Artist:Sidney Bechet
Song:All Of Me
Album:The Fabulous Sidney Bechet
Though not regarded as highly as Louis Armstrong, sax player Sidney Bechet was the first important jazz soloist. He was born May 14, 1897 in New Orleans. He studied clarinet as a child and was playing professionally as a teen in New Orleans. In 1919, he joined Will Marion Cook's orchestra and toured Europe. He found a soprano sax in a store and that became his main instrument. He made his recording debut in 1923 with Clarence Williams. Though a brilliant musician, he moved around a lot especially in Europe and his recording history is somewhat sporadic. He signed with Bluebird in 1938 and finally recorded consistently over the next few years. The change in jazz in the mid-40s could have ended Bechet's career but instead he moved to Paris in 1950. The atmosphere in Paris gave him new energy and he made some of his best records in the 50s. This CD is a combination of two EPs Bechet recorded for Blue Note in brief trips to New York in 1951 & 1953. All Of Me is from the 1953 session with Jimmy Archey on trombone, Jonah Jones on trumpet, Buddy Weed on piano, Walter Page on bass and Johnny Blowers on drums. Sidney Bechet died in Paris on his 62nd birthday in 1959 but his final decade produced some great music that should not be overlooked by jazz fans. Here's Sidney Bechet performing Down By The Old Mill Stream in Paris 1958.
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