Neon Jazz Exclusive | Author of the 2025 Book Don Byas: Sax Expat Con Chapman

In this episode, we talk with writer and jazz historian Con Chapman, author of the new book Don Byas: Sax Expat. Originally from St. Louis, Missouri and now based in Boston, Con dives deep into his lifelong love of jazz history and explains why he chose to spotlight the often-overlooked saxophone legend Don Byas. Through Sax Expat, Con brings Don Byas back into the conversation, showcasing the technical brilliance and artistic sensitivity that positioned him at the heart of jazz’s pivotal shift toward bebop in the 1940s. We explore Don’s groundbreaking contributions, his move to Europe, and how he helped lay the foundation for bebop's rise—despite being overshadowed by more widely recognized names. 🎷 Get the book: Don Byas: Sax Expat on Amazon For More Famous Interviews:Subscribe via Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgi6GpDDDrc_PgOzaERGbLQ Subscribe via iTunes/Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/famous-interviews-with-joe-dimino/id1660256991Subscribe via Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7j92QDS13LXgajPt80X2dh The Home of Famous Interviews:http://famousinterviewswithjoedimino.blogspot.com/ Contribute to Famous Interviews via PayPal:               https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=ER   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices