Byard Lancaster (August 6, 1942 – August 23, 2012) was an

avant-garde jazz Avant-garde jazz (also known as avant-jazz and experimental jazz) is a style of music and improvisation that combines avant-garde art music and composition with jazz. It originated in the early 1950s and developed through to the late 1960s. Orig ...

saxophonist and flutist. Cook, Richard. (2005). ''Richard Cook's Jazz Encyclopedia.'' New York: Penguin Books. Allen, Clifford. (2005). ''Byard Lancaster: From A Love Supreme to The Sex Machine''. Retrieved January 5, 2008, from http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=17125

Early life and education

He attended two colleges, one for music, before attending the

Berklee College of Music Berklee College of Music is a private music college in Boston, Massachusetts. It is the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world. Known for the study of jazz and modern American music, it also offers college-level cours ...

. He moved to New York City and participated in

jam session A jam session is a relatively informal musical event, process, or activity where musicians, typically instrumentalists, play improvised solos and vamp over tunes, drones, songs, and chord progressions. To "jam" is to improvise music without exte ...

s which included saxophonist

Archie Shepp Archie Shepp (born May 24, 1937) is an American jazz saxophonist, educator and playwright who since the 1960s has played a central part in the development of avant-garde jazz. Biography Early life Shepp was born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, but ...

and drummer

Elvin Jones Elvin Ray Jones (September 9, 1927 – May 18, 2004) was an American jazz drummer of the post-bop era. Most famously a member of John Coltrane's quartet, with whom he recorded from late 1960 to late 1965, Jones appeared on such widely celebrate ...

Career

In 1965, he recorded '' Sunny Murray Quintet'' with the album's eponymous musician in New York, performed in the Parisian Actuel festival with him in 1969, and continued to work in the drummer's groups throughout his career. By the 1970s, Lancaster had played with musicians such as

McCoy Tyner Alfred McCoy Tyner (December 11, 1938March 6, 2020) was an American jazz piano, jazz pianist and composer known for his work with the John Coltrane Quartet (from 1960 to 1965) and his long solo career afterwards. He was an NEA Jazz Masters, NEA ...

Khan Jamal Khan Jamal (July 23, 1946 – January 10, 2022), born Warren Robert Cheeseboro, was an American jazz vibraphone and marimba player. He founded the band Sounds of Liberation in 1970. He was described by Ron Wynn as "a proficient soloist when p ...

, and

Sun Ra Le Sony'r Ra (born Herman Poole Blount, May 22, 1914 – May 30, 1993), better known as Sun Ra, was an American jazz composer, bandleader, piano and synthesizer player, and poet known for his experimental music, "cosmic" philosophy, prolific out ...

, as well as some outside of jazz, such as blues pianist

Memphis Slim John Len Chatman (September 3, 1915 – February 24, 1988), known professionally as Memphis Slim, was an American blues pianist, singer, and composer. He led a series of bands that, reflecting the popular appeal of jump blues, included saxopho ...

and blues guitarist

Johnny Copeland John Clyde Copeland (March 27, 1937 – July 3, 1997) was an American Texas blues guitarist and singer. In 1983, he was named Blues Entertainer of the Year by the Blues Foundation. He is the father of blues singer Shemekia Copeland. In 2017, Cop ...

. Near the end of his life he performed regularly with cellist

David Eyges David MacAulay Eyges (born November 6, 1950) is an American jazz cellist, composer, and record producer. Early life Eyges was born in San Francisco on November 6, 1950.Arwulf Arwul"David Eyges" AllMusic. His family settled in Belmont, Massachuse ...

and recorded as a leader and sideman for the record label Creative Improvised Music Projects. He died of

pancreatic cancer Pancreatic cancer arises when cell (biology), cells in the pancreas, a glandular organ behind the stomach, begin to multiply out of control and form a Neoplasm, mass. These cancerous cells have the malignant, ability to invade other parts of t ...

on August 23, 2012.Clark, Vernon, and Dan DeLuca, "Byard Lancaster, 70, famed Phila. jazz musician,"
''

The Philadelphia Inquirer ''The Philadelphia Inquirer'' is a daily newspaper headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The newspaper's circulation is the largest in both the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the Delaware Valley metropolitan region of Southeastern Pennsy ...

'', August 25, 2012

Discography

As leader / co-leader

* 1968: ''

It's Not Up to Us ''It's Not Up to Us'' is the debut album by saxophonist/flautist Byard Lancaster released in 1968 on the Vortex label, an Atlantic subsidiary. Reception The AllMusic review by Michael G. Nastos called it "A rare recording". On All About Jazz, Ja ...

