Awesome
Hunter | cola, sc | 07/10/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Not only is Sidney the best, but this album is the best. One of the most prescious jazz albums in the 20th century!"
Best Bechet CD I've Heard
Johnny Hodges | Clark Fork, ID United States | 10/29/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is the real deal: RCA's own original masters digitally restored. So much of Bechet on CD are European labels where disks are often made from second-hand sources. The dates cover 12 different sessions between 1932 and 1941, acknowledged by most sources to be a peak period of creativity by the clarinet/soprano sax master. Some of the better known sidemen include Mezz Mezzrow (clarinet, tenor sax), Kenny Clark, Sid Catlett, Zutty Singleton & Baby Dodds (drums), Earl Hines & Jelly Roll Morton (piano), Rex Stewart & Red Allen (trumpet). The mostly bright, snappy numbers are a blast of volcanic energy, and the occasional ballads will squeeze your heart.
The sound quality is the best I've heard on a Bechet CD: bright, crisp high range that does proper justice to the cutting, agressive sound unique to Sidney. If you have any taste for traditional New Orleans flavored traditional jazz or swing, you would be nuts not to nail down a copy, especially at the ridiculously low price being charge by third party vendors. Do it now, before this materpiece disappears."