Laura by Don Byas - Uhune

ALBUM

Don Byas was a giant of the tenor sax, though his accomplishments were all but overlooked in his native land once he moved to Europe for good. This CD from Universal Music's Jazz in Paris series compiles three separate studio sessions from the early '50s, all with different rhythm sections. Most of the tracks are standard ballads, featuring the leader throughout. His expressive take of "Laura" shows off a big tone with a bit of vibrato much like Ben Webster in his later years. The one original is his snappy "Riviera Blues," a lively number likely improvised on the spot. Had he remained in the U.S., it is possible that Don Byas might have been ranked along with Coleman Hawkins, Lester Young, and Ben Webster in the top echelon of tenor saxophonists, so anyone unfamiliar with his work should seek out this very affordable collection.
© Ken Dryden /TiVo

1. Summertime

Primary Artist: Don Byas; Main Performer
Composer: Dubose Heyward
George Gershwin
Ira Gershwin; Composer
Composer Lyricist: George Gershwin
Ira Gershwin
Heyward Du Bose; Other

2. Night And Day

Primary Artist: Don Byas; Main Performer
Composer: Cole Porter; Composer
Composer Lyricist: Cole Porter; Other

3. Easy To Love

Primary Artist: Don Byas; Main Performer
Performer: Maurice Vander; Performer
Composer: Cole Porter; Composer
Composer Lyricist: Cole Porter; Other

4. Where Or When

Primary Artist: Don Byas; Main Performer
Composer: Lorenz Hart
Richard Rodgers; Composer
Composer Lyricist: Richard Rodgers
Lorenz Hart; Other

5. Flamingo

Primary Artist: Don Byas; Main Performer
Composer: Ted Grouya
Edmund Anderson; Composer
Author: Edward Anderson; Production
Composer Lyricist: Edmund Anderson; Other

6. Stardust

Composer: Hoagy Carmichael; Composer
Primary Artist: Don Byas; Main Performer
Author: Mitchell Parish; Production

7. Old Man River

Primary Artist: Don Byas; Main Performer
Composer: Jerome Kern
Oscar Hammerstein Ii; Composer
Composer Lyricist: Jerome Kern
Oscar Hammerstein Ii; Other

8. The Man I Love

Primary Artist: Don Byas; Main Performer
Composer: George Gershwin; Composer
Author: Ira Gershwin; Production

9. Georgia On My Mind

Primary Artist: Don Byas; Main Performer
Composer: Hoagy Carmichael
Stuart Gorrell; Composer
Composer Lyricist: Hoagy Carmichael
Stuart Gorrell; Other

10. Over The Rainbow

Primary Artist: Don Byas; Main Performer
Performer: Maurice Vander; Performer
Composer: Harold Arlen; Composer
Author: E.y. Harburg; Production

11. Laura

Primary Artist: Don Byas; Main Performer
Composer: David Raksin
Johnny Mercer; Composer
Composer Lyricist: Johnny Mercer
David Raksin; Other

12. Somebody Loves Me

Primary Artist: Don Byas; Main Performer
Composer: Ballard Macdonald
Buddy Desylva
George Gershwin; Composer
Composer Lyricist: George Gershwin
Buddy Desylva
Ballard Macdonald; Other

13. Old Folks At Home

Primary Artist: Don Byas; Main Performer
Composer: Smokey Robinson
Stephen Foster; Composer
Composer Lyricist: Smokey Robinson
Stephen Foster; Other

14. Riviera Blues Blues A La Don

Primary Artist: Don Byas; Main Performer
Composer: Don Byas; Composer
Composer Lyricist: Don Byas; Other

15. Smoke Gets In Your Eyes

Primary Artist: Don Byas; Main Performer
Composer: Jerome Kern; Composer
Author: Otto Harbach; Production

16. I Cover The Waterfront

Primary Artist: Don Byas; Main Performer
Composer: Edward Heyman
Johnny Green; Composer
Composer Lyricist: Edward Heyman
Johnny Green; Other

17. It's The Talk Of The Town

Primary Artist: Don Byas; Main Performer
Composer: Jerry Livingston; Composer
Author: Marty Symes
Al Neiburg; Production

18. A Pretty Girl Is Like A Melody

Primary Artist: Don Byas; Main Performer
Performer: Roger Grasset
Art Simmons
Jean Jacques Tilche
Claude Marty; Performer
Composer: Irving Berlin; Composer
Producer: Norman Granz; Production
Composer Lyricist: Irving Berlin; Other

Technical Specifications

Volume

1 volume only

Tracks

18 tracks available

Type

ALBUM

Format

Digital Media

Duration

54 minutes and 31 seconds

Explicit

None

Coverart

Available and up to 640x640 px

Booklet

Not available

Max Quality

CD Quality (Lossless)

16bit / 44.1 kHz

Stereo

Audio Extension

Lossless: FLAC, M4A, WAV, WV, AIFF

Lossy: AAC, MP3, M4A, MP4, OGA, OGG, OPUS, WMA

Archive Format

Available in these formats: ZIP, TAR, RAR

Lyrics

6/18 tracks have lyrics

Synchronized Lyrics

No synced lyrics found

Genres

Jazz

Label

Universal Music Division Decca Records France

Music Distribution Service

Unknown

Country

France

Language

English (United States)

Popularity

Release Date

Dec 31, 1999

Track Preview

Available

Delivery Charge

Free

Delivery Method

Digital download link via Email or Personal Dashboard on this site

UPC

60249842001