'' (

Vortex In fluid dynamics, a vortex ( : vortices or vortexes) is a region in a fluid in which the flow revolves around an axis line, which may be straight or curved. Vortices form in stirred fluids, and may be observed in smoke rings, whirlpools in th ...

) * 1972: ''

Live at Macalester College ''Live at Macalester College'' is a live album by saxophonist/flautist Byard Lancaster and drummer J. R. Mitchell originally released in 1972 on the Dogtown label and rereleased in 2008 on CD by Porter Records.J. R. Mitchell/Byard Lancaster Experience * 1974: ''Us'' (

Palm Palm most commonly refers to: * Palm of the hand, the central region of the front of the hand * Palm plants, of family Arecaceae **List of Arecaceae genera * Several other plants known as "palm" Palm or Palms may also refer to: Music * Palm (ba ...

) with Steve McCall, Sylvain Marc * 1974: ''Mother Africa'' (Palm) with Clint Jackson III * 1974: ''Exactement'' (Palm) with Keno Speller * 1977: ''Exodus'' (

Philly Jazz Philly Jazz was a small jazz record label in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Sunny Murray's ''Apple Cores'' features Cecil McBee on bass, Frank Foster on soprano saxophone, pianist Don Pullen and guitarist Monnette Sudler. Hamiet Bluiett, Fred Hopk ...

) * 1977: '' Wildflowers: The New York Loft Jazz Sessions'' (Vol 2) (Casablanca/Douglas, Knit Classics) as Flight To Sanity * 1979: ''Funny Funky Rib Crib'' (Vendémiaire/Palm) * 1979: ''Documentation: The End of a Decade'' (Bellows) * 1979: ''Personal Testimony (Then and Now)'' (Concert Artists) * 1988: ''Lightnin' Strikes!'' (Black And Blue) with David Eyges * 1992: ''My Pure Joy '' (Black Fire) * 1993: ''Worlds'' (

Gazell Gazell is a jazz record label founded by John Engelbrekt in Stockholm, Sweden, in 1949. History In 1949, John Engelbrekt created the label Gazell in Stockholm, Sweden, to distribute jazz albums. In September 1950, he founded a jazz club in Sto ...

) * 2000: ''Byard Lancaster Trio'' (Soultrane) * 2001: ''Philadelphia Spirit in New York'' (CIMP) with

Odean Pope Odean Pope (born October 24, 1938) is an American jazz tenor saxophonist. Biography Pope was raised in Philadelphia, where he learned from Ray Bryant while young. Early in his career, at Philadelphia's Uptown Theater, Pope played behind a numbe ...

, Ed Crockett, J.R. Mitchell * 2003: ''The Out Cry'' (Lancaster) as Crockett, Mitchell & Lancaster * 2005: ''"A" Heavenly Sweetness'' (Isma'a, Discograph) * 2005: ''Pam Africa'' (Spirit Room) * 2006: ''Soul Unity'' (Heavenly Sweetness) as Thunderbird Service * 2006: ''Ancestral Link Hotel'' (Spirit Room)

As sideman

With Arcana * ''

Arc of the Testimony ''Arc of the Testimony'' is the second and final album by the American jazz fusion band Arcana. It was released on bassist Bill Laswell's Axiom label on October 14, 1997. Unlike the trio configuration on the first album, this project features a ...

'' (

Axiom An axiom, postulate, or assumption is a statement that is taken to be true, to serve as a premise or starting point for further reasoning and arguments. The word comes from the Ancient Greek word (), meaning 'that which is thought worthy or f ...

, 1997) With

Big Youth Manley Augustus Buchanan (born 19 April 1949, Trenchtown, Kingston, Jamaica),Thompson, Dave (2002) "Reggae & Caribbean Music", Backbeat Books, better known as Big Youth (sometimes called Jah Youth), is a Jamaican deejay, mostly known for his ...

* '' A Luta Continua'' (Heartbeat, 1988) With Change of the Century Orchestra * ''Change of the Century Orchestra'' (JAS, 1999) With Cool Waters * ''Cool Waters'' (NCM, 1993) With

* '' Copeland Special'' (Rounder, 1981) * ''Jungle Swing'' (Verve, 1995) * ''Texas Party'' (DeAgostini, 1996) * ''Honky Tonkin (Bullseye, 1999) With

Bill Dixon William Robert “Bill” Dixon (October 5, 1925 – June 16, 2010) was an American composer, improviser, visual artist, activist, and educator. Dixon was one of the seminal figures in free jazz and late twentieth-century contemporary music. Hi ...

