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Chris Byars

Chris Byars was born in New York City on Nov. 2, 1970 into a family of Juilliard-trained musicians. The artistic resources of NYC were made accessible to the youngster, who soon found himself in musical situations with the top talents of the world. Throughout his childhood, he was granted private study with the great teachers in the area, devoting much effort to learning drums, voice, saxophone, musicianship and ballet technique. From age 6 to 14, Chris enjoyed a successful career as an opera singer, performing, touring, and appearing on television with the Metropolitan Opera, New York City Opera and New York City Ballet. At age 14 he devoted himself exclusively to the idiom of jazz.

In the next ten years Byars undertook a period of apprenticeship that transformed him from a jazz novice into a fully functioning jazz composer, arranger and multi- instrumentalist. A Bachelor's and Master's Degree were earned from Manhattan School of Music, but perhaps the most impact was gained by 2 years of intensive private study with musicianship guru Helen Jordan.

In 1994 he began a nine-year run of steady engagements at the Greenwich Village “cutting-edge jazz club” Smalls, appearing on average twice weekly with jazz legends Frank Hewitt and Jimmy Lovelace. This decade of late-night gigs saw the birth of two bands: the quintet Across 7 Street (co-led by bassist Ari Roland) and The Chris Byars Octet. Both have recorded with the indie label Smalls Records to great critical acclaim.

As a small group leader, Byars is releasing his first offering, Photos in Black, White and Gray (Smalls Records) on March 13, 2007. Byars is heard on alto, tenor and soprano saxophones, performing exclusively original material. The CD release party is at Joe's Pub, March 28th. Byars was selected to represent the U.S. Department of State as a cultural ambassador, performing in the former Soviet Republics of Kazahkstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikstan and Kyrgyztan in April/ May 2007. Upon his return, he will begin presenting his award-winning educational program "Basheer's Dream: The Music of Gigi Gryce Returns to the Bronx" with Across 7 Street.

Chris Byars lives in the Riverdale section of the Bronx with his very supportive wife Sarah, and wonderful children Anna (5 years old) and John (13 months).

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32
Album Review

John Lang: Earotica

Read "Earotica" reviewed by Jack Bowers


There's something special about a nonet: small enough to have its own personality, yet large enough to sound at times akin to a full-size big band. Bassist John Lang leads a first-class nonet on Earotica, his fourth album as leader. Having given Lang's last disc a rather lukewarm appraisal almost two years ago, it is a pleasure to note that his new album is superior in every respect. Gone are the desultory funk and rock beats, replaced ...

1,425
Interview

Chris Byars: Studying Unsung Heroes

Read "Chris Byars: Studying Unsung Heroes" reviewed by Ludwig vanTrikt


[Introduction by Teddy Charles]

It's not easy to be Chris Byars. With an incredible array of talents brought to bear on his composition, arrangements, and cooking jazz performances, it's no wonder he's worked his way to the forefront of the myriad of jazz players overwhelming the scene.

For me, our felicitous association led to multiple gigs and recordings. Dances with Bulls (Smalls Records, 2009) updates some of my old concepts, resulting in some daring explorations; a great recording.

Inspired by ...

355
Album Review

Chris Byars: Pictures at an Exhibition of Himalayan Art

Read "Pictures at an Exhibition of Himalayan Art" reviewed by Elliott Simon


While its mission is the preservation of Himalayan art, NYC's Rubin Museum continues to produce an excellent concert series in collaboration with the National Jazz Museum in Harlem. The series has developed into a forum for artists to perform new projects in a singularly spiritual setting. Saxophonist Chris Byars has in effect written a soundtrack for selected art pieces from the Rubin--ancient tapestries depicting the deities and concepts of the Bön religious tradition of Tibet--reproductions of which are included in ...

216
Album Review

Chris Byars: Photos in Black, White and Gray

Read "Photos in Black, White and Gray" reviewed by Ken Dryden


Saxophonist Chris Byars has made a name for himself as one of many promising neo-bop musicians who perform on a regular basis at Smalls in New York City, while also appearing on a number of CDs (as either a sideman or leader) issued by the Smalls label. He has played since the age of seven and earned a Masters degree at the Manhattan School of Music at the age of twenty. For his third date as a leader, Byars is ...

140
Album Review

The Chris Byars Octet: Night Owls

Read "Night Owls" reviewed by Jim Santella


What a delightful octet Chris Byars has put together in New York. Its straight-ahead design means that everyone has an influential voice for every performance, soloing frequently. Each artist is a standout soloist as well as a contributor for the group's cohesive voice.

Band arrangements can make the difference between a so-so rehearsal band and a memorable unit. Byars' octet benefits both from superb arranging and excellent soloing. Along with voicing that introduces creative harmony and a seamless ...

