|
SIDNEY BECHET VOL 2. 1938 - 1950
BLACKSTICK
 NAXOS JAZZ
LEGENDS 8.120616
Crotchet
|
 |
Sidney Bechet - clarinet & soprano saxophone with His Bluenote Quartet,
His Bluenote Jazzmen, His Quintet, His New Orleans Feetwarmers, Noble
Sissle's Orchestra, Tommy Ladnier's Orchestra, The Joshua White Trio,
The Bechet Spanier Big Four, Bob Wilber's Wildcats and Humphrey Lyttleton
& His Orchestra.
1. Blackstick
2. When The Sun Sets Down South
3. Sweet Sue, Just You
4. Careless Love
5. Summertime
6. Weary Blues
7. Milk Cow Blues
8. Saturday Night Blues
9. Bechet's Steady Rider
10. St. Louis Blues
11. Shake 'em Up
12. Laura
13. Georgia On My Mind
14. Jelly Roll Blues
15. Sister Kate
16. Tiger Rag
17. Kansas City Man Blues
18. Polka Dot Stomp
This is a most welcome re-issue of a compilation of some of the finest
recorded performances of Sidney Bechet. I particularly enjoyed the mix
of straight ahead jazz interpretations and the fine accompaniments of
blues artists. The leader's clarinet and soprano saxophone are well
to the fore throughout - I think it would have been impossible for Bechet
to take a back seat, his forceful personality is always reflected in
his playing. He is assuredly the sort of musician one either loves or
hates - I have been an admirer of his style ever since I first experienced
his music when I was in my teens - this was quite a departure from the
so called "Hippy " music of the time!
Some of the material here is not what one would term the usual fare
associated with Bechet. In particular I would cite the
standard tunes "Summertime" and "Laura". These serve
to illustrate the artist as an all-round performer rather than just
an exponent of the New Orleans style. If one ignores the instantly recognisable
tone redolent with its sumptuous vibrato and imagines these numbers
played on an alto or tenor saxophone then the player would seem much
more of a mainstream interpreter. "Summertime" is an excellent
version with a sense of real drama in the reading. "Laura "
is perhaps played a little faster than is normal but it is effective
nevertheless.
"Milkcow Blues" and "Careless Love" feature the
vocals of Josh White and are highly enjoyable renditions in more of
a blues style. Judging by Bechet's playing on these numbers, he was
obviously very comfortable in this idiom. "Weary Blues " is
an excellent illustration of the driving New Orleans ensemble. This
has the almost forgotten, but highly significant Tommy Ladnier on trumpet
and the trombone part is covered by Mezz Mezzrow on tenor saxophone.
"Georgia On My Mind " is an early recording by the Humphrey
Lyttelton band and they rise to the occasion and acquit themselves more
than adequately with their rather daunting American guest ( Bechet was
quite famous for being difficult to get along with when the mood suited
him).
All of the tracks on this disc are strong and the sheer variety makes
it a very desirable purchase.
Dick Stafford
CD Reviews
