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Chris Byars

Chris Byars is a New York saxophonist, clarinetist, flutist, composer, arranger, conductor, and educator balancing original ensembles with repertory projects.

SaxophonesClarinet and fluteComposer and arrangerEducator0 current shows

Photo source · Official artist media

Career Overview

About Chris Byars

Byars's official biography traces his early work as a child opera singer through jazz-performance degrees at Manhattan School of Music and a career as a woodwind player, composer, arranger, conductor, leader, sideman, and educator.[1]

The biography distinguishes the Chris Byars Original Sextet, the earlier Across 7 Street group, a long Ari Roland association, and repertory projects devoted to under-documented jazz composers. His artist site pairs that history with playable ensemble excerpts and a selected album store.[1][2][3]

Ensembles and Career Threads

Bands & Projects

Leader, saxophonist, composer, and arranger

Chris Byars Original Sextet

The sextet is Byars's current setting for original compositions, separated in his biography from earlier tribute and repertory projects.[1]

Saxophonist, arranger, educator, and program co-director

Ari Roland Quartet cultural programs

Byars's biography documents extensive Cultural Envoy travel and music-outreach work, often as a member of Roland's quartet.[1]

Transcriber, arranger, conductor, and performer

Jazz repertory projects

His artist biography records albums and programs centered on composers including Gigi Gryce, Lucky Thompson, Duke Jordan, and Frank Strozier.[1][3]

Selected, Not Exhaustive

Recordings to Know

2015

Two Fives

Leader, saxophonist, composer, and arranger

Two Fives is one of Byars's leader albums selected for purchase and documented in the discography linked from his artist site.[3][4]

Release details

2019

A Hundred Years from Today

Leader and tenor saxophonist

The sextet album credits Byars on tenor saxophone with a reed-and-trombone front line, bass, and drums.[3][4]

Release details

2022 · SteepleChase Records

Rhythm and Blues of the 20s

Original Sextet leader, saxophonist, composer, and arranger

Byars's biography identifies the album as a program of new originals and arrangements for his working sextet.[1][4]

Release details

Artist-Authorized Destinations

Start Listening

Official music selections

Hear artist-hosted excerpts from Byars's quintet, sextet, and octet recordings and compositions.

Official video archive

Watch Byars in leader, repertory, conducting, and international ensemble settings.

Live Calendar

Upcoming Jazz DateBook Shows

No current Jazz DateBook dates are listed for Chris Byars. The career guide remains available while the calendar changes.

Sources

Career copy is original synthesis from the artist, label, and project sources below. Current dates come from Jazz DateBook event inventory.

  1. [1] Official biography and project history

    Chris Byars

  2. [2] Official playable music selections

    Chris Byars

  3. [3] Official selected album and personnel guide

    Chris Byars

  4. [4] Artist-linked session and leader discography

    Noal Cohen Jazz History Website