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

avant-garde jazz Avant-garde jazz (also known as avant-jazz, experimental jazz, or "new thing") 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 the late 1 ...

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 university, private music college in Boston, Boston, Massachusetts. It is the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world. Known for the study of jazz and modern Music of the United ...

. 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 ...

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 albums as ''My Fa ...

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 J ...

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 ...

, 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 ou ...

, 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, ...

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

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

The Philadelphia Inquirer ''The Philadelphia Inquirer'', often referred to simply as ''The Inquirer'', is a daily newspaper headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Founded on June 1, 1829, ''The Philadelphia Inquirer'' is the third-longest continuously operating da ...

'', August 25, 2012

Discography

As leader / co-leader

* 1968: '' It's Not Up to Us'' (

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'' (Dogtown) as the 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 **Palm oil * Several other plants known as "palm" Palm or Palms may also refer to: Music ...

) with

Steve McCall Stephen Harold McCall (born 15 October 1960) is an English retired footballer who now works as a scout for Carlisle United. A defensive midfielder during his playing days, McCall built a reputation as a cultured midfield player, with immacul ...

, Sylvain Marc * 1974: ''Mother Africa'' (Palm) with Clint Jackson III * 1974: ''Exactement'' (Palm) with Keno Speller * 1977: ''Exodus'' ( Philly Jazz) * 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 born in Ninety Six, South Carolina to musical parents and moved to North Philadelphia at the age of 10, where he learned from Ray Bryant. His talent ...

, 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'' (

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 ...

, 1997) With

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

* '' 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 Dixon (October 5, 1925 – June 16, 2010) was an American composer and educator. Dixon was one of the seminal figures in free jazz and late twentieth-century contemporary music. He was also a prominent activist for artist's right ...

* ''

Intents and Purposes An intention is a mental state in which a person commits themselves to a course of action. Having the plan to visit the zoo tomorrow is an example of an intention. The action plan is the ''content'' of the intention while the commitment is the '' ...

'' (RCA Victor, 1967) With David Eyges * ''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 ...

* ''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, wo ...

* '' Jazzonia'' (Douglas, 1998) * ''Moody's Mood for Love'' (Douglas, 1998) * ''Sacred System - Nagual Site'' (Wicklow/BMG, 1998) * ''Operazone - The Redesign'' (Knitting Factory, 2000) * ''Method of Defiance - Inamorata'' (Ohm Resistance, 2007) With Garrett List * ''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)'' (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 Bya ...

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

Robert Musso Robert Musso is a New York City-based guitarist, composer, engineer, and producer. He is the founder of the independent record label MuWorks as well as the record label - MussoMusic.com. Over the course of a 40 - year career, Musso has produced, mix ...

* ''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'' (

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 * ''Postones'' (Creation Production Company, 1983) With Sounds of Liberation * ''

New Horizons ''New Horizons'' is an Interplanetary spaceflight, interplanetary space probe launched as a part of NASA's New Frontiers program. Engineered by the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) and the Southwest Research Institut ...

'' (Dogtown, 1972) * '' Unreleased (Columbia University 1973)'' (Dogtown, 2018) 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. Its roots are in blues, ragtime, Euro ...

and

James Baldwin James Arthur Baldwin (né Jones; August 2, 1924 – December 1, 1987) was an American writer and civil rights activist who garnered acclaim for his essays, novels, plays, and poems. His 1953 novel '' Go Tell It on the Mountain'' has been ranked ...

* ''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'' (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 American jazz alto saxophonists 1942 births 2012 deaths CIMP artists Jazz musicians from Philadelphia Deaths from pancreatic cancer in Pennsylvania Avant-garde jazz saxophonists Free jazz saxophonists Black & Blue Records artists 20th-century African-American musicians 21st-century African-American musicians 20th-century American saxophonists