Sidney Bechet: Sidney Bechet

Sidney Bechet (1897-1959) is a legendary jazz figure whose range of instruments included soprano, tenor and bass saxophones, piano, bass, drums and, most famously, the clarinet. A true jazz star, Bechet's graceful playing and structural skill made him into the first significant jazz soloist, even before his fellow New Orleans native, Louis Armstrong.

This collection is a mix of sides from sessions made for King Jazz in New York (1945) and Chicago (1947) with varying blues-oriented bands. Short-lived as the King Jazz label proved to be, this music gives us some flavor of Bechet's magic on both the clarinet and the soprano sax. His co-leader Milt "Mezz Mezzrow was also a clarinetist and composer and while simpatico in spirit, in truth he was not remotely in the same league as Bechet as a musician.

Among the tunes are the two separate and distinct parts of Mezzrow's "Revolutionary Blues. Part 1 begins with a slow and insinuating wah-wah sound while Part 2 is a breezier fun piece made to set toes a-tappin'. Trumpeter Hot Lips Page and Mezzrow are each prominent, but it's the high, burning, full-bodied sweetness of Bechet's saxophone that grabs listeners. Along with other gems like "Minor Swoon, "Bowin' the Blues and an especially down and dirty blues, "Funky Butt, played by guys who know how, we're talkin' post-WWII classic Dixieland sugar.