Just a Blues Byas Don 1951
I call it "Just a blues" The only thing I know about this clip which appeared on Dutch TV probably in the eighties is that it comes from a French film done in 1951 with tenor saxophonist Don Byas.
The fabulous trumpetplayer looks maybe a bit too tall, but sounds like "Little" Roy Eldridge. He gets off stage and invites a young lady to come up and sing the blues.
Anybody can help for more info.
Don Byas (1912--1972) was a African American jazz tenor saxophonist. Although his long residence in Europe kept him out of the public eye in the United States, he is often considered to be one of the great jazz musicians on his instrument. He rivals Coleman Hawkins in claims of the title of 'father of tenor saxophone'. [1]
He began his career in swing, playing with Lionel Hampton, Buck Clayton, Don Redman, Lucky Millinder, Andy Kirk, and Count Basie. In the 1940s he also jammed and worked with bop musicians, including Dizzy Gillespie. He also recorded extensively. His biggest hit came with his on Jimmy Rushing's version of George Frazier's "Harvard Blues", which he recorded numerous times, with and without vocal accompaniment.
In 1946 he toured Europe with Don Redman, and moved there. He lived in France, Denmark, and the Netherlands for the rest of his life. He worked extensively in Europe, often with such touring American musicians as Art Blakey, Kenny Clarke, Duke Ellington, Gillespie, Jazz at the Philharmonic, Bud Powell, and Ben Webster.
He also recorded with fado singer Amália Rodrigues during his time in Europe.
He died in Amsterdam, of lung cancer.
