Sidney Bechet
Sidney Bechet was the first important jazz soloist on records in history (beating Louis Armstrong by a few months). A brilliant soprano saxophonist and clarinetist with a wide vibrato that listeners either loved or hated, Bechet's style did not evolve much through the years but he never lost his enthusiasm or creativity. A master at both individual and collective improvisation within the genre of New Orleans jazz, Bechet was such a dominant player that trumpeters found it very difficult to play with him. Bechet wanted to play lead and it was up to the other horns to stay out of his way.
Sidney Bechet studied clarinet in New Orleans with Lorenzo Tio, Big Eye Louis Nelson, and George Baquet and he developed so quickly that as a child he was playing with some of the top bands in the city. He even taught clarinet, and one of his students (Jimmie Noone) was actually two years older than him. In 1917, he traveled to Chicago, and in 1919 he joined Will Marion Cook's orchestra, touring Europe with Cook and receiving a remarkably perceptive review from Ernst Ansermet. While overseas he found a soprano sax in a store and from then on it was his main instrument. Back in the U.S., Bechet made his recording debut in 1923 with Clarence Williams and during the next two years he appeared on records backing blues singers, interacting with Louis Armstrong and playing some stunning solos. He was with Duke Ellington's early orchestra for a period and at one point hired a young Johnny Hodges for his own band. However, from 1925-1929 Bechet was overseas, traveling as far as Russia but getting in trouble (and spending jail time) in France before being deported.
Most of the 1930s were comparatively lean times for Bechet. He worked with Noble Sissle on and off and had a brilliant session with his New Orleans Feetwarmers in 1932 (featuring trumpeter Tommy Ladnier). But he also ran a tailor's shop which was more notable for its jam sessions than for any money it might make. However, in 1938 he had a hit recording of "Summertime," Hugues Panassie featured Bechet on some records and soon he was signed to Bluebird where he recorded quite a few classics during the next three years. Bechet worked regularly in New York, appeared on some of Eddie Condon's Town Hall concerts, and in 1945 he tried unsuccessfully to have a band with the veteran trumpeter Bunk Johnson (whose constant drinking killed the project). Jobs began to dry up about this time, and Bechet opened up what he hoped would be a music school. He only had one main pupil, but Bob Wilber became his protégé.
Sidney Bechet's fortunes changed drastically in 1949. He was invited to the Salle Pleyel Jazz Festival in Paris, caused a sensation, and decided to move permanently overseas. Within a couple years he was a major celebrity and a national hero in France, even though the general public in the U.S. never did know who he was. Bechet's last decade was filled with exciting concerts, many recordings, and infrequent visits back to the U.S. before his death from cancer. His colorful (if sometimes fanciful) memoirs Treat It Gentle and John Chilton's magnificent Bechet biography The Wizard of Jazz (which traces his life nearly week-by-week) are both highly recommended. Many of Sidney Bechet's recordings are currently available on CD.
© Scott Yanow /TiVo
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On Parade (Original Album Plus Bonus Tracks 1952)
Sidney Bechet, Claude Luter Et Son Orchestre
Jazz - Lançado por Jazz Classics em 01/01/2013
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Sidney Bechet and His New Orleans Feetwarmers - Big Bands
Jazz - Lançado por Bella Musica Edition em 29/07/2016
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Spreadin Joy (1940-1950)
Traditional Jazz & New Orleans - Lançado por Naxos em 15/05/2001
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Jazz At Storyville
Jazz - Lançado por 1201 MUSIC em 01/10/1953
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Jazz Classics
Jazz - Lançado por CoolNote em 02/06/2009
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Late Night Lovers
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Jazz - The Essential Collection, Vol. 4 (Remastered)
Jazz - Lançado por IN+OUT Records em 24/04/1997
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A long time ago
Jazz - Lançado por Long Time Ago em 09/11/2022
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Summertime (Mono Version)
Jazz - Lançado por BNF Collection em 01/01/1960
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Blues From The Heart
Jazz - Lançado por CoolNote em 01/01/2000
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The Sidney Bechet Story
Jazz - Lançado por Proper Box em 19/02/2001
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Sidney Bechet - Claude Luter Vol 1 (Remastered)
Jazz - Lançado por Avid Entertainment em 11/03/2016
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Sidney Bechet: Petite Fleur
Jazz - Lançado por Saar srl em 07/08/2015
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Blues in Paris
Jazz - Lançado por Sweet Memories em 30/12/2013
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Four Classic Albums (Que Faites - Vous Samedi Soir? / Sidney Bechet with Sammy Price's Bluesicians / Sidney Bechet with Andre Reweliotty and His Orchestra / Bravo! Sidney Bechet and Teddy Buckner) (Digitally Remastered)
Jazz - Lançado por AVID Jazz em 03/04/2016
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Les Oignons
French Music - Lançado por Rooster Records em 20/06/2014
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Petite Fleur
Dixieland - Lançado por Jober Entertainment em 20/12/2011
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In Concert At The Brussels Fair, 1958 (Live)
Sidney Bechet, Buck Clayton Sextet
Jazz - Lançado por Efor, S.L em 16/03/2011
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Série disque d'or, vol. 2 (Mono Version)
Jazz - Lançado por BNF Collection em 01/01/1961
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Complete Jazz Series 1950 - 1951
Jazz - Lançado por Complete Jazz Series em 15/10/2008
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