Jaki Byard - The Jaki Byard Experience

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Free Music Notes for The Jaki Byard Experience

Free Music Review: Continuity in Diversity
Hit: 5 Stars

This album (probably named in order to piggyback on the success of that other Experience) showcases Byard's sprawling imagination, and I guess to a few it might feel a little too schizophrenic. However, I never get that feeling; instead, I hear music that never marks off any part of the musical field as "out of bounds" as long as the outcome is a good one. Roland Kirk was the saxophone counterpart to Byard, and the Byard-Davis-Dawson rhythm section was easily among the best of the 60s (they can also be heard playing with Booker Ervin, Eric Kloss, and others). At some level, you could probably call this a tribute album to Byard's piano predecessors, but it's a tribute that has a lot more to do with Byard than with Powell, Garner or Monk.

"Parisian Thoroughfare" (originally by Bud Powell) stands out first -- the wild, avant-garde opening by Kirk's unison reeds (sounds like rush hour on the thoroughfare!), then a series of intense but more straight-ahead solos by Kirk and Byard. "Evidence" is shorter but has the same fiery approach. "Shine on Me" is an upbeat, gospelly tune with Kirk contributing clarinet. Eubie Blake's "Memories of You" is a lovely duet for Byard and Kirk with an old-time feel (though Byard's solo throws in some subtle modern touches). Throughout the album there's a wry sense of humor, and it's hard not to break into a smile at least once (probably more) while listening.

This is a wonderful, essential recording. In the liner notes to a different album, Keith Jarrett writes, "Although I'm often considered eclectic, I don't think I fit this category because I see various ways of expression as part of the same flow; the same attempt. I don't see it as different 'things'..." I'm sure Jaki Byard would say the same thing about The Jaki Byard Experience.

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