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Sidney Bechet

Reed master Sidney Bechet can claim to be the first great jazz soloist, winning international acclaim before his fellow New Orleans giant, Louis Armstrong. Geoffrey Smith salutes a genius who inspired saxophonists from Johnny Hodges to John Coltrane.

1 hour

Last on

Sun 19 May 2019 00:00
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Sidney Bechet

    Blackstick

    Composer: Bechet Performers: Sidney Bechet and Noble Sissle’s Swingers: Sidney Bechet, cl, ss; Clarence Brereton, t; Gil White, cl, ts; Harry Brooks, p; Jimmy Miller, g; Jimmy Jones, b; Wilbert Kirk, d. 9th February 1938

    • The Essential Collection.
    • Avid.
    • AVC 994. D1, Tr. 2.

  • Sidney Bechet

    Wild Cat Blues

    Composer: Waller/Williams Performers: Clarence Williams Blue Five: Sidney Bechet, ss; Thomas Morris, c; John Mayfield, tb; Clarence Williams, p; Buddy Christian, bj. July 30th 1923

    • Ken Burns Jazz: The Definitive Sidney Bechet.
    • Columbia/Legacy.
    • 501031 2. Tr.1.

  • Sidney Bechet

    Mandy, Make Up Your Mind

    Composer: Clarke/Johnston/Turk/Meyer Performers: Clarence William’s Blue Five: Sidney Bechet, ss, sarrusophone; Louis Armstrong, t; Charles Irvis, tb; Clarence Williams, p; Buddy Christian, bj; Eva Taylor, v. December 17th 1924

    • Ken Burns Jazz: The Definitive Sidney Bechet.
    • Columbia/Legacy.
    • 501031 2. Tr 3.

  • Sidney Bechet

    Shag

    Composer: Jordan Performers: Sidney Bechet’s New Orleans Feetwarmers: Sidney Bechet, cl, ss; Tommy Ladnier, t; Teddy Nixon, tb; Henry Duncan, p; Wilson Myers, v, b; Morris Morland, d. September 15th 1932

    • Ken Burns Jazz: The Definitive Sidney Bechet.
    • Columbia/Legacy.
    • 501031 2. Tr. 6.

  • Sidney Bechet

    Really the Blues

    Composer: Mezzrow Performers: Sidney Bechet, ss; Mezz Mezzrow, cl; Tommy Ladnier, t; Cliff Jackson, p; Elmer Jones, b; Teddy Bunn, g Manzie Johnson, d. 1938

    • Sidney Bechet 1923-1943.
    • Bluebird.
    • ND90317 (4); D1, Tr. 8.

  • Sidney Bechet

    China Boy

    Composer: Winfree/Boutelje Performers: Bechet-Spanier Big Four: Sidney Bechet, cl, ss; Muggsy Spanier, c; Carmen Mastren, g; Wellman Braud, b. 28th March 1940

    • The Essential Collection: Sidney Bechet.
    • Avid.
    • AVC 994. Tr. 17.

  • Sidney Bechet

    Shake It and Break It

    Composer: Qualli Clark/Friscoe Performers: Sidney Bechet and his New Orleans Feetwarmers: Sidney Bechet, cl, ss; Sidney De Paris, t; Sandy Williams, tb; Cliff Jackson, p; Bernard Addison, g; Wellman Braud, b; Sid Catlett, d. June 4th 1940

    • Ken Burns Jazz: The Definitive Sidney Bechet.
    • Columbia/Legacy.
    • 501031 2. Tr. 17.

  • Sidney Bechet

    Summertime

    Composer: G & I Gershwin/ D & D Heyward Performers: Sidney Bechet, ss; Teddy Bunn, g; Meade Lux Lewis, p; John Williams, b; Sid Catlett, d June 8th 1939

    • Ken Burns Jazz: The Definitive Sidney Bechet.
    • Columbia/Legacy.
    • 501031 2. Tr. 15.

  • Sidney Bechet

    The Sheik of Araby

    Composer: Smith/Wheeler/Snyder Performers: Sidney Bechet ss, ts, cl, p, b, d. 18th April 1941

    • The Essential Collection: Sidney Bechet.
    • Avid.
    • AVC 994. D2, Tr. 3.

