Sydney Bechet - Really the Blues (Remastered) (2018) [Hi-Res]

This is a historic album of recordings made in the late ‘40s. If ever a man qualified as a jazz master it was Bechet. He ranks perhaps as the second greatest genius in jazz history, after New Orleans’s most celebrated son, Louis Armstrong.

The most striking element of Bechet’s playing is his unremitting continuity of invention. It is as if the music is there inside him, already assembled, and he has only to put the soprano saxophone to his mouth for it all to flow forth in a joyous cascade.

Sidney Bechet was one of the great jazz virtuosi who helped perfect the art of solo improvisations.

Mezzrow-Bechet Septet:
Milton Mezzrow, clarinet
Sidney Bechet, soprano saxophone
Oran “Lips” Page, trumpet
Sammy Price, piano
Danny Barker, guitar
George “Pops” Foster, double bass
Sidney “Big Sid” Catlett, drums

Track 4: Minor Swoon
Recorded New York, July 31st, 1945

Mezzrow – Bechet Quintet:
Milton Mezzrow, clarinet
Sidney Bechet, soprano saxophone
Fitz Weston, piano
George “Pops” Foster, double bass
Kaiser Marshall, drums
Track 5: Jelly Roll
Track 10: Perdido Street Stomp
Recorded in New York, Aug. 29th, 1945

Same personnel:
Track 1: Out of the Gallion
Recorded New York Aug. 30th 1945

Mezzrow – Bechet Quintet:
Milton Mezzrow, clarinet
Sidney Bechet, soprano saxophone, clarinet*
Wesley “Sox” Wilson, piano
Wellman Braud, bass
Warren “Baby” Dodds, drums
Track 7: Really the Blues (Part 1*)
Track 8: Really the Blues (Part 2)
Track 6: Groovin’ the Minor
Recorded New York, Sept. 18th 1945

Mezzrow – Bechet Quintet:
Milton Mezzrow, clarinet
Sidney Bechet, soprano saxophone
Sammy Price, piano
George “Pops” Foster, double bass
Kaiser Marshall, drums
Track 11: Where Am I
Track 3: Tommy’s Blues
Recorded Chicago December 18th, 1947

Same personnel:
Track 12: I’m Speaking My Mind
Recorded Chicago December 19th, 1947

Same personnel:
Track 9: Funky Butt
Track 2: Blues of Roaring Twenties
Recorded Chicago December 20th, 1947

Digitally remastered