A talented multi-instrumentist who gained recognition playing piano, Mr '''Byard''' recorded with [http://musicbrainz.org/artist/badda5cf-f2c5-4dc2-b3d3-07467bdf0f71.html|Eric Dolphy], [http://musicbrainz.org/artist/f3b8e107-abe8-4743-b6a3-4a4ee995e71f.html|Charles Mingus] and [http://musicbrainz.org/artist/f86342be-eef7-445b-90c9-250bdf3f0b3b.html|Sam Rivers], among others. Some of his work is to be found on ''Prestige''.