It’s jazz history that Bechet was resident in France throughout the 50s in the last decade of his life. There he became immensely popular and successful nationwide, as a prolific and record-breaking star for the Vogue label, fronting the bands of French musicians Claude Luter and, later, André Réwéliotty.
This third set in Avid’s Bechet series presents a chronological selection of Bechet’s recordings from this period, covering December 1955 to July 1958. It’s also perhaps the most varied and satisfying of the series, with strong contributions from visiting American stars alongside recordings featuring Bechet’s customary repertoire. This usually offered catchy jazz arrangements of popular French folk and commercial hit songs, classic ballads, New Orleans jazz standards, Creole songs and his own compositions, with Bechet well to the fore.
A bright and lively arrangement of Everybody Loves Saturday Night (a popular recording in the UK by Sandy Brown at the time) kicks off the first album appropriately, and with spirit. Bechet is on top form with a superb version of Laura, and Bonjour Paris is typically representative of Bechet’s throbbing interpretations of French ballads – romantic, dramatic and full of melodic invention. There are no liner notes for this or the later Réwéliotty recordings, and regrettably Nick Dellow does not contribute his own informative notes, in contrast to the previous two albums.
These 1956/7 tracks with Réwéliotty are something of a mixed bag and the repertoire is particularly slanted towards a French audience. Of seven Bechet originals Premier Bal and Bagatelle are the most appealing. Le Train Du Vieux Noir is an ill-chosen attempt at a Gallic interpretation of Rock Island Line, which just doesn’t work. Down By The Old Mill Stream is effectively arranged and swings along agreeably.
The 1956 recordings with Sammy Price’s band (currently then on tour in Europe) show Bechet sharing the honours with his experienced and talented co-patriots. The excellent rhythm section ensures collective rhythmic drive, Moore laying down a lusty off-beat and Price authentic with colourful barrelhouse blues. Berry’s lead is crisp and strong, Herbie Hall sounds very like his famous brother Ed, and the versatile veteran trombonist George Stephenson comfortably adjusts to a growling tailgate style, reminiscent of Ory. Darktown Strutters Ball and Tin Roof Blues are outstanding tracks.
In 1958 visiting American trumpet star Teddy Buckner recorded with Bechet, who needed to adjust to a trumpeter who could hold his own in upper register power, flamboyant phrasing and controlled, Armstrong-inspired authority – a rare occurrence. Always up for a challenge, Bechet responds with his customary verve and inventive flow, and some truly memorable jazz ensues. Buckner’s exquisite ballad chorus in Sugar is later matched by Bechet’s equally expressive rendering of I Can’t Get Started. In the backing team trombonist Christian Guérin and pianist Eddie Barnard make very capable contributions. Alternative takes were made of some tracks, but not issued here.
The old maestro died the following year, in May 1959. Hopefully, Avid will harvest enough extra material from Bechet’s golden years in France for a further album set.
Discography
CD1: [Que Faites-Vous Samedi Soir?] (1) Everybody Loves Saturday Night; Laura; Dardanella; Bonjour Paris; El Doudou; Stormy Weather; Willow Weep For Me; Songe D’Automne; [Sidney Bechet And Sammy Price’s Bluesicians] (2) St Louis Blues; The Darktown Strutters Ball; Back Home; Memphis Blues; Yes We Have No Bananas; Dinah; Tin Roof Blues; The Jazz Me Blues; [Sidney Bechet With André Réwéliotty and his Orchestra] (3) Quatorze Juillet; J’En Ai Marre; Down By The Old Mill Stream (76.25)
CD2: (3) J’Ai Deux Amours / Ce N’Est Pas Votre Main, Madame; Au Secours; Premier Bal; Le Train Du Vieux Noir; Amour Perdu; Gypsy Love Song; Écoutez Le Trombone; Pas D’Blague; Soprano Blues; Bagatelle; Le Bidon; [Bravo! Bechet And Buckner] (4) Weary Blues; Ain’t Misbehavin’; Aubergines; Poivrons Et Sauce Tomate; Sugar; Bravo!; Who’s Sorry Now; All Of Me; Souvenir De La Nouvelle-Orléans; I Can’t Get Started; Blues Festival 58 (78.33)
Bechet (ss) on all tracks with:
(1) André Réwéliotty Orchestra. Guy Longnon (t); Jean-Louis Durand (tb); René Franc or André Réwéliotty (cl); Eddie Barnard (p); George Zozo D’Halluin (b); Marcel Blanche or Jacques David (d). Paris, 24 December 1955 and 1 February 1956.
(2) Emmett Berry (t); George Stephenson (tb); Herbie Hall (cl); Sammy Price (p); Pops Foster (b); Freddie Moore (d). Paris, 16 May 1956.
(3) as (1) except omit Franc. Paris, 29 June 1956 and 26 February, 23 March and 26 June 1957.
(4) Teddy Buckner (t); Christian Guérin (tb); Eddie Bernard (p); Roland Blanchini (b); Kansas Fields (d). Paris, 4 July 1958.
Avid AMSC1407
