Sidney Bechet - Up a Lazy River

great for new jazz fans

Honestly, I got this cd because I was on a hunt for the song 'up a lazy river' ... (long story, but its a welcome memory from my childhood)...

I've always been vaugely interested in jazz, but being a music lover in general, and busy with tons of other genres, I always told myself "I'll get to jazz eventually"....

Well, thank GOD I chose this Sidney cd from the many variations of 'up a lazy river' I could have purchased. I'm happily surprised to have found myself a GREAT starter cd for someone interested in checking out jazz!

Ovbiousley 'up a lazy river' is my favorite track, but they're all fabulous and interesting....this cd is really righteous, and I can't wait to get all the other tracks stuck in my head. ;> March 11, 2006

* BURSTING WITH LIFE *

This is a beautiful set, with Sidney Bechet in stellar form throughout, and to sweeten the deal he is joined by the great cornetist Muggsy Spanier on tracks 1-8 and 18-19. These are some of the finest, most luscious jazz recordings one could hope to hear, with Bechet's clarinet and soprano sax alternately spilling forth like sweet molasses and striking like Dixie lightning. China Boy is absolutely transcendent in all its zooming, swirling brilliance, and on tunes such as Sweet Lorraine and September Song, Bechet and Co. squeeze every last exquisite drop of melody and emotion into flawless readings which will leave one with little doubt of Bechet's special powers.

This package is of the highest quality in all areas. All session dates, locations and musicians are clearly listed, along with some truly intelligent and enlightening liner notes. What really counts however, is sound quality, and my expectations were far exceeded in that department, as the sound is utterly clear, warm and bright, with virtually no surface noise.

Aside from having the great Muggsy on board, the listener is also treated to the presence of Pops Foster on bass, Baby Dodds on drums, and stride piano master James P. Johnson on multiple tracks. The sessions range in size from quartet (tracks 1-8, from 1940), to septet (two sessions from 1949), to octet (on two live New York radio sessions, complete with audience, from 1947).

This disc is simply bursting with life, and will have you drifting Up A Lazy River and doing the Polka Dot Stomp in no time. Recommended. December 5, 2002

Sidney Bechet at his best

Sidney Bechet had one of the warmest, most powerful sounds in jazz music, and his vibrant playing is very recognizable in this album. Included on this collection are 8 songs from the classic 1940 New York session with Muggsy Spanier. Muggsy Spanier gives Sidney Bechet just the right kind of backing to inspire to a real jazz tour de force. The brilliant Muggsy Spanier is also included in two songs with the This is Jazz All-Stars. The song 'Squeeze me', by Fats Waller, is a winner on this album, but there are many contenders for this title in the many classics collected here. There are also 5 very fine recordings from 1949 with Bob Wilber's Jazz Band, among them the wonderful 'Waste no tears'. This is a very good introduction to Sidney Bechet's jazz music, and proves why he is so highly regarded now, as he was in his lifetime. August 18, 2000

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