Byard Lancaster (August 6, 1942 – August 23, 2012) was an 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.

Career

In 1965, he recorded Sunny Murray Quintet with the album's eponymous musician in New York, performed in the Parisian Actuel festival with him in 1969, and continued to work in the drummer's groups throughout his career. By the 1970s, Lancaster had played with musicians such as McCoy Tyner, Khan Jamal, and Sun Ra, as well as some outside of jazz, such as blues pianist Memphis Slim and blues guitarist Johnny Copeland. 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

As sideman

With Arcana With Big Youth With Change of the Century Orchestra With Cool Waters With Johnny Copeland With Bill Dixon With David Eyges With fONKSQUISh With Doug Hammond With Kip Hanrahan With Ronald Shannon Jackson With Khan Jamal With Dwight James With Bill Laswell With Garrett List With Geoff Leigh and Frank Wuyts With Byron Morris and Gerald Wise With Sunny Murray With Robert Musso With Errol Parker With Odean Pope With Vito Ricci With Sounds of Liberation With Pierre Van Dormael, David Linx and James Baldwin With Marzette Watts With Larry Young