Sidney Bechet

Biography

Sidney Bechet (May 14, 1897 – May 14, 1959) was a pioneering American jazz clarinetist, soprano saxophonist, and composer, born into a Creole musical family in New Orleans, Louisiana. From an early age, Bechet displayed prodigious talent, quickly mastering the clarinet and performing with top local bands as a child. He was largely self-taught, developing a distinctive, expressive style characterized by a wide vibrato and passionate improvisation, influenced by his love for operatic tenors such as Enrico Caruso. In 1917, Bechet left New Orleans, moving first to Chicago and then joining Will Marion Cook’s orchestra, which took him to Europe in 1919. There, he discovered the soprano saxophone, which became his primary instrument and helped establish him as the first great jazz saxophonist, giving the instrument a prominent place in jazz.

Bechet’s early recordings, made between 1923 and 1925 with pianist Clarence Williams, predated those of Louis Armstrong and showcased his innovative approach to solo improvisation, helping to shift jazz from ensemble-based playing to a focus on individual expression. Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, Bechet performed and recorded with notable musicians such as Duke Ellington and Noble Sissle, though his career was sometimes hampered by his temperamental nature and legal troubles, including a stint in jail in France. Despite these challenges, he continued to record prolifically and perform internationally. In the late 1940s, Bechet found lasting fame in France, where he became a national celebrity and spent the remainder of his life, performing to enthusiastic audiences and recording extensively.

Bechet’s musical legacy is immense: he was a master improviser whose emotive playing style influenced generations of jazz musicians. His compositions ranged from jazz standards to extended concert works, and his autobiography, 'Treat It Gentle,' remains an important document of early jazz history. Though less widely known in the United States during his lifetime, Bechet is now recognized as one of jazz’s foundational figures, celebrated for his originality, technical brilliance, and enduring contributions to the genre.

Fun Facts

• Sidney Bechet was the first significant jazz soloist to record, predating Louis Armstrong by several months.
• He discovered the soprano saxophone in a London shop and made it his signature instrument, revolutionizing its role in jazz.
• Bechet was known for his fiery temperament, which led to several altercations and even jail time in France.
• His autobiography, 'Treat It Gentle,' is a colorful and sometimes fanciful account of his life and the early days of jazz.

Associated Acts

• Red Onion Jazz Babies (1924–1925)
• Sidney Bechet and His New Orleans Feetwarmers
• Sidney Bechet and His Orchestra
• Sidney Bechet Trio
• Sidney Bechet, Muggsy Spanier and the All-Stars
• Sidney Bechet’s Blue Note Jazzmen - eponymous, original, soprano saxophone
• Olympia Orchestra
• Louis Armstrong & His Orchestra
• Sidney Bechet & His All Star Band - original
• Sidney Bechet and His Circle Seven
• Sidney Bechet's Hot Six - additional, clarinet, original
• Clarence Williams’ Blue Five - clarinet
• Clarence Williams’ Blue Five - soprano saxophone
• Sidney Bechet’s One Man Band - clarinet
• Sidney Bechet’s One Man Band - soprano saxophone
• Sidney Bechet’s One Man Band - tenor saxophone
• Sidney Bechet’s One Man Band - double bass
• Sidney Bechet’s One Man Band - membranophone
• Sidney Bechet’s One Man Band - piano
• Sidney Bechet and Martial Solal Quartet - original, soprano saxophone
• Noble Sissle and His Orchestra
• Bechet-Mezzrow Feetwarmers - eponymous, original, principal, soprano saxophone
• The King Bechet Trio
• The Harlem Trio
• Sidney Bechet Quartet - eponymous
• Sidney Bechet with Bob Wilber's Wildcats - eponymous

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Lorenzo Tio - Clarinet teacher in New Orleans who helped shape Bechet's early technique. (N/A) [circa 1900s–1910s]
• Big Eye Louis Nelson - Clarinet teacher and early influence in New Orleans. (N/A) [circa 1900s–1910s]
• George Baquet - Clarinet teacher and stylistic influence. (N/A) [circa 1900s–1910s]
• Enrico Caruso - Operatic tenor whose vocal style inspired Bechet's wide vibrato and expressive phrasing. (N/A) [influence throughout career]

Key Collaborators

• Louis Armstrong - Recorded duets and ensemble performances, notably on 'Cakewalking Babies.' (Recordings with Clarence Williams (1923–1925)) [1920s]
• Duke Ellington - Played in Ellington's orchestra for several months. (Ellington's early orchestra) [1920s]
• Clarence Williams - Pianist and bandleader; Bechet made his first recordings with Williams. (Early recordings (1923–1925)) [1920s]
• Noble Sissle - Worked and recorded together, including during the 1930s. (Recordings such as 'Dear Old Southland' and 'Characteristic Blues') [1930s]
• Tommy Ladnier - Trumpeter featured in Bechet's New Orleans Feetwarmers. (New Orleans Feetwarmers sessions (1932)) [1932]
• Will Marion Cook - Led the Southern Syncopated Orchestra, which Bechet joined for European tours. (Southern Syncopated Orchestra) [1919–1920s]

Artists Influenced

• Johnny Hodges - Ellington's alto saxophonist, directly influenced by Bechet's sound and phrasing. (Performances with Duke Ellington) [1930s–1950s]
• Bob Wilber - Bechet's protégé and only main pupil at his music school. (Wilber's later career as a clarinetist and saxophonist) [1940s–1950s]
• Jimmie Noone - Clarinetist who was taught by Bechet, despite being older. (Noone's clarinet performances) [1910s]
• Countless jazz saxophonists and clarinetists - Bechet's pioneering use of the soprano saxophone and improvisational style became foundational for later jazz musicians. (N/A) [1920s onward]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. Si tu vois ma mère - Slow (Les Années Bechet)
2. Petite Fleur (Les Années Bechet)
3. All Of Me (The Fabulous Sidney Bechet)
4. Summertime (Jazz Classics)
5. Lazy River (Ragtime Jazz)
6. Blues My Naughty Sweetie Gives To Me (The Fabulous Sidney Bechet)
7. Summertime
8. Joshua Fit De Battle of Jericho (Runnin' Wild)
9. Si tu vois ma mère (Mademoiselle in New York)
10. Stormy Weather (Les Années Bechet)

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia
• MusicBrainz

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