Free Worldwide Shipping on Orders $50+
Delivery & Return:Free shipping on all orders over $50
Estimated Delivery:7-15 days international
People:29 people viewing this product right now!
Easy Returns:Enjoy hassle-free returns within 30 days!
Payment:Secure checkout
SKU:13762891
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.
Some pieces of music come from so deep inside and are so perfectly performed that you can hear them again and again without ever getting tired. It seems that they touch something eternal and so time has no power to diminish them or turn them into something plain and ordinary.I suspect that this is one of those albums. Bechet was born in New Orleans and his music is very much in the style of that city. He can play the blues with great feeling and can just as convincingly set your foot tapping with one of his upbeat numbers. His version of Summertime is surely a masterpiece.If you already know Bechet you don't need to be told any of this but if you haven't listened to him then try this album and expect to be delighted.
