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Sidney Bechet

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Wikimp3 information about the music of Sidney Bechet. On our website we have 70 albums and 70 collections of artist Sidney Bechet. You can find useful information and download songs of this artist. We also know that Sidney Bechet represents Jazz genres.

Biography

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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.

Title: The Hottest Ever

Artist: Sidney Bechet

Genre: Jazz

Title: Stompy Jones

Artist: Sidney Bechet

Genre: Jazz

Title: Blues In Paris

Artist: Sidney Bechet

Genre: Blues

Title: Call Me Later

Artist: Sidney Bechet

Genre: Jazz

Title: Congo Explorer

Artist: Sidney Bechet

Genre: Jazz

Title: The Swing Parade

Artist: Sidney Bechet

Genre: Blues, Jazz

Title: Tresors (CD3)

Artist: Sidney Bechet

Genre: Jazz

Title: Olympia Concert

Artist: Sidney Bechet

Genre: Jazz

Title: I Got Rhythm

Artist: Sidney Bechet

Genre: Blues, Jazz

Title: Feetwarming Times

Artist: Sidney Bechet

Genre: Jazz

Title: Delightful Trip

Artist: Sidney Bechet

Genre: Jazz

Title: Really the Blues

Artist: Sidney Bechet

Genre: Jazz

Title: Summertime

Artist: Sidney Bechet

Genre: Jazz

Title: Planet Jazz

Artist: Sidney Bechet

Genre: Jazz

Title: Lets Have A Drink

Artist: Sidney Bechet

Genre: Jazz

Title: Jungle Drums

Artist: Sidney Bechet

Genre: Blues, Jazz

Title: Swing Parade

Artist: Sidney Bechet

Genre: Jazz

Title: Rarities

Artist: Sidney Bechet

Genre: Jazz

Title: Superb Sidney

Artist: Sidney Bechet

Genre: Jazz

Title: As-Tu Le Cafard?

Artist: Sidney Bechet

Genre: Pop

Title: Blues In the Air

Artist: Sidney Bechet

Genre: Blues, Jazz

Title: Pussy Cat

Artist: Sidney Bechet

Genre: Jazz

Collections

Title: Lower Basin Street

Genre:

Title: Jazz for Xmas

Genre: Jazz

Title: Blue Note 75

Genre: Jazz

Title: Cool Jazz 2

Genre: Jazz

Title: 101 Big Bands Swing

Genre: Jazz

Title: Blues Anthems

Genre: Blues

Title: Golden Years Vol. 1

Genre:

Title: The Roots of Jazz

Genre: Jazz

Title: New Orleans Songs

Genre: Blues, Jazz

Title: The Roots of Jazz

Genre: Jazz

Title: Ultimate Memories

Genre:

Featuring albums

Title: Dixieland & Swing

Artist: Various Artists

Genre: Jazz

Title: Compilation

Artist: Supersongs

Genre: Pop

Title: Volume 3 (1930)

Artist: Big Bill Broonzy

Genre: Jazz

Title: Sentimental Mood

Artist: Supersongs

Genre: Jazz, Pop

Title: Lower Basin Street

Artist: Various Artists

Genre: Pop

Title: Swing Time

Artist: Various Artists

Genre: Jazz

Title: Swing Along

Artist: Various Artists

Genre: Jazz

Title: V-Disc Story

Artist: Various Artists

Genre: Jazz

Title: Tremendous Jazz

Artist: Various Artists

Genre: Jazz

Title: Top of the Jazz

Artist: Various Artists

Genre: Jazz

Genres