  • Sidney Bechet

    Shine

    Composer: Dabney/Mack/Brown Performers: Art Hodes’ Blue Note Jazzmen: Sidney Bechet, cl, ss; Bill Davison, c; Art Hodes, p; Pops Foster, b; Freddy Moore, d. 12th October 1945

    • The Essential Collection: Sidney Bechet.
    • Avid.
    • AVC 994 D2, Tr. 11.

  • Sidney Bechet

    Blue Horizon

    Composer: Bechet Performers: Sidney Bechet, cl; Sidney De Paris, t; George Foster, b; Manzie Johnson, d. December 1944

    • Ken Burns Jazz: Sidney Bechet.
    • Columbia/Legacy.
    • 501031 2. Tr.19.

  • Humphrey Lyttelton

    Georgia

    Composer: Carmichael/Gorrell Performers: Sidney Bechet with Humphrey Lyttelton and his Band: Humphrey Lyttelton, t; Keith Christie, tb; Wally Fawkes, cl; Sidney Bechet, ss; George Webb, p; Buddy Wallis, bj; John Wright, b; Bernard Seward, d. 13th November 1949

    • Sidney Bechet: Classics 1949 Vol. 3.
    • Classics Tr.18.
    • Classics 1223.

  • Sidney Bechet

    Once in a While

    Composer: Edwards/Green Performers: Sidney Bechet Quartet; Sidney Bechet, ss; Martial Solal, p; Lloyd Thompson, b; Al Levitt, d. March 12th 1957

    • Brussels Fair 1958.
    • Lonehill Jazz.
    • LHJ10323 (1) Tr. 14.

  • Sidney Bechet

    St. Louis Blues

    Composer: Handy Performers: Sidney Bechet, ss; Buck Clayton, t; Vic Dickenson, tb, George Wein, p; Arvell Shaw, b; Kansas Fields, d. Brussels 29th July / 3rd August 1958

    • Brussels Fair 1958.
    • Lonehill Jazz.
    • LHJ10323 (1); Tr.7.

Geoffrey Smith's Jazz

 

Artist:                    Sidney Bechet

Title:                     Blackstick

Composer:           Bechet

Album:                  The Essential Collection

Label:                   Avid

Performers:          Sidney Bechet and Noble Sissle’s Swingers: Sidney Bechet, cl, ss; Clarence Brereton, t; Gil White, cl, ts; Harry Brooks, p; Jimmy Miller, g; Jimmy Jones, b; Wilbert Kirk, d. 9th February 1938

 

Artist:                    Sidney Bechet

Title:                     Wild Cat Blues

Composer:           Waller/Williams

Album:                  Ken Burns Jazz: The Definitive Sidney Bechet

Label:                   Columbia/Legacy

Performers:          Clarence Williams Blue Five: Sidney Bechet, ss; Thomas Morris, c; John Mayfield, tb; Clarence Williams, p; Buddy Christian, bj.  July 30th 1923

 

Artist:                    Sidney Bechet

Title:                     Mandy, Make Up Your Mind

Composer:           Clarke/Johnston/Turk/Meyer

Album:                  Ken Burns Jazz: The Definitive Sidney Bechet

Label:                   Columbia/Legacy

Performers:          Clarence William’s Blue Five: Sidney Bechet, ss, sarrusophone; Louis Armstrong, t; Charles Irvis, tb; Clarence Williams, p; Buddy Christian, bj; Eva Taylor, v. December 17th 1924

 

Artist:                   Sidney Bechet

Title:                     Shag

Composer:           Jordan

Album:                 Ken Burns Jazz: The Definitive Sidney Bechet

Label:                   Columbia/Legacy

Performers:          Sidney Bechet’s New Orleans Feetwarmers:  Sidney Bechet, cl, ss; Tommy Ladnier, t; Teddy Nixon, tb; Henry Duncan, p; Wilson Myers, v, b; Morris Morland, d. September 15th 1932

 

