ORCHESTRA
W3397 The Lady In Debt Cont C-6015
W3399 They Raided The Joint Cont C-6017
W3401 Willie Mae Willow Foot Cont C-6061
W3404 Race Horse Mama Blues Cont C-6025
__________________________________________________________________
(C19) THE DON BYAS QUARTET
MF24 -8a Embraceable You SD 1011
MF25 -8a The Sheik Of Araby SD 1011
MF26 -1 Super Session SD 1010
MF27 -1 Melody In Swing SD 1010
__________________________________________________________________
(C20) DON BYAS
HU-474 Gypsy HUB 3017
HU-477 Nancy HUB 3107
HU-483 Poor Butterfly HUB 3022
__________________________________________________________________
(C21) ALL STAR RHYTHM SECTION
WEB 355A Annie Laurie International 1
__________________________________________________________________
(C22) DON BYAS ALL STAR QUARTET
MJ-7009 Once In A While Jam 904
MJ-7010 Avalon Jam 905
MJ-7011 Blue And Sentimental Jam 905
MJ-7012 My Melancholy Baby Jam 904
__________________________________________________________________
(C23) DON BYAS QUARTET
WS-501 Humoresque Arista 5000
WS-502 Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams Arista 5000
WS-503 Smoke Gets In Your Eyes Arista 5001
WS-504 Slamboree Arista 5001
__________________________________________________________________
(24) BENNY CARTER AND HIS ALL STAR ORCHESTRA
D 168 Diga Diga Do De Luxe 1028
D 170 Some Of These Days De Luxe 1012
_________________________________________________________________
(C25) BENNY CARTER AND HIS ORCHESTRA
D 173 Rose Room De Luxe 1028
__________________________________________________________________
(C26) DON REDMAN AND HIS ORCHESTRA
SG6 Dark Glasses Swan 7502
SG7 Mickey Finn Swan 7501
__________________________________________________________________
(C27) DON BYAS and his TENOR SAX
S1-182 You Go To My Head Gotham 132
S1-183 Don’t You Know I Care Gotham 132
S1-184 Gloomy Sunday Gotham 131
S1-185 More Than A Mood Gotham 131
__________________________________________________________________
Scott Wenzel
“Remastered to the highest standards, pressed on top-quality vinyl or CD, and sumptuously packaged, these editions are designed to please the most demanding of collectors.”
Richard Cook/Brian Morton, The Penguin Guide to Jazz
