Jazz Cafee: Sidney Bechet - Tresors (4 CD, 2001/FLAC)

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.

CD1

1.Ce Mossieu Qui Parle 3.37

2.Buddy Bolden Story 3.39

3.Bechet Creole Blues 3.15

4.Anita's Birthday 2.42

(Sidney Bechet) ® 1949

5.Les Oignons 2.44

6.Ridin' Easy Blues 3.13

7.Blues In Paris 2.41

8.Panter Dance (Tiger Rag) 3.01

(Sidney Bechet) ® 1949

9.Orphan Annie's Blues 3.30

10.Happy Go Lucky Blues 3.23

11.Klook's Blues 3.21

12.American Rhythm 2.54

(Sidney Bechet) ® 1949

13.Out Of Nowhere 3.04

(Green - Hayman) ® 1949

14.Mon Homme 2.59

(Villemetez - Charles - Yvain) ® 1949

15.Temptation Rag 2.47

(H. Lodge)® 1949

16.Riverboat Shuffle 2.44

17.Sobbin’ And Cryin’ 3.01

18.Everybody Loves My Baby 2.46

(Palmer - Williams) ® 1949

19.Struttin’ With Some Barbecue 3.08

20.Sawmill Blues 3.02

(Sidney Bechet) ® 1949

21.Ni Queue Ni Tête 3.43

CD2

1.Moulin À Café 3.01

2.Maryland My Maryland 2.34

(Trad. Arr. Bechet) ® 1950

3.Careless Love Blues 2.43

4.Moustache Gauloise 3.09

5.Francis Blues 2.45

6.Casey Jones 2.51

(Trad.)® 1950

7.Blues In My Heart 2.35

8.Lastic 2.33

9.Madame Bécassine 2.32

(Sidney Bechet) ® 1950

10.Down Home Rag 2.39

11.Society Blues 3.22

12.Bill Bailey Won't You Please Come Home 3.08

(Trad.)® 1950

13.Royal Garden Blues 3.06

(W. C. Handy) ® 1950

14.In The Groove 3.10

(Sidney Bechet)® 1951

15.Promenade Aux Champs-Elysées 3.14

16.En Attendant Le Jour 3.16

(Sidney Bechet) ® 1951

17.Wolverine Blues 3.05

(Spikes- Morton)® 1951

18.Egyptian Fantasy 2.46

(Sidney Bechet) ® 1951

19. Blues In The Cave 2.48

(Sidnay Bechet)® 1951

CD3

1.Kansas City Man Blues 3.14

2.Together 3.03

3.Apex Blues 3.06

(Jimmy Noone) ® 1951

4.Sleepy Time Gal 2.52

5.Of All The Wrongs You've Done To Me 3.21

(Tome - Playton - Smith - Powell) ® 1951

6.Darling Nelly Gray 2.45

(W. C. Handy) ® 1951

7.Put On Your Old Grey Bonnet 2.57

(Weinrich)® 1951

8.Sidney's Wedding Day 3.33

9.Ghost Of The Blues 3.11

10.Strike Up The Band 3.07

(G. S I. Gershwin) ® 1952

11.Si Tu Vois Ma Mère 3.15

(Sidney Bechet) ® 1952

12.Wabash Blues 3.08

13.Pattes De Mouche (Mouche À Miel) 2.44

14.Le Marchand De Poissons 2.45

15.As-Tu Le Cafard? 2.30

16.Dans Les Rues D'antibes 3.27

17.That Old Black Magic 2.56

18.Because Of You (Sans Ton Amour) 3.05

(Hammerstein - Wilkinson) ® 1952

19.Petite Fleur 3.19

20.I Get A Kick Out Of You 3.06

21.Blues 3.29

22.Girl's Dance 2.57

23.It's No Sin (Est-Ce Un Péché?) 3.22

(Haven-Hull)®1952

24.You're Lucky To Me 3.32

CD4

1.Milenberg Joys 2.49

2.Blue Room 3.20

3.Rockin' Chair 2.41

4.Big Butter And Eggman 3.00

5.My Melancholy Baby 3.34

(McHugh)®1952

6.Limehouse Blues 3.24

7.I Got The Right To Sing The Blues 2.54

8.Black Bottom Stomp 3.30

9.Baby's Prayer 2.39

(Trad.) ® 1952

10.Lazy River 1.42

11.Stars Fell On Alabama / Lazy River 2.46

(Perkins - Parrish / Perkins - Parrish - Carmichael) ® 1952

12.Twelfth Street Rag 3.16

13.Au Clair De La Lune 3.34

14.Porter's Love Song 3.22

(Fats Waller) ® 1952

15.Embraceable You 3.08

(G. & I.Gershwin) ® 1952

16.Ol’ Man River 3.09

17.Show Boat Medley 3.57

18.You, Rascal You 3.05

(S. Theard)® 1952

19.Le Loup, La Biche Et Le Chevalier 2.55