Jaki Byard

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Jaki Byard ( John Arthur Byard, Jr .; born June 15, 1922 in Worcester , Massachusetts , † February 11, 1999 in Boston , Massachusetts) was an American jazz musician (first saxophonist, then pianist) and composer .

Live and act

Byard was a son of trombonist John Byard, who also played in Miriam's band "Mamie" Moffitt . He had his first piano lessons at the age of eight, and his first professional engagement at the age of sixteen. During the Second World War he met Earl Bostic , with whom he later worked. In the late 1940s, he received a contract with Prestige Records , which allowed him to record many of his compositions.

From 1955 he worked in Herb Pomeroy's band as a saxophonist and composer. In 1958 he played his first solo album as a pianist - Blues for Smoke . In 1959 he went to New York, where he first worked with Maynard Ferguson , then with Charles Mingus' band , which featured musicians such as Eric Dolphy , Clifford Jordan , Johnny Coles and Bobby Jones . With Mingus he went on a European tour in 1964 (" The Great Concert, Paris 1964 ", CD).

In the following years he began to work on his own compositions and engaged musicians such as Ron Carter , Ray Nance , George Benson and Rahsaan Roland Kirk . In 1966 he received the Down Beat Jazz Poll Award . Since 1969 he has taught at the New England Conservatory , later also at the University of Hartford and the Manhattan School of Music . In 1970 he toured again with Charles Mingus; The Mingus album Blue Bird was created in Paris . In the mid-1970s he founded The Apollo Stompers , which was named Best House Band in New York in 1979 .

Byard was shot dead by a burglar in his home on February 11, 1999.

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personal data
SURNAME Byard, Jaki
ALTERNATIVE NAMES John Arthur Byard, Jr. (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American jazz pianist and composer
DATE OF BIRTH June 15, 1922
PLACE OF BIRTH Worcester , Massachusetts , USA
DATE OF DEATH February 11, 1999
Place of death Boston , Massachusetts, USA