Documentary: Anything For Jazz
Jaki Byard
The unique pianist Jaki Byard is profiled in 1979
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Jaki Byard (1922-99) was one of the few pianists capable of playing all jazz piano styles from stride to free while always sounding like himself.
This 1979 profile features excerpts of Byard playing “Meditations On Integration,” leading his big band the Apollo Stompers on parts of two songs, and performing a suite dedicated to his family.
Ron Carter and Bill Evans make brief appearances but the focus is on Jaki Byard’s comments about his music along with bits of his remarkable playing.
– Scott Yanow
Ella Fitzgerald