Sidney Bechet At the Salle Pleyel

Bechet is reunited with trombonist Vic Dickenson and a capable rhythm section for this 1953 date at Storyville in Boston. Bechet is in typically hot form, playing his broad, vibrato-filled lines regardless of whether the background is old-school New Orleans second line or modern bop players trying to blend. Although substitute pianist George Wein is far more modern than what's needed here and drummer Buzzy Drootin bops it up a bit too much in places, they doesn't clash too badly, and Bechet and Dickenson are both heard to good effect on "Crazy Rhythm," "Indiana," and "Honeysuckle Rose." The 24-bit remastering done to these sides was worth the trouble, taking these old tapes and wringing an awful lot of sound out of them.