Revered in France during the last decade of his life (he died in Paris on May 14,1959 at the age of 62), Sidney Bechet was one of the first renowned jazz soloiststo make records (just a few months prior to Louis Armstrong, with whom he playedand recorded a lot in the early twenties), and learned many instruments during hischildhood. Bechet’s first love was the clarinet, and his second (chronologically) thesoprano sax, which he acquired in London in 1919 during his earliest Europeantours. Even though he never completely abandoned the clarinet, the soprano sax,with its stronger sound, would become his primary voice. Bechet was the firstjazzman ever to master this instrument, which would be adopted later by suchmusicians as John Coltrane and Steve Lacy.Most of the superb music contained here was released on the 1958 albumThe Fabulous Sidney Bechet (Blue Note BLP 1207), which was itself a reissue,as it comprised a couple of earlier sessions originally issued on two 10” LPs andrecorded in New York in 1951 and 1953, during short visits by Bechet, who at thattime was already living as an expatriate in France.

Sidney Bechet, soprano saxOn all tracks plus:

A1-A5: Sidney Deparis, trumpet; Jimmy Archey, trombone; DonKirkpatrick, piano; Pops Foster, bass; Manzie Johnson, drums.

WOR Studios, New York, November 5, 1951. Original session recordedby Doug Hawkins & produced by Alfred Lion.

B1-B6: Jonah Jones, trumpet; Jimmy Archey, trombone; BuddyWeed, piano; Walter Page, bass; Johnny Blowers, drums.

Audio VideoStudios, New York, August 25, 1953. Original session produced by Alfred Lion.

Originally issued as The Fabulous Sidney Bechet (Blue Note BLP1207).

*BONUS TRACKS: Sidney Bechet (soprano sax on all tracks)

A6: Guy Longnon (tp), Bernard Zacharias (tb), Claude Luter (cl), Christian Azzi (p), ClaudePhilippe (bj), Roland Bianchini (b), Moustache Galepides (d).

Paris, January 18, 1952.

A7: Guy Longnon (tp), Jean-Louis Durand (tb), Charlie Lewis (p), Alphonse “Totole”Masselier (b), Armand Molinetti (d).

Paris, January 21, 1952.

B7: Meade Lux Lewis (p), Teddy Bunn (g), Johnny Williams (b), Sidney Catlett (d).

NewYork, June 8, 1939.

• 1. Original Dixieland One-Step
• 2. Blues My Naughty Sweetie Gives To Me
• 3. That's a Plenty
• 4. Ballin' the Jack
• 5. Avalon
• 6. Si Tu Vois Ma Mhre *
• 7. Petite Fleur *
• 8. Rose of Rio Grande
• 9. Black and Blue
• 10. Sweet Georgia Brown
• 11. All of Me
• 12. I'm a Ding Dong Daddy
• 13. Shine
• 14. Summertime *