Artist:                    Sidney Bechet

Title:                     Really the Blues

Composer:           Mezzrow

Album:                 Sidney Bechet 1923-1943

Label:                   Bluebird

Performers:          Sidney Bechet, ss; Mezz Mezzrow, cl; Tommy Ladnier, t; Cliff Jackson, p; Elmer Jones, b; Teddy Bunn, g Manzie Johnson, d. 1938

 

Artist:                    Sidney Bechet

Title:                     China Boy

Composer:           Winfree/Boutelje

Album:                 The Essential Collection: Sidney Bechet

Label:                   Avid

Performers:          Bechet-Spanier Big Four:  Sidney Bechet, cl, ss; Muggsy Spanier, c; Carmen Mastren, g; Wellman Braud, b. 28th March 1940

 

Artist:                    Sidney Bechet

Title:                     Shake It and Break It

Composer:           Qualli Clark/Friscoe

Album:                  Ken Burns Jazz: The Definitive Sidney Bechet

Label:                   Columbia/Legacy

Performers:          Sidney Bechet and his New Orleans Feetwarmers: Sidney Bechet, cl, ss;  Sidney De Paris, t; Sandy Williams, tb; Cliff Jackson, p; Bernard Addison, g; Wellman Braud, b; Sid Catlett, d. June 4th 1940

 

Artist:                    Sidney Bechet

Title:                     Summertime

Composer:           G & I Gershwin/ D & D Heyward

Album:                 Ken Burns Jazz: The Definitive Sidney Bechet

Label:                   Columbia/Legacy

Performers:         Sidney Bechet, ss; Teddy Bunn, g; Meade Lux Lewis, p; John Williams, b; Sid Catlett, d June 8th 1939

 

Artist:                    Sidney Bechet

Title:                     The Sheik of Araby

Composer:           Smith/Wheeler/Snyder

Album:                 The Essential Collection: Sidney Bechet

Label:                   Avid

Performers:         Sidney Bechet ss, ts, cl, p, b, d.  18th April 1941

 

Artist:                    Sidney Bechet

Title:                     Shine

Composer:           Dabney/Mack/Brown

Album:                  The Essential Collection: Sidney Bechet

Label:                   Avid

Performers:          Art Hodes’ Blue Note Jazzmen: Sidney Bechet, cl, ss; Bill Davison, c; Art Hodes, p; Pops Foster, b; Freddy Moore, d. 12th October 1945

 

Artist:                    Sidney Bechet

Title:                     Blue Horizon

Composer:           Bechet

Album:                  Ken Burns Jazz: Sidney Bechet

Label:                   Columbia/Legacy

Performers:          Sidney Bechet, cl; Sidney De Paris, t; George Foster, b; Manzie Johnson, d. December 1944

 

Artist:                    Humphrey Lyttelton

Title:                     Georgia

Composer:           Carmichael/Gorrell

Album:                  Sidney Bechet: Classics 1949 Vol. 3

Label:                   Classics Tr.18

Performers:          Sidney Bechet with Humphrey Lyttelton and his Band: Humphrey Lyttelton, t; Keith Christie, tb; Wally Fawkes, cl; Sidney Bechet, ss; George Webb, p; Buddy Wallis, bj; John Wright, b; Bernard Seward, d. 13th November 1949

 

Artist:                    Sidney Bechet

Title:                     Once in a While

Composer:           Edwards/Green

Album:                  Brussels Fair 1958

Label:                   Lonehill Jazz

Performers:          Sidney Bechet Quartet; Sidney Bechet, ss; Martial Solal, p; Lloyd Thompson, b; Al Levitt, d. March 12th 1957

 

Artist:                    Sidney Bechet

Title:                     St. Louis Blues

Composer:           Handy

Album:                  Brussels Fair 1958

Label:                   Lonehill Jazz

Performers:         Sidney Bechet, ss; Buck Clayton, t; Vic Dickenson, tb, George Wein, p; Arvell Shaw, b; Kansas Fields, d. Brussels 29th July / 3rd August 1958

Broadcasts

  • Sun 18 Nov 2012 00:00
    BBC Radio 3
  • Sun 19 May 2019 00:00
    BBC Radio 3

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