Jaki Byard with Strings!

Critic Gary Giddins commented that, "a few complicated arrangements notwithstanding, this album is mostly an upbeat jam".Giddins, Gary (2004) Weather Bird: Jazz at the Dawn of Its Second Century, p. 224. Oxford University Press. One of the complicated arrangements was "Cat's Cradle Conference Rag" – each of five musicians "play five standards based on similar harmonies simultaneously".Giddins, Gary (1985) [1978] Rhythm-a-ning: Jazz Tradition and Innovation in the 1980s, p. 7. Oxford University Press. With the drummer added, these were: "Take the A Train" (Byard); "Jersey Bounce" (Nance); "Darktown Strutters' Ball" (Benson); "Intermission Riff" (Davis); "Desafinado" (Carter); and "Ring Dem Bells" (Dawson).

{{Album ratings

| rev1 = Allmusic

| rev1Score = {{rating|4|5}}

|rev2 = The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide

| rev2Score = {{rating|2|5}}{{Cite book

|editor-last=Swenson

|editor-first=J.

| author-link =

| year = 1985

| title = The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide

| publisher = Random House/Rolling Stone

| location = USA

| isbn = 0-394-72643-X

| pages = 35

}}

}}

Allmusic awarded the album 4 stars with its review by Scott Yanow, stating, "The repertoire includes a jammed version of "How High the Moon," a couple of tricky Byard originals and the then-current pop tune "Music to Watch Girls By." But more significant than the songs is the playing by the distinctive musicians who almost make the band sound like a regular group rather than a one-time get-together".Yanow, S. [http://www.allmusic.com/album/jaki-byard-with-strings-mw0000895596 Allmusic Review], accessed July 26, 2012 Giddins was also positive; he picked out Ray Nance's solo on "How High the Moon": it "ranks with the one he recorded on Dizzy Gillespie's "Lover Come Back to Me" as the best work of his later years".Giddins, Gary (1985) Rhythm-a-ning: Jazz Tradition and Innovation in the 1980s, p. 6. Oxford University Press.

All compositions by Jaki Byard except as indicated

1. "Music to Watch Girls By" (Sid Ramin) – 3:44
2. "Falling Rains of Life" – 7:56
3. "Cat's Cradle Conference Rag" – 11:47
4. "How High the Moon" (Nancy Hamilton, Morgan Lewis) – 14:17
5. "Ray's Blues" – 6:47

• Jaki Byard – piano, organ
• George Benson – guitar
• Ray Nance – violin, vocals
• Ron Carter – cello
• Richard Davis – bass
• Alan Dawson – drums, vibraphone

{{reflist}}

• Williams, Martin T. (1991) Jazz in Its Time, pp. 147–159. Oxford University Press. Contains a detailed description of the recording session by someone who was present.

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Category:Jaki Byard albums

Category:1968 albums

Category:Albums produced by Don Schlitten

Category:Prestige Records albums