This fourth volume in the complete recordings of tenor saxophonist
Don Byas opens with 13 sides recorded for the Savoy label in May of 1946. On the opening session, three gorgeous ballads are chased with a blistering version of
Ray Noble's "Cherokee" and a mellow stroll through "September in the Rain." About three months later the saxophonist resumed recording for Savoy, now backed by a tougher rhythm section in drummer
Max Roach, bassist
Leonard Gaskin, and pianist
Sanford Gold. These deservedly famous sides represent
Byas at the very peak of his early maturity. A rare parcel of four recordings originally issued on the Gotham label finds
Byas accompanied by a trio including pianist
Beryl Booker. A rather ominous reading of the notoriously suicidal "Gloomy Sunday" is colored so darkly as to suggest the subterranean. By December of 1946
Byas was in Europe making records for the Swing label with a group of musicians from
Don Redman's entourage. "Working Eyes," which came out under trombonist
Tyree Glenn's name, was written by
Glenn but popularized by
Duke Ellington under the titles "Sultry Serenade" and "How Could You Do That to Me?" "Peanut Butter Blues," sung in the manner of
Roy Eldridge by trumpeter
Peanuts Holland, was issued under his name, while the two remaining tracks -- a lush ballad and the feisty "Mohawk Special" -- appeared under the heading of
Don Byas & His Orchestra. ~ arwulf arwulf, All Music Guide
