Don Byas was one of the top tenor-saxophonists of the 1940s, ranking with Coleman Hawkins (a major early influence), Lester Young, Ben Webster, Illinois Jacquet and Dexter Gordon.

Byas would be much better known today but he moved permanently to Europe in 1946 where he spent his last 25 years.

Evidence of his brilliance can be seen in this uptempo version of “Indiana” from the 1958 Cannes Jazz Festival.

Byas is joined by pianist Lou Levy, bassist Pierre Michelot, and drummer J.C. Heard for the heated performance.

-Scott Yanow