Home > Sidney Bechet

He was born in New Orleans, Louisiana.

From a young age Bechet quickly mastered any musical instrument he picked up. (Some New Orleanians remembered him as a cornet hot-shot in his youth. In a 1941 early experiment in over-dubbing, he recorded on 6 different instruments.) At first he decided on the clarinet as his main instrument, and Bechet remained one of jazz's greatest clarinetists for decades. However he is best remembered as the master of the soprano saxophone. Bechet was perhaps the first notable jazz saxophonist of any sort. Forceful delivery, well conceived ideas, and a distinctive wide vibrato characterized Bechet's playing.

Bechet had experience playing in traveling shows even before he left New Orleans at the age of 20. Never long content in one place, he alternated using Chicago, New York, and Europe as his base of operations until finally settling in France in 1950.

Bechet successfully composed in jazz, pop-tune, and extended concert work forms. His recordings have often been reissued. Some of the highlights include 1924 sides with " Clarence Williams Blue Five", the 1932, 1940, 1941 "New Orleans Feetwarmers" sides, a 1938 " Tommy Ladnier Orchestra" session ("Weary Blues", "Really the Blues"), and various versions of his own composition Petite Fleur. The power and individualism of Bechet's musical personality are evident in all of his recordings. ExistencialistsExistentialism is a philosophical movement characterized by an emphasis on individualism, individual freedom, and subjectivity. Existentialism emphasises the idea that existence precedes essence, i. that one must be alive in order to create meaning, and t in France called him 'le dieu'.

Bechet was an important influence to alto saxophonist Johnny HodgesJohn Cornelius "Johnny" Hodges ( July 25, 1906 May 11, 1970) was an alto saxophonist and lead man for Duke Ellington's saxophone section. He spent more than 40 years with Ellington. Hodges was mostly self-taught, although he did take lessons on soprano sa who studied with Bechet as a teenager.

Shortly before his death in ParisEiffel Tower has become the symbol of Paris throughout the world. Paris is the capital and largest city of France. The city is built on an arc of the River Seine, and is thus divided into two parts: the Right Bank to the north and the smaller Left Bank to, Bechet dictated his autobiography, Treat It Gentle, one of the most poetic of musical biographies.

Bechet is also said to have served as a prototype for the saxophonist Pablo in the novelA novel is a long or extended work of fiction written in prose, usually in the form of a story. It is longer and more complex than a short story or novella (ie. 40,000+ words), and it is not bound by the restrictions of plays and poetry. The word "novel" SteppenwolfThis article is about the novel. For the 1960s rock band known primarily for "Born to Be Wild" and "Magic Carpet Ride", see Steppenwolf (band). Steppenwolf is a German language word which means a desert dog, or " wolf of the steppes. Steppenwolf is a nove, since it was almost certainly through listening to his playing in Europe in the 1920s that Hermann HesseHermann Hesse ( July 2, 1877 August 9, 1962) was a German author, and the winner of the 1946 Nobel Prize in literature. He is most famous for his novels Steppenwolf and Das Glasperlenspiel The Glass Bead Game . Hesse's interests in existential, spiritual, became acquainted with the world of jazz music.

"Bechet to me was the very epitome of jazz... everything he played in his whole life was completely original. I honestly think he was the most unique man to ever be in this music." -- Duke EllingtonEdward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington (Born: April 29, 1899 in Washington, DC Died: May 24, 1974 in New York City) was an American jazz composer, pianist and bandleader. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1969 and in 1973, the Legion of Honor b