HMR Project: History of Music & Modern Recording

Early Jazz & Sidney Bechet

Birth of Jazz: Sidney Bechet

Sidney Bechet

Born in New Orleans on 14 May 1897, clarinetist and soprano sax player, Sidney Bechet, had begun playing with various New Orleans ensembles as a child. In 1911 he joined Bunk Johnson's Eagle Band, then King Oliver's Olympia Band in 1913. In 1914 he began touring, heading north to Chicago, sometimes playing with Freddie Keppard. In 1919 he made it to New York where he joined Will Marion Cook's Syncopated Orchestra and was soon off to Europe on tour.

Bechet first recorded in London in 1920, a couple of unissued tracks with Benny Peyton's Jazz Kings [Lord]. But in 1922 he was convicted of assault and deported back to the States. A couple more unissued tunes followed in 1923 with both Greeley & Drayton and Bessie Smith. Bechet's first recording to issue came from a session on 30 July 1930 with Clarence Williams' Blue Five: 'Wild Cat Blues' and 'Kansas City Man Blues' toward Okeh 4925. He also backed such as Mamie Smith, Eva Taylor and Sara Martin in 1923.

'Wild Cat Blues' Sidney Bechet (clarinet / soprano sax) w Clarence Williams' Blue Five

Bechet's first recording to issue

30 July 1923 in NYC OKeh 4925 w 'Kansas City Man Blues' on flip side

Cornet: Tom Morris Trombone: John Mayfield

Piano: Clarence Williams Banjo: Buddy Christian

Composition: Clarence Williams / Thomas Wiley

'Mean Blues' Sidney Bechet (soprano sax) w Clarence Williams' Blue Five

14 Nov 1923 in NYC Okeh 40006

Cornet: Tom Morris Trombone: John Mayfield

Piano: Clarence Williams Banjo: Buddy Christian

Composition: Art Gillham / Billy Smith

In 1924 Bechet joined Louis Armstrong in Williams' Blue Five on such as 'Texas Moaner Blues'. That same year he returned to Europe, this time with Josephine Baker in the 'Revue Nègre'. He was jailed and deported again in 1929, this time in Paris, for involvement in a gun battle. Back in the United States, Noble Sissle owned the courage to hire him, with whom he returned to Europe, then Russia, then back to the States, this time without deportment.

In 1932 Bechet formed a band and began playing at the Savoy Ballroom in New York City.

'Maple Leaf Rag' Sidney Bechet (soprano sax) & His New Orleans Feetwarmers

15 Sep 1932 in NYC Victor 23660

Trumpet: Tommy Ladnier Trombone: Teddy Nixon

Piano: Hank Duncan Banjo: Buddy Christian

Bass: Ernest Wilson Myers Drums: Morris Morand

Composition: Scott Joplin

Shuffling from gig to gig and band to band, it was now the Depression and jobs in the music industry were getting thin. So Bechet and trumpeter, Tommy Ladnier, opened a tailor shop. Financial difficulties continued throughout the forties until Bechet returned to Paris in 1949 to renewed popularity, signing on with the French Vogue label. Living in Paris permanently since 1951, he crossed the Atlantic again a few times to record in New York City in the fifties. Lord has been able to trace Bechet to as late as 12 December 1958 in Paris toward such as 'Silent Night' (Vogue 45-591) and 'Les oignons' (Vogue CSB2). 'Tin Roof Blues' below was composed by the New Orleans Rhythm Kings (NORK) in 1923 consisting of George Brunies, Paul Mares, Ben Pollack, Leon Roppolo and Mel Stitzel at that time. Lyrics were probably by music publisher, Walter Melrose.

'Egyptian Fantasy' Sidney Bechet (clarinet) & His New Orleans Feetwarmers

8 Jan 1941 in NYC Victor 27337

Trumpet: Henry Red Allen Trombone: J.C. Higginbotham

Piano: James Tolliver Bass: Wellman Braud Drums: J.C. Heard

Composition: Bechet / John Reid

'Blue Horizon' Sidney Bechet (clarinet / soprano sax) & His Blue Note Jazzmen

20 Dec 1944 in NYC Blue Note BN43 / BLP7002 / BLP1201 / BLP81201

Trumpet: Sidney DeParis Trombone: Vic Dickenson

Piano: Art Hodes Bass: Pops Foster Drums: Manzie Johnson

Composition: Bechet

'Laura' Sidney Bechet (soprano sax) Quartet

31 July 1947 in NYC Matrix CO38042-1 Columbia 38318

Matrix CO38042-2 issued on Mosaic Select MS-022 (CD)

Piano: Lloyd Phillips Bass: Pops Foster Drums: Arthur Herbert

Composition: Johnny Mercer / David Raksin

'Tin Roof Blues' Sidney Bechet (soprano sax) & His Blue Note Jazzmen

21 Jan 1949 in NYC Blue Note BN43 / BLP7002 / BLP1201 / BLP81201

Cornet: Wild Bill Davison Piano: Art Hodes

Bass: Walter Page Drums: Freddie Moore

Composition: NORK (New Orleans Rhythm Kings) 1923

'At a Georgia Camp Meeting' Sidney Bechet (soprano sax) & His New Orleans Feetwarmers

27 April 1950 in NYC Commodore 638 / Omega 78613

Cornet: Wild Bill Davison Trombone: Wilbur DeParis

Piano: Ralph Sutton Bass: Jack Lesberg Drums: George Wettling

Composition: Kerry Mills

'Les oignons' Sidney Bechet (soprano sax) w Claude Luter & His Orchestre Film

30 May 1952 at La Chaux-de-Fonds in Switzerland

Trumpet: Guy Longnon / Claude Rabanit Trombone: Bernard Zacharias

Piano: Christian Azzi Banjo / guitar: Claude Philippe

Bass: Roland Bianchini Drums: Moustache Galepides

Composition: Bechet

'Les oignons' Sidney Bechet (soprano sax) Quintet

12 Dec 1958 live in Paris Vogue CSB2

Possibly Bechet's final recording from last-known session [Lord]

Trombone: Claude Gousset Organ: Jean-Claude Pelletier

Bass: Alix Bret Drums: Kansas Fields

Composition: Bechet

Bechet died of lung cancer in France on 14 May 1959. His memoir, 'Treat It Gentle', appeared the next year by Hill and Wang as dictated to record producer and radio host, Al Rose. Among his numerous compositions was 'La Colline Du Delta', a ballet rhapsody for solo soprano sax with symphony orchestra performed by Claude Luter on the album, Vogue LD 649 30 released in 1964 (below).

Sources & References for Sidney Bechet:

John Cohassey (Musician Guide)

Dave Radlauer (Jazz Rhythm)

Sidney Bichet

Peter Stone (Cultural Equity)

VF History (notes)

Wikipedia

Scott Yanow (All Music)

Compositions:

La Colline Du Delta (for soprano sax and symphony orchestra / Vogue LD 649 30 / 1964)

SHS

Film / Television: IMDb