Sidney Bechet Day
May 14, 1897 – May 14, 1959
Bechet Solo
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Born on May 14, 1897, in New Orleans, Sidney Bechet was a versatile musician known for his skills as a saxophonist, clarinetist, and composer. His early exposure to music came from his father, a dentist and part-time bandleader, in a household filled with music. Bechet quickly developed his musical talents, initially favoring the clarinet.
In 1919, Swiss classical conductor Ernest Ansermet paid tribute to Bechet, drawing a comparison between his music and Bach’s compositions. Duke Ellington once remarked, “Bechet to me was the very epitome of jazz.”
During his youth, Bechet dabbled in various musical instruments before choosing to focus on the clarinet. He received instruction from renowned Creole clarinetists such as Lorenzo Tio Jr., George Baquet, and “Big Eye” Louis Nelson Delisle.
By 1914, the young instrumentalist began touring with various bands, often traveling as far as Chicago with Freddie Keppard and other musicians. In 1919, Bechet joined “Will Marion Cook’s Syncopated Orchestra” in New York and later traveled to London with the ensemble, where they performed at the Royal Philharmonic Hall to great acclaim. It was in England that Bechet first picked up the soprano saxophone, quickly adapting to its expressive tone, eventually favoring it over the clarinet.
In July 1923, Sidney Bechet returned to the United States and produced his first recordings at New York sessions led by Clarence Williams. Two years later, he embarked on another European journey as a cast member of the musical “Revue Nègre,” which featured Josephine Baker.
In 1932, Bechet co-led a sextet in New York alongside trumpeter Tommy Ladnier, performing at the famous Savoy Ballroom. However, during the 1940s, he struggled to find gigs in the United States as interest in his style of New Orleans jazz waned.
Frustrated by his declining prospects in the United States, Sidney Bechet made a life-changing decision in 1950 when he relocated to France. His solo performance at the “Salle Pleyel Jazz Festival” made him an overnight sensation in the country. From then on, he had no trouble securing well-paid employment as a musician in France.
In 1951, Bechet married Elisabeth Ziegler in Antibes. Two years later, he signed a recording contract with French Vogue, which would last for the remainder of his life.
On May 14, 1959, Sidney Bechet passed away in Paris, succumbing to lung cancer on his sixty-second birthday.
This film clip captures the legendary Sidney Bechet in 1953, showcasing his improvisational prowess on the soprano saxophone as part of clarinetist Andre Reweliotty’s band.
