Jaki Byard – Family Man (Muse/32 Jazz, 1979)

Jaki Byard (p, ts, as); Major Holley (b, el b, tu, vo); Warren Smith (d, timp, vib); J.R. Mitchell (d)

Recorded on April 28 & May 1, 1978

After recording extensively for Prestige in the 1960s, Jaki Byard made far fewer records in the following decade. And that's a shame because Byard was an extraordinary pianist.  Family Man was one of just two records Byard made as leader for Muse during the 1970s, and it captures Byard's unique, all-encompassing sound -- as well as excerpts from his extended composition "Family Suite."

More Jaki Byard

- Live at the Jazz'Inn (Futura, 1971)

- Parisian Solos (Futura, 1971)

- There'll Be Some Changes Made (Muse, 1972); also released as Empirical (32 Jazz, 1990)

- Duet! - with Earl Hines (MPS, 1972)

Since Byard was given so few opportunities to record in the 1970s, the following archival releases -- live solo recordings from the Keystone Korner in 1978-79 -- are especially valuable:

- Sunshine of My Soul: Live at the Keystone Korner (HighNote, 2007)

- A Matter of Black and White (HighNote, 2011)

- The Late Show: An Evening with Jaki Byard (HighNote, 2014)