Sidney Bechet

By George Thomas | May 14, 2012

Sidney Bechet, the first jazz soloist (recorded ahead of Louis Armstrong
by a few months), was born in New Orleans on May 14, 1897 and died May
14, 1959 in Paris. In between he recorded some of the finest early jazz
with his soprano sax or clarinet soaring above ensembles. Check out
Phillip Larkin’s poem "For Sidney Bechet"

Playlist:

9:00 pm

Bechet's New Orleans(spoken) / Ti Ralph
Artist Name: Aurora Nealand & The Royal Roses
Composer: Sidney Bechet
Soloists: Aurora Nealand-Soprano Sax, Vocals ; Tom McDermott-Piano
CD/Album: A Tribute To Sidney Bechet
Record co./Cat #: www.auroranealand.com
Release Year: 2011
Note: Birthday: Sidney Bechet 5.14.1897

9:04 pm

Cakewalking Babies (From Home)
Artist Name: Clarence Williams Blue Five
Composer: Williams, Smith, Troy
Soloists: Sidney Bechet-Soprano Sax ; Louis Armstrong-Cornet
CD/Album: The Essential Louis Armstrong
Record co./Cat #: Columbia/Legacy 89280
Release Year: 1925
Note: Birthday: Sidney Bechet 5.14.1897

9:07 pm

I Wish I Could Shimmy Like My Sister Kate / Waery Blues / Milenberg Joys
Artist Name: New Orleans Feetwarmers
Composer: Piron /Johnson / Mares, Melrose, Morton, Roppolo
Soloists: Sidney Bechet-Soprano Sax ; Tommy Ladnier-Trumpet ; James P. Johnson-Piano
CD/Album: From Spirituals To Swing
Record co./Cat #: Vanguard 169/71-2
Release Year: 1938
Note: Birthday: Sidney Bechet 5.14.1897

9:13 pm

Four Or Five Times
Artist Name: The Bechet-Spanier Big Four
Composer: M. Hellman, B. Gay
Soloists: Sidney Bechet-Soprano Sax, Clarinet ; Mugsy Spanier-Cornet
CD/Album: The Complete H.R.S. Sessions
Record co./Cat #: Mosaic
Release Year: 1940
Note: Birthday: Sidney Bechet 5.14.1897

9:16 pm

Cakewalking Babies
Artist Name: Aurora Nealand & The Royal Roses
Composer: C. Williams, B. Smith
Soloists: Aurora Nealand-Soprano Sax ; Tom McDermott-Piano
CD/Album: A Tribute To Sidney Bechet
Record co./Cat #: www.auroranealand.com
Release Year: 2011
Note: Birthday: Sidney Bechet 5.14.1897

9:25 pm

Sweet Sue (Just You)
Artist Name: The Bechet-Spanier Big Four
Composer: W. Harris, V. Young
Soloists: Sidney Bechet-Soprano Sax, Clarinet ; Mugsy Spanier-Cornet
CD/Album: The Complete H.R.S. Sessions
Record co./Cat #: Mosaic
Release Year: 1940
Note: Birthday: Sidney Bechet 5.14.1897

9:30 pm

Summertime
Artist Name: The Port Of Harlem Seven
Composer: Gershwin-Gershwin-Heyward
Soloists: Sidney Bechet-Soprano Sax ; Meade Lux Lewis-Piano
CD/Album: The Port Of Harlem Jazzmen
Record co./Cat #: Blue Note Records 28892 2
Release Year: 1939
Note: Birthday: Sidney Bechet 5.14.1897

9:34 pm

That's A Plenty
Artist Name: The Bechet-Spanier Big Four
Composer: L. Pollack, R. Gilbert
Soloists: Sidney Bechet-Soprano Sax, Clarinet
CD/Album: The Complete H.R.S. Sessions
Record co./Cat #: Mosaic
Release Year: 1940
Note: Birthday: Sidney Bechet 5.14.1897

9:37 pm

Bechet's Fantasy
Artist Name: Sidney Bechet
Composer: Sidney Bechet
Soloists: Sidney Bechet-Soprano Sax, Clarinet
CD/Album: The Best Of Sidney Bechet
Record co./Cat #: Blue Note Records 28891 2
Release Year: 1946
Note: Birthday: Sidney Bechet 5.14.1897

