[LiAm84]

Does anybody have any idea what mouthpiece Don Byas played when he was with Count Basie in the 1940's?
I know he most famously played a Otto Link tonemaster and latter a Berg Larsen but I'm interested in his set-up when he was with Basie in the 1940's.

Here are two clips with him playing short solos with the Basie band, both on a Rubber Mouthpiece:

BYAS Solo @ 1:21

BYAS Solo @ 0:34 and 2:12

Thanks in advance.

 

[LiAm84]

No ideas?? I realize it's a long shot.

 

[LiAm84]

Found another video of Byas with Basie. Still no closer to finding out what mouthpiece he used though.

Solo @ 2:01

 

[piwikiwi]

Do you know of any records of Don Byas with Basie, he really sounds exceptional in these clips!

 

[13020]

Do you know of any records of Don Byas with Basie, he really sounds exceptional in these clips!

http://www.allmusic.com/album/unbeatable-basie-beat-r280937
http://www.allmusic.com/album/essential-count-basie-vol-3-r135104
http://www.allmusic.com/album/blues-by-basie-r1946439
http://www.allmusic.com/album/basically-basie-r796385

 

[mrpeebee]

It's very difficult to identify his mouthpiece from the clips. The clips seem to be 'processed', lot's of base added to the sound. But Don sounds fantastic anyhow. His sound sounds like that from his metal Berg Larsen piece (the one he used in the duet with Slam Stewart), so my best guess would be that it's an early HR Berg Larsen he plays. The piece looks to slim for an Otto Link Resochamber and it sounds to dark for an ebonite Brilhart to me. But all speculation ofcourse, no prove! Thanks for posting those clips .

 

[ratracer]

Don Byas is one who is a monster regardless of the specific set up and doesn't seem to get a whole lot of press. Very nice playing & thanks for the clips!

 

[LiAm84]

His sound sounds like that from his metal Berg Larsen piece (the one he used in the duet with Slam Stewart), so my best guess would be that it's an early HR Berg Larsen he plays. The piece looks to slim for an Otto Link Resochamber and it sounds to dark for an ebonite Brilhart to me. But all speculation ofcourse, no prove! Thanks for posting those clips .

I don't think Berg Larsen's where readily available in the States as early as the 1940's. I think players only started playing them more commonly in the mid 1950's to 1960's. The earliest American players who I can think off using them back in the 50's where guys like Pepper Adams, Sonny Stitt and Wardell Gray. In the 1960's Roland Kirk, Hawkins and Rollins etc... I can't think of any players who used them in the 1940's.

From the clips the mouthpiece does have a slight look of a Brilhart personaline. I was wondering if it could be a woodwind & co mouthpiece perhaps?? Great sound.

 

[LiAm84]

I just stumbled across this picture of Don Byas playing what looks like a Brilhart Streamline. Mystery solved

Now I just need one in a 7* tip with the original ligature and I'll be able to sound just like him!

 

[daigle65]

Were Streamlines hard rubber?

 

[LiAm84]

BYAS Solo @ 1:21

I just noticed he's playing a Selmer 'Padless' tenor in this clip!!

 

[BOPITY FUNK]

Dont get better than this Liam! Byas, Jimmy Rushing, Basie 'Harvard Blues' fabulous!

 

[LiAm84]

Dont get better than this Liam! Byas, Jimmy Rushing, Basie 'Harvard Blues' fabulous!

Yes, fantastic. I was listening to another version of that tune last night with Slam Stewart:

 

[Tim Price]

My guess would be ....some sort of " Woodwind Company" mouthpiece. Either a stencil made, that could of come with the horn.

I'm no expert via exactness in that era...But I'd bet it's a form of that. The ones that said STEEL EBONITE on the side.

Byas was very smart, he knew a lot. You can hear it in his style as it changed thru the decades.

Just my opinion for before 9AM

 

[whaler]

I remember seeing a 'Downbeat' show on PBS years ago. It was probably from the early 70's. I haven't seen any of it come out Youtube yet. He really seemed to be the link from Swing to Bop.

 

[LiAm84]

My guess would be ....some sort of " Woodwind Company" mouthpiece. Either a stencil made, that could of come with the horn.

I'm no expert via exactness in that era...But I'd bet it's a form of that. The ones that said STEEL EBONITE on the side.

I also guessed that it might have been a Woodwind Co mouthpiece but from the photograph bellow and also the profile of the piece in the videos I think it's probably safe to assume it was a Brilhart Streamline Tonalin.

I just stumbled across this picture of Don Byas playing what looks like a Brilhart Streamline. Mystery solved

View attachment 48859

 

[hartt97]

I also guessed that it might have been a Woodwind Co mouthpiece but from the photograph bellow and also the profile of the piece in the videos I think it's probably safe to assume it was a Brilhart Streamline Tonalin.

I agree. Looks like a Brilhart ligature for sure too.

 

[Saxophonic79]

On One O'Clock Jump the first tenor solo is by the brilliant Buddy Tate! I love his playing as much as Don Byas's in actual fact. Two very different, but equally superb, tenor players. I have been listening to a lot of Buddy recently and his tone is beautiful, his ideas wonderful. His album with Abdullah Ibrahim is a joy and his albums with Milt Buckner are just incredible as he really stretches out on them...sorry gone a bit off topic here.