Sidney Bechet - Complete Edition Vol. 1 & 2 (1923-1925) [1995]

VOL 1: For generations, Sidney Bechet's legacy of great jazz recordings has been reissued carefully, both casually and haphazardly. One of several chronological options, the 12-volume Masters of Jazz "Complete Edition" takes a most exactingly thorough approach, mapping Bechet's every appearance in the recording studio, week by week and session by session, regardless of who was initially designated as the primary artist. 1923, Vol. 1 in the series covers a four-month period from late July to early November 1923, For those who know and love the work of cornetist Thomas Morris, this portion of the Sidney Bechet story may serve as a fascinating prologue to the records involving trombonist Joe Nanton and pianist/organist Thomas Waller that were issued under Morris' name during the years 1923-1927. While Morris is well represented, he plays a modestly supportive role on Waller's "Wild Cat Blues" and "Kansas City Man Blues", which fully feature Bechet's scintillating soprano saxophone. The other instrumentals are the "Achin' Hearted Blues," Porter Grainger's "'Tain't Nobody's Bus'ness If I Do," George W. Thomas' "New Orleans Hop Scop Blues," "Oh Daddy!," and "The Shreveport Blues," and James P. Johnson's "Old Fashioned Love." Bechet's earliest recordings also include s16 vocal performances by Sara Martin, Mamie Smith, Eva Taylor, Rosetta Crawford, and Margaret "Queenie" Johnson. First prize for most unlikely title goes to "I've Got the ‘Yes! We Have No Bananas' Blues," a long-shot Tin Pan Alley novelty that was also recorded by vaudeville comedians Eddie Cantor & the Happiness Boys. Its inclusion adds to the uniqueness of this core sample of jazz and blues recorded in New York City during the first months of Sidney Bechet's long and eventful recording career.

VOL. 2: Nobody has ever assembled a more thorough survey of clarinet and soprano sax virtuoso Sidney Bechet's early works than the meticulously researched Masters of Jazz series, which touches upon every session he is verifiably known to have participated in as sideman or leader between the years 1923 and 1942. The second installment in this no-stone-unturned progression is layered with recordings by the Clarence Williams Blue Five, one of the hottest little bands of its day, and an equally solid unit known as the Red Onion Jazz Babies. On these recordings, Bechet is heard with cornetists Thomas Morris, Louis Armstrong and Bubber Miley; trombonists Charlie Irvis and Aaron Thompson; banjoist Buddy Christian, and pianists Lil Armstrong and Clarence Williams. By far the most unusual instrumental highlight is Bechet's purling sarrusophone solo on "Mandy, Make Up Your Mind." Bechet seems to have first encountered the sarrusophone (a mid-19th century double-reed version of the saxophone) in London a couple of years earlier, and claimed to have purchased what sounds like a bass or contrabass model from a pawnshop on the way to the recording studio. Vocalists heard on this collection are Margaret Johnson ("Who'll Chop Your Suey When I'm Gone" and "Done Made a Fool Out of Me"); Sippie Wallace ("Off and On Blues" and "I'm so Glad I'm Brownskin"); Eva Taylor (tracks 10,11,17, 18, and 21– a reading of Bechet's own "Ghost of the Blues"); the seldom-heard Maureen Englin (who sings Bechet's "Foolin' Me"), Virginia Liston ("Jailhouse Blues," "Early in the Morning," and "You've Got the Right Key, But the Wrong Keyhole"), and Alberta Hunter as Josephine Beatty ("Early Every Mornin', "Nobody Knows the Way I Feel This Morning" and, in vocal duet with Clarence Thomas, "Cake Walking Babies from Home"). Bechet's presence on "Jailhouse Blues" has never been fully verified, and is difficult to ascertain because he was credited on the 78 rpm Okeh record as the guitarist. Bechet himself explained that in response to a request for written recognition, Clarence Williams facetiously added his name to several records on which he did not actually play. Virginia Liston later said she thought the guitarist had been Sylvester Weaver. In July 1925, Bechet recorded "Junk Bucket Blues" and Fats Waller's red hot number "Harlem's Araby" with (according to various learned discographers) cornetist Johnny Dunn, trombonist Joe Nanton, alto saxophonist Bob Fuller, banjoist Sam Speed, and either Porter Grainger or Mike Jackson at the piano. This would be Bechet's final recording session before he sailed back to Europe, where he helped spread jazz throughout the entire continent. This invigorating collection of rarities and classic sides concludes with a couple of fascinating incidental interludes from the soundtrack of the motion picture Einbrecher. The ensemble, which made these recordings in Berlin during the summer and early autumn of 1930, is listed as Sidney Bechet & His New Yorkers. The inclusion of these precious soundtrack excerpts adds considerable ballast to this highly recommended stash of historic jazz records.