9:41 pm

When My Dreamboat Comes Home
Artist Name: Billie & De De Pierce
Composer: C. Friend, D. Franklin
CD/Album: The Atlantic New Orleans Jazz Sessions
Record co./Cat #: Mosaic 4-179
Release Year: 1962

9:45 pm

In The Sweet Bye And Bye / Careless Love
Artist Name: George Lewis
Composer: Trad. Handy, Williams, Koenig
Soloists: George Lewis-Clarinet
CD/Album: The Atlantic New Orleans Jazz Sessions
Record co./Cat #: Mosaic 4-179
Release Year: 1962

9:51 pm

The Sheik Of Araby
Artist Name: Sidney Bechet
Composer: Smith, Wheeler, Snyder
Soloists: Sidney Bechet-Soprano Sax, Clarinet, Tenor Sax, Piano, Bass, Drums
CD/Album: The Legendary Sidney Bechet
Record co./Cat #: Bluebird 6590-2
Release Year: 1941
Note: Birthday: Sidney Bechet 5.14.1897

9:55 pm

Royal Garden Blues
Artist Name: The John Kirby Sextet
Composer: S. & C. Williams
CD/Album: The Biggest Little Band In The Land
Record co./Cat #: ASV/Living Era 5304
Release Year: 1939

10:01 pm

I Feel Fine / Sidewinder
Artist Name: John Pizzarelli
Composer: John Lennon, Paul McCartney / Lee Morgan
Soloists: John Pizzarelli-Guitar, Vocals
CD/Album: Double Exposure
Record co./Cat #: Telarc Jazz 33221-02
Release Year: 2012
Note: New

10:05 pm

Love You Tonight
Artist Name: David Budway
Composer: David Budway
Soloists: David Budway-Piano
CD/Album: A New Kiss
Record co./Cat #: MaxJazz 222
Release Year: 2011
Note: New

10:13 pm

It's You Or No One
Artist Name: Susie Arioli featuring Jordan Officer
Composer: Sammy Cahn, Jule Styne
Soloists: Susie Arioli-Vocals, Snare ; Jordan Officer-Guitar
CD/Album: Night Lights
Record co./Cat #: Jazzheads 1191
Release Year: 2012
Note: New

10:16 pm

Love Dance
Artist Name: Anne Sajdera
Composer: Anne Sajdera
Soloists: Anne Sajdera-Piano
CD/Album: Azul
Record co./Cat #: Bijuri Records 2082
Release Year: 2012
Note: New

10:23 pm

Georgia On My Mind
Artist Name: Stephane Grappelli & Toots Thielemans
Composer: Hoagy Carmichael, Gorrell
Soloists: Stephane Grappelli-Violin ; Toots Thielemans-Harmonica
CD/Album: Bringing It Together
Record co./Cat #: LiSem Enterprises 801
Release Year: 2011
Note: New Reissue

10:29 pm

How Insenitive
Artist Name: Virginia Schenck
Composer: Antonio Carlos Jobim, Vinicius De Moraes, Norman Gimbel
Soloists: Virginia Schenck-Vocals
CD/Album: VA
Record co./Cat #: Airborne Ecstasy 1111
Release Year: 2012
Note: New

10:37 pm

In My Room
Artist Name: Larry Goldings
Composer: Brian Wilson, Gary L. Usher
Soloists: Larry Goldings-Piano
CD/Album: In My Room
Record co./Cat #: BFMJazz.com 302 062 406-2
Release Year: 2011
Note: New

10:42 pm

Why Cry?
Artist Name: Eddie Gomez
Composer: Matt Marvuglio
Soloists: Eddie Gomez-Bass
CD/Album: Per Sempre
Record co./Cat #: BFMJazz.com 302 062 414-2
Release Year: 2012
Note: New

10:53 pm

Promises Kept
Artist Name: Steve Kuhn Trio
Composer: Steve Kuhn
Soloists: Steve Kuhn-Piano
CD/Album: Wisteria
Record co./Cat #: ECM 2257
Release Year: 2012
Note: New