426
Multiple Reviews

Chris Byars: Night Owls and Steeplechase Jam Session #15

Read "Chris Byars: Night Owls and Steeplechase Jam Session #15" reviewed by Florence Wetzel


Chris Byars Octet Night Owls Smalls Records 2006 Kris Allen, Chris Byars, Loren Stillman Steeplechase Jam Session # 15 Steeplechase Records 2006

Saxophonist, composer, arranger and bandleader Chris Byars is one of the most versatile musicians on today's jazz scene. A consummate professional, Byars began performing at age 7 as a ...

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185

Recording

Chris Byars - Lucky Strickes Again (Steeplechase, 2011)

Chris Byars - Lucky Strickes Again (Steeplechase, 2011)

Source: Music and More by Tim Niland

Coming into the jazz world at the intersection of swing and bop, saxophonist Lucky Thompson was a well regarded performer in the 1950's and 60's before leaving the music business in the 1970's. One of his most well regarded albums was the Lucky Strikesalbum released on OJC in 1964. Inspired by Thompson's approach to music and aided by an excellent cast: Leader Chris Byars on tenor and soprano saxophones, Scott Wendholt on trumpet, John Mosca on trombone, Zaid Nesser on ...

130

Interview

Chris Byars: Lucky Strikes Again

Chris Byars: Lucky Strikes Again

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers

When the names of great tenor saxophonists are tossed around, the chain of succession generally runs like this: Coleman Hawkins, Lester Young, Dexter Gordon, Sonny Rollins and John Coltrane. All, of course, were reed titans, and Sonny still is. A half-step below this esteemed group is a second tier of greats that include Don Byas, Wardell Gray, Stan Getz, Zoot Sims, Al Cohn, Frank Wess, Frank Foster, Hank Mobley, Eddie “Lockjaw" Davis and Wayne Shorter. Typically left out is Lucky ...

157

Interview

Lucky Thompson in Person

Lucky Thompson in Person

Source: Rifftides by Doug Ramsey

The logical followup to the piece below about Chris Byars' hero Lucky Thompson is a piece by Thompson. Here's a film from Paris in 1959 at the Blue Note. The rhythm section is Bud Powell, piano; Pierre Michelot, bass; Jimmy Gourley, guitar; Kenny Clarke, drums. The compostion is Dizzy Gillespie's and Charlie Parker's “Anthropology." The video clip ends before the tune does, but this is a rare opportunity to see the great tenor saxophonist in action with a band of ...

127

Recording

Recent Listening: Lucky Strikes Again

Recent Listening: Lucky Strikes Again

Source: Rifftides by Doug Ramsey

Chris Byars, Lucky Strikes Again (Steeplechase). This album by a gifted saxophonist, composer and arranger has several things to recommend it. It presents 10 pieces written and arranged by Lucky Thompson (1924-2005), a saxophonist whose brilliance and originality as a player and writer failed to make him as well known as equally gifted contemporaries like Miles Davis, Stan Getz and Milt Jackson. Byars painstakingly transcribed most of the arrangements from recordings of a 1961 Thompson concert broadcast in Germany. Others, ...

121

Recording

Chris Byars - Bop-Ography (Steeplechase)

Chris Byars - Bop-Ography (Steeplechase)

Source: Master of a Small House

On the occasion of his second Steeplechase outing Chris Byars cannily continues in a musical rich vein tapped on his first. Gigi Gryce counts as a current healthy obsession of the saxophonist and three of the composers' pieces grace the program. Another of Byars abiding interests concerns the work and legacy of vibraphonist Teddy Charles, a relatively recent recruit to his circle of collaborators thanks to a long-overdue return to active playing. Charles guests on just three pieces, but his ...

114

Interview

Saxophonist Chris Byars Interviewed at AAJ

Saxophonist Chris Byars Interviewed at AAJ

Source: All About Jazz

As legendary jazz vibraphonists Teddy Charles describes him, “It's not easy to be Chris Byars. With an incredible array of talents brought to bear on his composition, arrangements, and cooking jazz performances, it's no wonder he's worked his way to the forefront of the myriad of jazz players overwhelming the scene."

Byars has been working hard over the past few years, releasing a string of critically well-received albums including Blue Lights: The Music of Gigi Gryce (SteepleChase, 2009) and, with ...

Primary Instrument

Saxophone

Willing to teach

Beginner to advanced

Credentials/Background

I charge $90 for first hour, $40 each additional hour. I'll come to you if you're not too far away! I have a Masters of Music degree in Jazz Studies (Manhattan School of Music). For schools of any level, I present an award-winning clinic/concert program called "Basheer's Dream: The Music of Gigi Gryce Returns," and have given solo master classes on the Musical Legacy of Lucky Thompson. As a teaching musician, I've been selected by the US State Department to tour the former Soviet Republics in April/May 2007

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Photos

Concerts

Mar 28 Thu

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Earotica

Cellar Records
2023

buy

Pictures at an...

Smalls Records
2008

buy

Photos in Black,...

Smalls Records
2007

buy

Night Owls

Smalls Records
2006

buy

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