* ''

Intents and Purposes ''Intents and Purposes'' is an album by American jazz trumpeter Bill Dixon, which was released in 1967 on RCA Victor. Despite critical acclaim at the time, it was soon out of print except for appearances in 1972 on Japanese RCA and later in 197 ...

'' (RCA Victor, 1967) With

* ''The Arrow'' (Music Unlimited, 1981) * ''Crossroads'' (Music Unlimited, 1982) With fONKSQUISh * ''Useless Education'' (Promo Preview, 2008) With

Doug Hammond Doug Hammond (born December 26, 1942) is an American free funk/avant-garde jazz drummer, composer, poet, producer, and professor. His first major release was ''Reflections in the Sea of Nurnen'' on Tribe Records in 1975. Career He has worked w ...

* ''Folks'' (Idibib, 1980) With

Kip Hanrahan Kip Hanrahan (born December 9, 1954) is an American jazz music impresario, record producer and percussionist. Personal life Hanrahan was born in a Puerto Rican neighborhood in the Bronx to an Irish-Jewish family. His father left when he was 6 m ...

* ''Coup de tête'' (American Clavé, 1981) With

Ronald Shannon Jackson Ronald Shannon Jackson (January 12, 1940 – October 19, 2013) was an American jazz drummer from Fort Worth, Texas. A pioneer of avant-garde jazz, free funk, and jazz fusion, he appeared on over 50 albums as a bandleader, sideman, arranger, and ...

* ''Eye on You'' (About Time Records, 1980) * ''Nasty'' (Moers Music, 1981) With

* ''Infinity'' (Stash 278, 1984) * ''Cubano Chant'' (Jambrio, 2000) * ''Black Awareness'' (CIMP, 2005) * ''Impressions of Coltrane'' (SteepleChase, 2009) With Dwight James * ''Inner Heat'' (Cadence, 1983) With

Bill Laswell William Otis Laswell (born February 12, 1955) is an American bass guitarist, record producer, and record label owner. He has been involved in thousands of recordings with many collaborators from all over the world. His music draws from funk, w ...

* ''

Jazzonia ''Jazzonia'' is a cover album by American composer Bill Laswell, released on August 25, 1998, by Douglas Music. Track listing Personnel Adapted from the ''Jazzonia'' liner notes. ;Musicians *Asante – vocals (1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8) *Karl ...

'' (Douglas, 1998) * ''Moody's Mood for Love'' (Douglas, 1998) * ''Sacred System -

Nagual Site ''Nagual Site'' is the third album by American composer Bill Laswell issued under the moniker Sacred System. It was released on August 25, 1998, by Wicklow. Track listing Personnel Adapted from the ''Nagual Site'' liner notes. Musicians *C ...

'' (Wicklow/BMG, 1998) * ''Operazone -

The Redesign ''The Redesign'' is an album by American composer Bill Laswell, issued under the moniker Operazone. It was released on May 9, 2000 by Knitting Factory Records. Track listing Personnel Adapted from the liner notes of ''The Redesign''. ;Musi ...

'' (Knitting Factory, 2000) * ''Method of Defiance - Inamorata'' (Ohm Resistance, 2007) With

Garrett List Garrett List (September 10, 1943 – December 27, 2019) was an American trombonist, vocalist, and composer. List was born in Phoenix, Arizona. He studied at California State University, Long Beach, and the Juilliard School. He was a member of Ital ...

* ''American Images'' (Horo, 1978) * ''Fire & Ice'' (Lovely Music, 1982) * ''The New York Takes'' (Carbon 7, 1998) With

Geoff Leigh Geoff Leigh (born 5 October 1945) is an English jazz and progressive rock musician, playing primarily soprano saxophone and flute. He was a member of the English avant-rock group Henry Cow and founded several bands himself, including Red Balu ...

and Frank Wuyts * ''From Here to Drums'' (No Man's Land, 1988) With Byron Morris and Gerald Wise * ''Unity'' (EPI, 1972; Eremite, 2017) With

Sunny Murray James Marcellus Arthur "Sunny" Murray (September 21, 1936 – December 7, 2017) was an American musician, and was one of the pioneers of the free jazz style of drumming. Biography Murray was born in Idabel, Oklahoma, where he was raised by an ...

