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CD Description
The music on this superbly re-mastered double CD in our Essential Collection series pays tribute to a great musician and covers a broad aspect of his glittering career. Sidney Bechet was born in the home of jazz, New Orleans in 1897 and had already started to teach himself clarinet at the tender age of six! By seventeen he had already played with such greats as Freddie Keppard, Jack Carey and Buddy Petit and soon went on to play with Clarence Williams, Louis Wade, King Oliver, Tony Jackson and Benny Peyton. His legendary musical virtuosity not only led him to release the clarinet from its more traditional role but also effectively introduce the rarely heard soprano saxophone to jazz instrumentation. His recordings include wonderful music for RCA Victor and Mezz Mezzrow s King Jazz label as well as those that helped to establish the legendary Blue Note label. Our double CD is full of brilliant and emotional playing made up mainly of various complete sessions most notably all the titles recorded by the Bechet - Spanier Big Four. Primarily known for his instrumental greatness, Bechet was also a prolific composer of such titles as Petite Fleur and Dans Les Rues. He also wrote some more serious longer works such as La Nuit Est Une Sorciere and La Connait Du Delta. He tried his hand at acting and was the author of a fascinating biography. He died in May 1959 at the relatively young age of 62 with 3,000 mourners attending his funeral.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This is a reissue of an earlier 2-CD set from Avid, which was titled "Shake 'Em Up" and curiously at time of writing seems to be still available, albeit at a higher price. It spans 1938 to 1947, runs for just over two and a half hours, and was highly praised at the time by Dave Gelly, The Observer's jazz critic. It comprises the four Noble Sissle sides from February 1938, Bechet's November 1938 session, the three 1939 Blue Note sides (two Port of Harlem and one by the Quintet), two trio sides accompanying Josh White,and all the 1940 Bechet-Spanier Big Four recordings, including the two alternate takes.
All of which only just gets us to the second CD! Bechet recorded two numbers as a one-man band, playing clarinet, soprano sax, tenor sax, piano and, on "The Sheik of Araby", bass and drums also. No mean technical accomplishment in the days of direct to wax recording. Three 1943 sides by his New Orleans Feetwarmers lead into six numbers with Art Hodes' Blue Note Jazzmen, and three with the Joe Sullivan Jazz Quartet, all from 1945. In July 1947 Bechet recorded with Bob Wilbur's Wildcats, and later that month with his own quartet.
These are classic recordings by a man who was the master of his instruments, and who with his unique sound could more than hold his own in any company. I suspect the earlier release is more fully annotated but at this price to complain would be to look a gift horse in the mouth.
All of which only just gets us to the second CD! Bechet recorded two numbers as a one-man band, playing clarinet, soprano sax, tenor sax, piano and, on "The Sheik of Araby", bass and drums also. No mean technical accomplishment in the days of direct to wax recording. Three 1943 sides by his New Orleans Feetwarmers lead into six numbers with Art Hodes' Blue Note Jazzmen, and three with the Joe Sullivan Jazz Quartet, all from 1945. In July 1947 Bechet recorded with Bob Wilbur's Wildcats, and later that month with his own quartet.
These are classic recordings by a man who was the master of his instruments, and who with his unique sound could more than hold his own in any company. I suspect the earlier release is more fully annotated but at this price to complain would be to look a gift horse in the mouth.
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is a mouth-wateringly good selection of this maestro's work across his most creative period between 1938-47. Given the age of the recordings, the re-mastering work is impressive, and much of the material sounds clean and fresh. The highlight is almost certainly all the Bechet-Spanier material (some 8 pieces, plus 2 alternate takes): this is infectious, joyful, wonderfully soaring stuff. Although it would be a great bargain for this alone, this double cd features no less than 45 tracks, giving a broad spread of Bechet's development and direction, and over 150 minutes in which to indulge yourself. A brilliant bargain!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
COVERING SIDNEY BECHETS RECORDINGS FROM 1938 TO 1947 THIS IS A GREAT WIDE RANGING
SELECTION .I LOVE THE TWO JOSH WHITE TRACKS FEATURING SIDNEY ON CLARINET, AND THE
ENTIRE BECHET/SPANIER BIG FOUR SIDES THE INTERPLAY BETWEEN BOTH BECHET AND MUGGSY
SPANIER IS BREATHTAKING. THE ONLY SLIGHT QUIBBLE I HAVE IS THE LACK OF PERSONEL
DETAILS. YOU GET THE RECORDING DATES ,BUT NO LINEUP INFO. EVEN SO THIS IS STILL A GREAT BUY AND ANOTHER TRIUMPH IN AVIDS LONG LIST OF BRILLIANT REISSUES
SELECTION .I LOVE THE TWO JOSH WHITE TRACKS FEATURING SIDNEY ON CLARINET, AND THE
ENTIRE BECHET/SPANIER BIG FOUR SIDES THE INTERPLAY BETWEEN BOTH BECHET AND MUGGSY
SPANIER IS BREATHTAKING. THE ONLY SLIGHT QUIBBLE I HAVE IS THE LACK OF PERSONEL
DETAILS. YOU GET THE RECORDING DATES ,BUT NO LINEUP INFO. EVEN SO THIS IS STILL A GREAT BUY AND ANOTHER TRIUMPH IN AVIDS LONG LIST OF BRILLIANT REISSUES
Most Recent Customer Reviews
essential collection sidney bechet
This album reminds me of a dear friend who is no longer with us - who introduced me to the likes of Bechet and other greats - we used to eat at "melange" in convent garden (no... Read more
Published 1 month ago by honestly hal
Like the Music from a past era
Was told about this Master some years ago.This is the first opputunity to have a album of this great jazz player.
Published on 10 May 2010 by Mr. R. S. Walker
Classic Sidney Bechet
This is a 2-CD set that is cheap but contains a good selection of recordings made by Sidney Bechet from his early work with Noible Sissle onwards. Read more
Published on 22 Dec 2009 by Rodney Simone
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