Sidney Bechet
1897 - 1959
Commencing with our 19th year of existence of The Dixieland Jazz Society of the Lowcountry, I wish to thank all of the members, musicians,
and DixieFans, for their help in keeping Dixieland Jazz alive and well!
To behind the scenes Executive Committee members:
To Vice
Pres, Tom Dauch, for managing the Jam Sessions and the maintenance of our website, www.djslc.com, every month for many years
(check
it out!);
To Treasurer, Ted Druhot for keeping the books in proper order;
(and to Carol Druhot for her interview skills and adeptness
in photography)
To Secretary Armin Meier for his duties during & after Board Meetings;
To Abbie Campbell whose dedication to the
Society as Membership Chair is amazing. She mails all the Newsletters, applications, renewal notices, and much more.
And, of
course, to the entire DJSLC Board
of Directors.
To the Band Leaders;
Dick Hoff (Royal Garden Dixieland Jazz Band)
Mel Slotnick (Alligator
Dixieland Band)
Steve Rich (Original Port Royal Sound Dixieland Jazz Band)
And to each of the dedicated musicians
of each band!
To
The Jazz Corner;
Bob and Lois Masteller, Kelli Lesch and her wait staff and kitchen staff, and to Kelli’s brother, Michael, for setting
up the stage, the microphones, and drums each and every month..
And just as important, if not more so, to the faithful and appreciative
audience!
Sidney Bechet was a child prodigy in New Orleans. He was such a good clarinet player that he was featured by some of the top bands in the city when he was still a child. Bechet's style of playing clarinet and soprano sax dominated many of the bands that he was in.
He played lead parts that were usually reserved for trumpets and was a master of improvisation.
In 1917 he moved to Chicago and in 1919 he played with Will Marion Cook's Syncopated Orchestra. While overseas he bought a soprano sax and from then on it was his main instrument. Back in the U.S., Bechet made his recording debut in 1923 with Clarence Williams and he appeared on several records backing up blues singers, notably Louis Armstrong, whom he had known as a child in New Orleans. He played in an early version of Duke Ellington’s Washingtonians, but unfortunately never recorded with them.
From 1925 to 1929 Bechet played in Europe, England, France, Germany, and Russia. While living in Paris, Bechet got into a dispute with another musician and a gun fight broke out. Three people were wounded and Sidney spent a year in a French jail as a result of the fracas. He was deported upon release from prison and went to Berlin. He could not stay in France and he would not get a visa for England so he stayed in Berlin until 1931 then returned to America. Bechet managed to keep playing during the Thirties, but he also ran an unsuccessful tailor's shop. In 1938 he had a hit record of "Summertime". In the Forties Bechet worked regularly in New York with Eddie Condon and tried to start a band with Bunk Johnson.
Bechet was a popular figure of the Dixieland revival of the late Forties. Bechet returned to France in 1952 and was warmly received there. While in France he recorded hit records that rivaled the sales of pop stars.
Bechet was one of the great soloists of early Jazz. He lived a very rich life, always managing to "make the scene" where it was "happening", whether it be in New Orleans, Chicago, New York, Berlin, or Paris.:: Brief Chronology of African-American Music and Jazz ::
By Doug Ronallo and Michael Ricci
The Prez Says:
Each of the bands is for hire for your private parties, receptions, and other social functions. Not only Dixieland, but swing,
easy listening, etc, are in their repertoire and the size of the band can be adjusted to meet your needs. The leaders’ contact
numbers are always listed on Page 2 of this Newsletter, or you may contact any member of any band.
Alan Waitley