About Byard Lancaster
Lived 1942 – 2012 (aged 70). Byard Lancaster was an American jazz musician, saxophonist and musician.
Byard Lancaster (August 6, 1942 – August 23, 2012) was an American avant-garde jazz saxophonist and flutist.
Early life and education He attended two colleges, one for music, before attending the Berklee College of Music. He moved to New York City and participated in jam sessions which included saxophonist Archie Shepp and drummer Elvin Jones.
Near the end of his life he performed regularly with cellist David Eyges and recorded as a leader and sideman for the record label Creative Improvised Music Projects. He died of pancreatic cancer on August 23, 2012.
Discography
As leader / co-leader 1968: It's Not Up to Us (Vortex) 1972: Live at Macalester College (Dogtown) as the J. R. Mitchell/Byard Lancaster Experience 1974: Us (Palm) with Steve McCall, Sylvain Marc 1974: Mother Africa (Palm) with Clint Jackson III 1974: Exactement (Palm) with Keno Speller 1977: Exodus (Philly Jazz) 1977: Wildflowers: The New York Loft Jazz Sessions (Vol 2) (Casablanca/Douglas, Knit Classics) as Flight To Sanity 1979: Funny Funky Rib Crib (Vendémiaire/Palm) 1979: Documentation: The End of a Decade (Bellows) 1979: Personal Testimony (Then and Now) (Concert Artists) 1988: Lightnin' Strikes! (Black And Blue) with David Eyges 1992: My Pure Joy (Black Fire) 1993: Worlds (Gazell) 2000: Byard Lancaster Trio (Soultrane) 2001: Philadelphia Spirit in New York (CIMP) with Odean Pope, Ed Crockett, J.R. Mitchell 2003: The Out Cry (Lancaster) as Crockett, Mitchell & Lancaster 2005: "A" Heavenly Sweetness (Isma'a, Discograph) 2005: Pam Africa (Spirit Room) 2006: Soul Unity (Heavenly Sweetness) as Thunderbird Service 2006: Ancestral Link Hotel (Spirit Room)
As sideman With Arcana Arc of the Testimony (Axiom, 1997)
With Big Youth A Luta Continua (Heartbeat, 1988)
With Change of the Century Orchestra Change of the Century Orchestra (JAS, 1999)
With Cool Waters Cool Waters (NCM, 1993)
With Johnny Copeland Copeland Special (Rounder, 1981) Jungle Swing (Verve, 1995) Texas Party (DeAgostini, 1996) Honky Tonkin (Bullseye, 1999)With Bill Dixon Intents and Purposes (RCA Victor, 1967)With David Eyges The Arrow (Music Unlimited, 1981) Crossroads (Music Unlimited, 1982)With fONKSQUISh Useless Education (Promo Preview, 2008)With Doug Hammond Folks (Idibib, 1980)With Kip Hanrahan Coup de tête (American Clavé, 1981)With Ronald Shannon Jackson Eye on You (About Time Records, 1980) Nasty (Moers Music, 1981)With Khan Jamal Infinity (Stash 278, 1984) Cubano Chant (Jambrio, 2000) Black Awareness (CIMP, 2005) Impressions of Coltrane (SteepleChase, 2009)With Dwight James Inner Heat (Cadence, 1983)With Bill Laswell Jazzonia (Douglas, 1998) Moody's Mood for Love (Douglas, 1998) Sacred System - Nagual Site (Wicklow/BMG, 1998) Operazone - The Redesign (Knitting Factory, 2000) Method of Defiance - Inamorata (Ohm Resistance, 2007)With Garrett List American Images (Horo, 1978) Fire & Ice (Lovely Music, 1982) The New York Takes (Carbon 7, 1998)With Geoff Leigh and Frank Wuyts From Here to Drums (No Man's Land, 1988)With Byron Morris and Gerald Wise Unity (EPI, 1972; Eremite, 2017)With Sunny Murray Sunny Murray (ESP Disk, 1966) An Even Break (Never Give a Sucker) (BYG, 1970) Charred Earth (Kharma, 1977) Wildflowers: The New York Loft Jazz Sessions (Vols 1 and 5) (Casablanca/Douglas, 1977; Knit Classics, 1999)With Robert Musso Innermedium (1999, DIW Records)With Errol Parker Graffiti (Sahara, 1980)With Odean Pope The Ponderer (Soul Note, 1990)With Vito Ricci Postones (Creation Production Company, 1983)With Sounds of Liberation New Horizons (Dogtown, 1972) Unreleased (Columbia University 1973) (Dogtown, 2018)With Pierre Van Dormael, David Linx and James Baldwin A Lover's Question (Label Bleu, 1999)With Marzette Watts Marzette Watts and Company (ESP-Disk, 1966)With Larry Young''' Heaven on Earth'' (Blue Note, 1968)
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Important facts
People in Byard Lancaster's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Byard Lancaster's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Byard Lancaster?
American jazz musician (1942–2012)
When was Byard Lancaster born?
Byard Lancaster was born on 6 August 1942 in Philadelphia.
When did Byard Lancaster die?
Byard Lancaster died on 23 August 2012 in Wyndmoor.
What was Byard Lancaster's occupation?
Byard Lancaster was a jazz musician, saxophonist and musician.
What nationality was Byard Lancaster?
Byard Lancaster was American.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Byard Lancaster. https://biography.guide/byard-lancaster/
MLA: "Byard Lancaster." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/byard-lancaster/.
Chicago: "Byard Lancaster." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/byard-lancaster/.
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