Artist:Don Byron
Song:I Cover The Waterfront
Album:Ivey-Divey
As jazz musicians go, clarinetist Don Byron is more eclectic than most. His 2004 CD Ivey-Divey is probably one of his most accessible recordings. He was born Nov. 8, 1958 in New York City. He suffered from asthma as a child and his doctor suggested that he learn a wind instrument. He chose the clarinet. Byron studied with George Russell at the New England Conservatory Of Music in Boston. He was recruited to play in Hankus Netsky's Klezmer Conservatory Band. For those who don't know, Klezmer is a jazz-like music that came to America with Eastern European Jews. Wait a minute. A black man playing Jewish music? Byron grew up in a Jewish neighbourhood in the South Bronx. He's a Mickey Katz fan. He moved back to New York in the mid-80s and was part of the avant garde jazz scene. He has recorded albums interpreting classical music, Klezmer music, Raymond Scott and other stuff. Ivey-Divey is probably as straight ahead jazz as Byron is likely to get. He says it's a tribute to Lester Young. Musicians are Jason Moran on piano, Jack DeJohnette on drums, Ralph Alessi on trumpet and Lonnie Plaxico on bass. Don Byron has recorded for Blue Note since 1998 and his latest CD Do The Boomarang: The Music Of Junior Walker was released in Oct. 2006. His music can be very rewarding as long as you're open to something outside the jazz norm. Here's the Electronic Press Kit for Ivey-Divey by Don Byron.
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