The Out Chorus

Byas returns to America for the Newport Jazz Festival; a camera crew accompanies him to make a documentary about him for Dutch television. He plays with Rahsaan Roland Kirk, who lines up other jobs for him and tries to get him a recording contract but fails. At the festival Byas is reunited with Dizzy Gillespie. He returns to Europe, somewhat disappointed in his lack of success in reviving his career in America; his style of jazz has been displaced by fusion jazz—more electric, more rock oriented. He goes on a two-month tour of Japan with drummer Art Blakey, where he is heartened by fans’ reception. He returns to the US, plays some dates in New York and Washington, D.C., then returns to Amsterdam, in declining health. After a tour of Italy he returns home exhausted, and begins to cancel dates because of his health. He dies in 1972. His legacy is discussed, including those tenor sax men who cite him as a model, and those who did not, such as John Coltrane, who would make a point of hearing Byas when he came to Europe, but tried to conceal his admiration for him, seating himself far away from the bandstand and claiming he had “just came in” when Byas would ask how long he's been listening.