St Louis Blues - Bechet 1952

  • 17 years ago
Saint Louis Blues - Sidney Bechet 1952
This is an amazing film recording of Sidney Bechet with clarinettist ANDRE REWELIOTTY ET SON MIMOSA JAZZ BAND in Paris, probably around 1952.
At that time Reweliotty had the following musicians in his band:
Marcel Bornstein (cnt), Jean-Louis Durand (tbn), Yannick Singery (pno), Georges "Zozo" d'Halluin (bs), Michel Pacout (dms).
Of course this a personal opinion, but the one of the most exciting moments in jazz is where Bechet in his soprano sax solo, he plays a total of 6 12-bar blues chorusses, when he hits the fifth chorus ( 4.04 min) and holds a high note for two full chorusses. What is so special of Bechet holding a note so long? It is the pianist’s simple accompanyment. Yannick Singery just has that controlled back up (actually throughout most of the tune).
Every time I hear this tune I throw my arms up in the air from sheer excitement. Unfortunately you cannot find pianists any more with that sort of discipline. Quel dommage!