Blues For Smoke
Candid, 2025
9/10
The pianist Jaki Byard released this album in 1960, this reissue is an all-analog remaster from original tapes that captures his inimitable presence.
The dizzying keys of “Excerpts From European Episodes a) Journey / Hollis Stomp b) Milan To Lyon” opens with plenty of complicated and accessible progressions, and “Aluminum Baby” follows with a softer approach, where a dreaminess enters the warm climate.
Deeper into the 9 tracks, “Spanish Tinge No. 1” offers a mesmerizing landscape that can bounce with a playful energy, while “Flight Of The Fly” uses darker moments amid the upbeat fingers for a fluid and diverse album highlight.
Residing near the end, the infectious mood of “Jaki’s Blues Next” illustrates meticulous finger acrobatics, and “One Two Five” exits with a dynamic and wild display of piano playing that few could parallel.
A highly technical and versatile effort that has stood the test of time, Byard’s performance is stunning and embraces bebop and ragtime via his inestimable jazz vision.
Travels well with: Memphis Slim- Memphis Slim U.S.A.; Nancy Harrow- Wild Women Don’t Have The Blues