Jaki Byard - Out Front!

Out Front! Review

 

by Scott Yanow

Although Jaki Byard was a very eclectic pianist, this is a surprisingly conventional set. On most selections he is joined by bassist Bob Cranshaw and drummer Walter Perkins (in 1964) for fairly straight-ahead renditions of standards and obscurities. A few of the numbers add Booker Ervin on tenor and trumpeter Richard Williams, and of these by far the most original performance is the episodic "European Episode." Rounding off the set is a 1961 performance (with Byard on both alto and piano) of "When Sunny Gets Blue." It's fine music but one has to lower expectations a bit. allmusic

Jaki Byard

Out Front!

A1 Out Front 00:00 A2 Two Different Worlds 04:21 A3 Searchlight 09:50 B1 European Episode 16:57 B2 Lush Life 29:03 B3 When Sunny Gets Blue 32:27 Piano – Jaki Byard (tracks: A1 to B2) Alto Saxophone – Jaki Byard (tracks: B3) Bass – Bob Cranshaw (tracks: A1 to B2), Ron Carter (tracks: B3) Drums – Roy Haynes (tracks: B3), Walter Perkins (tracks: A1 to B2) Tenor Saxophone – Booker Ervin (tracks: A3, B1) Trumpet – Richard Williams (tracks: A3, B1)

Recorded 1961 and 1964