1939-1946: Sidney Bechet – Dear Old Southland: The Quintessential Blue Note Recordings
Label: Definitive Records 1999
AMG rating: ****/*
Sidney Bechet’s first Blue Note period was tapped for this Definitive Classics compilation released in the year 2000. Summertime was not only Bechet’s first Blue Note record — it was among the first Blue Note recordings ever made by anybody. This album is a solid core sample of Bechet’s best Blue Note sessions, recorded between June 1939 and February 1946. Apparently Bechet’s 1949 Blue Notes were deemed unworthy of inclusion here. The magnificent lineup of musicians who did find their way onto this compilation includes trumpeters Sidney de Paris, Max Kaminsky and Bunk Johnson; trombonists Vic Dickenson and George Lugg; clarinetist Albert Nicholas; bassists Pops Foster and Wilson Myers; guitarist Teddy Bunn; pianists Art Hodes and Meade “Lux” Lewis; drummers Danny Alvin, Manzie Johnson and Sid Catlett, and singing guitarist Josh White. True to their name, Definitive Classics has given the world an excellent introduction to the music of Sidney Bechet and traditional jazz in general.. ~ arwulf arwulf, All Music Guide
01 Summertime George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin / DuBose Heyward 4:12
02 Lonesome Blues L. Armstrong 4:07
03 Dear Old Southland Henry Creamer / Turner Layton 4:04
04 Bechet’s Steady Rider S. Bechet 2:55
05 Saturday Night Blues S. Bechet 2:55
06 St. Louis Blues W.C. Handy 4:50
07 Jazz Me Blues T. Delaney 4:49
08 Blue Horizon S. Bechet 4:28
09 Muskrat Ramble K. Ory 3:42
10 High Society P. Steele 3:38
11 Weary Blues A. Matthews 4:22
12 Jackass Blues Art Kassel / Mel Stitzel 4:50
13 Days Beyond Recali S. Bechet 4:52
14 Save It, Pretty Mama D. Redman 3:11
15 Memphis Blues W. C. Handy 2:57
16 Shine Lew Brown / Ford Dabney / Cecil Mack 2:58
17 Quincy Street Stomp (Blame It on the Blues) C. L. Cooke 2:57
18 Weary Way Blues Lovie Austin / Ida Cox 3:20
19 Careless Love W. C. Handy 3:43
Total time 72:15
Personnel and dates:
1: Meade Lux Lewis (g), Teddy Bunn (g) Johnny Williams (b), Sid Catlett (d)
New York City, June 8, 1939
2-5: Teddy Bunn (g), Pops Foster (b)
Sid Catlett (d)
New York City, March 27, 1940
6-9: Sidney De Paris (tp), Vic Dickenson (tb) Art Hodes (p), Pops Foster (b)
Manzie Johnson (d)
New York City, December 20, 1944
10-12: Max Kaminsky (tp)
George Lugg (tb), Art Hodes (p)
Pops Foster (b), Fred Moore (d)
New York City, January 21, 1945
13: Bunk Johnson (tp), Sandy Williams (tb) Cliff Jackson (p), Pops Foster (b)
Manzie Johnson (d)
New York City, March 10, 1945
14-16: Wild Bill Davison (c), Art Hodes (p) Pops Foster (b), Fred Moore (d)
New York City, October 12, 1945
17-18: Albert Nicholas (d), Art Hodes (p) Pops Foster (b), Danny Alvin (d)
New York City, February 12, 1946
19: Josh White (vd, g)
Wilson Ernest Myers (b)
New York City, March 7, 1940
More info inside archive! with many thanks to Lex.
