The Fabulous Sidney Bechet

by Sidney Bechet

Overview

As producer Michael Cuscuna explains in a helpful addendum, The Fabulous Sidney Bechet is a reissue of a reissue. The 1958 release combined two earlier 10" LPs recorded in New York in 1951 and 1953 during short visits by Bechet, who at that time was already living as an expatriate in France. This new package includes two previously omitted tracks, "There'll Be Some Changes Made" and "Shine," as well as three alternate takes from the 1951 session and two from the 1953 session. Bechet was in his twilight years at the time of these recordings, and still his soprano sax playing is extremely forceful, cutting through the six-piece ensembles like a beacon, loud as anything yet devoid of stridency. The music is old-school New Orleans swing, and this at a time when bebop and cool were the state of the art. At the 1951 session Bechet is joined by trumpeter Sidney de Paris, trombonist Jimmy Archey, pianist Don Kirkpatrick, bassist Pops Foster, and drummer Manzie Johnson. Archey remains for the 1953 date, with Jonah Jones on trumpet, Buddy Weed on piano, Walter Page on bass, and Johnny Blowers on drums. The later ensemble has a more modern sound, owing not least of all to the contrasting styles of the bassists. Foster plays in the older "slap" style while Page plays in the smoother "walking" style that he helped invent. In addition to the impeccable sound quality, this album has great old songs like "Ballin' the Jack," "Rose of the Rio Grande," and "Sweet Georgia Brown" to recommend it. And this isn't just a showcase for Bechet. Every soloist on the record is brilliant. ~ David R. Adler

Product Details

Release Date:	01/09/2001
Label:	Blue Note
UPC:	0724353060725
Rank:	55116

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Sidney Bechet   Primary Artist,Clarinet,Sax (Soprano)
Walter Page   Bass
Jonah Jones   Trumpet
Jimmy Archey   Trombone
Manzie Johnson   Drums
Don Kirkpatrick   Piano
Pops Foster   Bass
Johnny Blowers   Drums
George Foster   Bass
Buddy Weed   Piano
Sidney DeParis   Trumpet

Technical Credits

Walter Page   Guest Artist
Jonah Jones   Guest Artist
Jimmy Archey   Guest Artist
Sidney DeParis   Guest Artist
Seymour Simons   Composer
Edgar Leslie   Composer
Francis Wolff   Photography
Doug Hawkins   Engineer
Lew Brown   Composer
Maceo Pinkard   Composer
W. Benton Overstreet   Composer
Ron McMaster   Digital Mastering
Nick LaRocca   Composer
Ray Gilbert   Composer
Michael Cuscuna   Producer,Liner Notes
Arthur Swanstrom   Composer
Harry Brooks   Composer
Al Jolson   Composer
Buddy DeSylva   Composer
George Crandall   Composer
Gerald Marks   Composer
Alfred Lion   Producer
Kenneth Casey   Composer
Ben Bernie   Composer
Carey Morgan   Composer
Vincent Rose   Composer
Patrick Roques   Reissue Design
Phil Baxter   Composer
Nat Hentoff   Liner Notes
Lew Pollack   Composer
Harry Warren   Composer
Ford Dabney   Composer
James Henry Burris   Composer
Billy Higgins   Composer
Cecil Mack   Composer
Andy Razaf   Composer
Joe Jordan   Composer
Chris Smith   Composer
Ross Gorman   Composer
Ben Pollack   Composer
Fats Waller   Composer
Charles R. McCarron   Composer
Charles McCarron   Composer
Russ Morgan   Composer
Seymour B. Simons   Composer
Herbert Edwards   Composer
Richard C. McPherson   Composer
Arthur Swanstone   Composer
James LaRocca   Composer