Tracklist & info:

CLARENCE WILLIAMS' BLUE FIVE
Thomas Morris (cnt), John Mayfield (tb), Sidney Bechet (ss), Clarence Williams (p), Buddy Christian (bj).
Okeh, New York City, July 30, 1923.
01 - S 71.706-B Wild Cat Blues 3.02
02 - S 71.707-B Kansas CIty Man Blues 3.00

SARA MARTIN WITH CLARENCE WILLIAMS' BLUE FIVE
Thomas Morris (cnt), John Mayfield (tb), Sidney Bechet (ss), Clarence Williams (p), Buddy Christian (bj), Sara Martin (vo).
Okeh, New York City, August 1, 1923.
03 - S 71.711-B Blind Man Blues 3.11
04 - S 71.712-B Atlanta Blues 2.56

MAMIE SMITH WITH THE HARLEM TRIO
Sidney Bechet (ss), Clarence Williams (p), Buddy Christian (bj), Mamie Smith (vo).
Okeh, New York City, August 5, 1923.
05 - S 71.725-B Lady Luck Blues 3.12
06 - S 71.726-B Kansas City Man Blues 3.20

EVA TAYLOR & CLARENCE WILLIAMS WITH CLARENCE WILLIAMS' BLUE FIVE
Thomas Morris (cnt), John Mayfield (tb), Sidney Bechet (cl), Clarence Williams (p, vo), Buddy Christian (bj), Eva Taylor (vo).
Okeh, New York City, August 11, 1923.
07 - 71747-B Oh ! Daddy Blues 2.40
08 - 71748-B I've Got The "Yes ! We Have No Bananas" Blues 2.46

CLARENCE WILLIAMS' BLUE FIVE
Thomas Morris (cnt), John Mayfield (tb), Sidney Bechet (cl), Clarence Williams (p), Buddy Christian (bj).
Okeh, New York City, August 27, 1923.
09 - 71797-A Achin' Hearted Blues 2.58

EVA TAYLOR CLARENCE WILLIAMS' TRIO
Sidney Bechet (ss), Clarence Williams (p), Buddy Christian (bj), Eva Taylor (vo).
Okeh, New York City, September 29, 1923.
10 - S 71.910-C Irresistible Blues 3.16
11 - S 71.911-B Jazzin' Babies Blues 3.13

CLARENCE WILLIAMS' BLUE FIVE
Thomas Morris (cnt), John Mayfield (tb), Sidney Bechet (ss), Clarence Williams (p), Buddy Christian (bj).
Okeh, New York City, October, 1923.
12 - S 71.928-B 'Tain't Nobody's Blu'ness If I Do 2.50
13 - S 71.929-B New Orleans Hop Scop Blues 2.54
14 - S 71.930-B Oh ! Daddy 3.11

ROSETTA CRAWFORD & THE KING BECHET TRIO
Sidney Bechet (ss), Clarence Williams (p), Buddy Christian (bj), Rosetta Crawford (vo).
Okeh, New York City, October 5, 1923.
15 - 71945-A Down On The Levee Blues 3.31
16 - 71946-B Lonesome Woman Blues 3.02

SARA MARTIN & CLARENCE WILLIAMS' HARMONIZING FOUR
Thomas Morris (cnt), Sidney Bechet (ss), Clarence Williams (p), Buddy Christian (bj), Sara Martin (vo).
Okeh, New York City, October 11, 1923.
17 - S 71.961-B Graveyard Dream Blues 3.10
18 - S 71.962-B A Green Gal Can't Catch On (Blues) 3.40

MARGARET JOHNSON WITH CLARENCE WILLIAMS' BLUE FIVE
Thomas Morris (cnt), Charlie Irvis (tb), Sidney Bechet (ss), Clarence Williams (p), Buddy Christian (bj), Margaret Johnson (vo).
Okeh, New York City, October 19, 1923.
19 - S 71.972-B If I Let You Get Away With It Once You'll Do It All Of The Time 2.54
20 - S 71.973-B E Flat Blues 3.02

EVA TAYLOR & LAWRENCE LOMAX
Thomas Morris (cnt), Charlie Irvis (tb), Sidney Bechet (ss), Clarence Williams (p), Eva Taylor, Lawrence Lomax (vo).
Okeh, New York City, November 10, 1923.
21 - 72028-C Old Fashioned Love 3.05
22 - 72029-C Open Your Heart 3.02

CLARENCE WILLIAMS' BLUE FIVE
Thomas Morris (cnt), John Mayfield (tb), Sidney Bechet (ss), Clarence Williams (p), Buddy Christian (bj).
Okeh, New York City, November 10, 1923.
23 - S 72.040-B Shreveport Blues 3.01
24 - S 72.041-B Old Fashioned Love 3.09








Tracklist & info:

CLARENCE WILLIAMS' BLUE FIVE
Thomas Morris (cnt), John Mayfield (tb), Sidney Bechet (ss), Clarence Williams (p), Buddy Christian (bj).
Okeh, New York City, November 14, 1923.
01 - S 72.059-B House Rent Blues (The Stomp) 2:59
02 - S 72.060-B Mean Blues 2:59

