Chris Byars: Jazz Musician in New York

About Chris Byars

Chris Byars is a jazz saxophonist heard in New York City rooms like Smalls Jazz Club, where his sets lean into the close listening the space encourages. He began performing early as a child opera singer, a background that still shows in his attention to line and breath. Byars leads the Chris Byars Septet and has worked with longtime collaborator Ari Roland, including tours as part of U.S. State Department cultural outreach. His playing favors clarity and forward motion over spectacle.