The music on this superbly re-mastered double CD in our Essential Collection series pays tribute to a great musician and covers a broad aspect of his glittering career. Sidney Bechet was born in the home of jazz, New Orleans in 1897 and had already started to teach himself clarinet at the tender age of six! By seventeen he had already played with such greats as Freddie Keppard, Jack Carey and Buddy Petit and soon went on to play with Clarence Williams, Louis Wade, King Oliver, Tony Jackson and Benny Peyton. His legendary musical virtuosity not only led him to release the clarinet from its more traditional role but also effectively introduce the rarely heard soprano saxophone to jazz instrumentation. His recordings include wonderful music for RCA Victor and Mezz Mezzrow s King Jazz label as well as those that helped to establish the legendary Blue Note label. Our double CD is full of brilliant and emotional playing made up mainly of various complete sessions most notably all the titles recorded by the Bechet - Spanier Big Four. Primarily known for his instrumental greatness, Bechet was also a prolific composer of such titles as Petite Fleur and Dans Les Rues. He also wrote some more serious longer works such as La Nuit Est Une Sorciere and La Connait Du Delta. He tried his hand at acting and was the author of a fascinating biography. He died in May 1959 at the relatively young age of 62 with 3,000 mourners attending his funeral.
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