VIRGINIA LISTON
Vocal acc. by Sidney Bechet (g).
Okeh, New York City, January 10, 1924.
03 - 72265-B Jailhouse Blues 2:41

MAUREEN ENGLIN
Vocal acc. by Sidney Bechet (ss), Art Sorenson (p).
Pathe Actuelle/Perfect, New York City, c. May 30, 1924.
04 - 105347 Foolin' Me 2:46

CLARENCE WILLIAMS' BLUE FIVE
Louis Armstrong (cnt), Charlie Irvis (tb), Sidney Bechet (cl, ss), Clarence Williams (p), Buddy Christian (bj).
Okeh, New York City, October 17, 1924.
05 - S.72-914-B Texas Moaner Blues 3:16

VIRGINIA LISTON WITH CLARENCE WILLIAMS' BLUE FIVE
Louis Armstrong (cnt), Charlie Irvis (tb), Sidney Bechet (cl, ss), Clarence Williams (p), Buddy Christian (bj), Virginia Liston (vo).
Okeh, New York City, October 17, 1924.
06 - S 72.915-B Early In The Morning - clSB 3:03
07 - S 72.916-B You've Gto The Right Key, But The Wrong Keyhole - cl-ssSB 3:21

SIPPIE WALLACE WITH CLARENCE WILLIAMS TRIO
Vocal acc. Sidney Bechet (cl, ss), Clarence Williams (p), Buddy Christian (bj).
Okeh, New York City, December 2, 1924.
08 - S 73.014-B I'm So Glad I'm Brownskin 2:54
09 - S 73.015-B Off And On Blues 2:54

CLARENCE WILLIAMS' BLUE FIVE
Louis Armstrong (cnt), Charlie Irvis (tb), Sidney Bechet (ss, sarrusophone), Clarence Williams (p), Buddy Christian (bj), Eva Taylor (vo).
Okeh, New York City, December 17, 1924.
10 - S 73.026-B Mandy, Make Up Your Mind - vET 3:10
11 - S 73.027-B I'm A Little Blackbird Looking For A Bluebird - vET 3:20

JESEPHINE BEATTY acc. by THE RED ONION JAZZ BABIES
Louis Armstrong (cnt), Charlie Irvis (tb), Sidney Bechet (cl, ss), Lil Armstrong (p), Buddy Christian (bj), Alberter Hunter, Clarence Todd (vo).
Gennett, New York City, December 22, 1924.
12 - 9246 Nobody Knows The Way I Feel Dis Morning - vAH 2:50
13 - 9247-A Early Every Mornin' - vAH 2:52

RED ONION JAZZ BABIES
Louis Armstrong (cnt), Charlie Irvis (tb), Sidney Bechet (cl, ss), Lil Armstrong (p), Buddy Christian (bj), Alberter Hunter, Clarence Todd (vo).
Gennett, New York City, December 22, 1924.
14 - 9248-A Cake Walking Babies From Home - vAH-CT 3:18

MARGARET JOHNSON WITH CLARENCE WILLIAMS' BLUE FIVE
Bubber Miley (cnt), Aaron Thompson (tb), Sidney Bechet (ss), Clarence Williams (p), Buddy Christian (bj), Margaret Johnson (vo).
Okeh, New York City, January 8, 1925.
15 - S 73.081-A Who'll Chop Your Suey When I'm Gone ? 3:26
16 - S 73.082-B Done Made A Fool Out Of Me 3:07

CLARENCE WILLIAMS' BLUE FIVE
Louis Armstrong (cnt), Charlie Irvis (tb), Sidney Bechet (ss), Clarence Williams (p), Buddy Christian (bj), Eva Taylor (vo).
Okeh, New York City, January 8, 1925.
17 - S 73.083-A Cake Walking Babies From Home - vET 3:01
18 - S 73.084-B Pickin' On Your Baby - vET 3:25

THE GET HAPPY BAND
Johnny Dunn (cnt), Joe Nanton (tb), Sidney Bechet (ss), Bob Fuller (as), Mike Johnson or Porter Grainger (p), unknown (bj), unknown (bb), unknown (dm).
Columbia, New York City, July 17, 1925.
19 - 140773-2 Junk Bucket Blues 3:02
20 - 140774-1 Harlem's Araby (In Harlem's Araby) 3:11

21 Ghost Of The Blues 2:28

SIDNEY BECHET AND HIS NEW YORKERS
Gabriel (tp), Jimmy Bell (tp, as), Sidney Bechet (cl, ss), Mike McKendrick (bj), Paul Delvi (dm), unknown (cl), unknown (steel g), unknown (p).
German film "Einbrecher" ("Burglar"), Berlin, June-September, 1930.
22 - Ich Lass Mir Meinen Korper Schwarz Bepinseln 1:47
Sidney Bechet (ss), unknown (p).
23 - Kind, Dein Mund Ist Musik 1:27