* ''

'' (ESP Disk, 1966) * ''

An Even Break (Never Give a Sucker) ''An Even Break (Never Give a Sucker)'' is an album by American free jazz drummer Sunny Murray. It was recorded in Paris in November 1969, and released on the BYG Records, BYG Actuel label in 1970. On the album, Murray is joined by saxophonists Bya ...

'' (BYG, 1970) * ''

Charred Earth ''Charred Earth'' is a live album by drummer Sunny Murray. It was recorded in January 1977, and was released later that year by Kharma Records. On the album, Murray is joined by members of the group known as The Untouchable Factor: reed player By ...

'' (Kharma, 1977) * '' Wildflowers: The New York Loft Jazz Sessions'' (Vols 1 and 5) (Casablanca/Douglas, 1977; Knit Classics, 1999) With

Robert Musso The name Robert is an ancient Germanic given name, from Proto-Germanic "fame" and "bright" (''Hrōþiberhtaz''). Compare Old Dutch ''Robrecht'' and Old High German ''Hrodebert'' (a compound of ''Hrōþ, Hruod'' ( non, Hróðr) "fame, glory ...

* ''Innermedium'' (1999, DIW Records) With

Errol Parker Errol Parker (né Raphaël Schecroun; 30 October 1925 – 2 July 1998) was a French-Algerian jazz pianist who played with Django Reinhardt, James Moody, Don Byas and Kenny Clarke, among others. Born in Oran, French Algeria, Raphaël Schecroun ...

* ''Graffiti'' (Sahara, 1980) With

* ''

The Ponderer ''The Ponderer'' is an album by the American jazz saxophonist Odean Pope recorded in 1990 and released on the Italian Soul Note label.

'' (

Soul Note Black Saint and Soul Note are two affiliated Italian independent record labels. Since their conception in the 1970s, they have released albums from a variety of influential jazz musicians, particularly in the genre of free jazz. History Black S ...

, 1990) With

Vito Ricci Vito Ricci (born 1947) is a Canadian-born American composer. Early life Ricci was born in Canada and adopted by Italian-American parents. Career Ricci started out as a percussionist, studying with Ornette Coleman and playing with avant-garde ja ...

* ''Postones'' (Creation Production Company, 1983) With

Sounds of Liberation Sounds of Liberation was an American jazz collective formed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the early 1970s. They got their start in the progressive neighborhood of Germantown, Philadelphia. The band had close ties to the Black Arts Movement ...

* ''New Horizons'' (Dogtown, 1972) With

Pierre Van Dormael Pierre Van Dormael (24 May 1952 – 3 September 2008) was a Belgian jazz guitarist and composer. In 1988, he played in the James Baldwin Project with David Linx and Deborah Brown (vocalists), Slide Hampton (trombone), Diederik Wissels (piano ...

David Linx David Linx (born 22 March 1965) is a Belgian jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. ...

and

James Baldwin James Arthur Baldwin (August 2, 1924 – December 1, 1987) was an American writer. He garnered acclaim across various media, including essays, novels, plays, and poems. His first novel, '' Go Tell It on the Mountain'', was published in 1953; de ...

* ''A Lover's Question'' (Label Bleu, 1999) With

Marzette Watts Marzette Watts (March 9, 1938, Montgomery, Alabama – March 2, 1998, Nashville) was an American jazz tenor and soprano saxophonist. He performed and recorded on bass clarinet as well. He had a brief career in music and is revered for his 1966 sel ...

* ''

Marzette Watts and Company ''Marzette Watts and Company'', also known as ''Marzette and Company'', is the debut album by saxophonist and composer Marzette Watts. It was recorded in December 1966 in New York City, and was released by ESP-Disk in 1968. On the album, Watts is j ...

'' (ESP-Disk, 1966) With Larry Young * '' Heaven on Earth'' (Blue Note, 1968)

References

External links

Audio Recordings of WCUW Jazz Festivals - Jazz History Database (1)
* ttps://web.archive.org/web/20080119023817/http://ooopz.com/byard/ Official site {{DEFAULTSORT:Lancaster, Byard Berklee College of Music alumni Jazz alto saxophonists African-American musicians 1942 births 2012 deaths CIMP artists Musicians from Philadelphia Deaths from pancreatic cancer Avant-garde jazz saxophonists Free jazz saxophonists Black & Blue Records artists 20th-century African-American people 21st-century African-American people 20th-century saxophonists