The eighth volume in the complete recordings of Oklahoma native
Carlos Wesley "Don" Byas consists of 23 recordings he made in Paris during the spring and summer of 1952. Nine wonderful sides recorded for the Blue Star label on April 10th of that year are classic
Byas -- lots of lush ballads and an occasional kicker -- with excellent rhythm support by pianist
Art Simmons, bassist
Joe Benjamin, and drummer
Bill Clark. The remaining tracks presented here were originally issued on the Vogue label. Six lovely melodies recorded on May 21st feature guitarist
Marcel Bianchi and bassist
Pierre Michelot, while eight tunes rendered on July 18th are enhanced by the addition of a vibraphone.
Byas was both a master of romantic exposition and a formidable improviser at brisk tempos, comparable to
Coleman Hawkins yet possessed of a spirit entirely his own. This material will be new to some of those who live outside of Europe, and for this reason the producers of the Classics Chronological Series are to be warmly commended for having brought out another excellent volume of vintage
jazz music for all to hear. ~ arwulf arwulf, All Music Guide
