Along with his fellow New Orleanian, Louis Armstrong, Bechet was one of the first great soloists in jazz. His throaty, powerful clarinet and his throbbing soprano are among the most thrilling sounds ...

If you're new to jazz, go to our Getting Into Jazz primer for some hints on how to listen. Two hot jazz legends melt the thermometer, pushing each other to produce the most inspired work of their ...

Sidney Bechet, one of the early jazz greats, made his name on the clarinet, not the cornet or trumpet. Artist: Arthur Leipzig, 1945, Gelatin silver print, National ...

Daniel Bechet unveils a blue plaque in London in honour of his father, jazz musician Sidney Bechet Credit: Photo: Martin Chilton Sidney Bechet's son, the drummer and writer Daniel Bechet, spoke of his ...

Star saxophonist Courtney Pine's new album Transition in Tradition is dedicated to Sidney Bechet – a New Orleans jazz pioneer who died half a century ago. His name is probably unknown to music lovers ...

At Paris’ Olympia music hall, vaudeville was in full flower. There were acrobats, unicyclists, a juggler, Mexican guitarists. But the attraction that filled the 2,000-seat house last week was strictly ...

When Sidney Bechet played, the walls trembled, the pulse accelerated and the heart skipped a beat. His music was passion and energy transformed... Sidney Bechet, 'Soprano Sax King' Sidney Bechet was ...

The soprano saxophone has never been a dominant instrument in mainstream jazz, but it's been in the mix since the beginning. Take a quick tour of the soprano sax throughout jazz history with the help ...

"There are not many perfect things in jazz, but Sidney Bechet playing the blues could be one of them." So said poet Philip Larkin of the legendary New Orleans musician who died in 1959. Bechet is ...