The Fabulous Sidney Bechet

The Fabulous Sidney Bechet

ASIN: B00005614S

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Sidney Bechet settled permanently in France in 1949, making only occasional trips back to the United States to record and tour. This CD pairs two Blue Note sessions led by the pioneer soprano saxophonist during those visits, including his last American studio recordings. Though both bands feature Bechet in the classic frontline of New Orleans and Chicago jazz with trumpet and trombone, each group gets a distinct character from one of the great bassists of early jazz. The first nine tracks, from 1951, present Bechet in the midst of dedicated New Orleans traditionalists. Trumpeter Sidney de Paris provides sterling leads and Pops Foster's slap bass is literally popping, creating a mood that's both stately and joyous.

Trombonist Jimmy Archey, a veteran of the Kid Ory band, is the one holdover on eight tracks from a 1953 session, which is a relative update on the form. Trumpeter Jonah Jones adds fluid swing and pianist Buddy Weed some near-boppish harmonies, but it's Walter Page, creator of the "walking bass" style, who really drives the band with a different kind of force on tunes like "Sweet Georgia Brown." Whatever the setting, Bechet is a marvel, his broad sound at once sparkling and mellow. Whether he's exploring the deep blues of "Naughty Sweetie" and "Black and Blue," or playing with puckish wit and ebullient spirit on "Ballin' the Jack" and "Deep Dong Daddy," Bechet is one of the defining instrumental voices of jazz, delighting in musical surroundings that are at once congenial and inspiring. --Stuart Broomer

Tracks:

There'll Be Some Changes Made
Original Dixieland One-Step
Blues My Naughty Sweetie Gives To Me
That's A Plenty
Ballin' The Jack
Avalon
There'll Be Some Changes Made (Alt Tk)
Blues My Naughty Sweetie Gives To Me (Alt Tk)
Ballin' The Jack (Alt Tk)
Rose Of The Rio Grande
Black And Blue
Sweet Georgia Brown
All Of Me
I'm A Ding Dong Daddy (From Dumas)
Shine
Rose Of The Rio Grande (Alt Tk)
Black And Blue (Alt Tk)

Amazon.com

Sidney Bechet settled permanently in France in 1949, making only occasional trips back to the United States to record and tour. This CD pairs two Blue Note sessions led by the pioneer soprano saxophonist during those visits, including his last American studio recordings. Though both bands feature Bechet in the classic frontline of New Orleans and Chicago jazz with trumpet and trombone, each group gets a distinct character from one of the great bassists of early jazz. The first nine tracks, from 1951, present Bechet in the midst of dedicated New Orleans traditionalists. Trumpeter Sidney de Paris provides sterling leads and Pops Foster's slap bass is literally popping, creating a mood that's both stately and joyous.

Customer Reviews:

MILESTONE IN TRADITIONAL JAZZ.......2006-09-24

This recording is truly a milestone Traditional Jazz recording. No, this is a milestone Jazz recording ! I can't urge you enough to buy this recording !! This is really special. You will be in tears after hearing and think you might not have not made this purchase. DO IT !!!!!!!

surprising - a broad spectrum of "dixieland" styles.......2001-02-21

Although this disk could be referred to as "dixieland" it strikes me as having a wide spectrum of different approaches that musical style. Although I like dixieland music, I generally get bored after 2 of 3 cuts because I find that the music played by any one group is often stylistically repetitious. I was really surprised by this disk because there were so many different approaches to the music. Each time a new cut would start I found myself paying close attention to what they were doing. It never became boring background music.

Jazz Music:

Jazz Music

Jazz Music