Byard Lancaster was an internationally recognized jazz musician and avant-musical explorer. He was adept on alto, baritone, soprano, and tenor saxophones, flutes, and bass clarinet. Lancaster emerged in the great wave of free jazz players inspired by John Coltrane, but was also deeply influenced by other music and cultures. Lancaster made his mark in New York playing with Sunny Murray, Larry Young, and Bill Dixon during the 1960s. His leader debut, 1968's It's Not Up to Us, showcased a fully developed style with a hard, edgy tone that wove modal and polytonal statements around...