Sidney Bechet: The volatile jazz genius who became a god in post-war France
In short: A pioneer of the soprano saxophone and a foundational figure in jazz, Sidney Bechet was as celebrated for his emotional, reckless sound as he was for his abrasive temper. While he struggled for recognition in the United States, he found a devoted following and lasting legacy in France.
Born in New Orleans in 1897, Sidney Bechet emerged as one of jazz's first significant soloists. A multi-instrumentalist who mastered the clarinet and later pioneered the soprano saxophone, Bechet helped define the fluid, swinging rhythmic style that distinguished jazz from ragtime. Duke Ellington, who worked with him in 1924, famously called him the epitome of jazz, yet Bechet famously never learned to read music. His career was marked by a restless, often combative nature; he was imprisoned in Paris for eleven months in 1928 after a shooting incident, and his professional relationships were frequently strained by his insistence on dominating performances.
Bechet’s relationship with his home country was complex. He often found the American jazz scene stale and restrictive, particularly due to limiting recording contracts and a lack of appreciation for his style. In contrast, his move to France in 1951 proved transformative. Following a successful performance at the Paris Jazz Fair, he became a cultural icon, with French existentialists even referring to him as le dieu—the god. He spent his final years in France, recording international hits like 'Petite Fleur' and composing a classical ballet score, La nuit est une sorcière.
Despite his musical brilliance, Bechet’s personal life remained fraught. His autobiography, Treat It Gentle, is considered a staple of New Orleans jazz history, though it is noted for being embellished and inaccurate. While some accounts claimed it was dictated to producer Al Rose, records indicate it was compiled by others, including Joan Reid and Desmond Flower. Bechet died of lung cancer on his 62nd birthday in 1959. Today, his influence persists, from his inspiration for characters in literature and film to a crater on Mercury named in his honor.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Sidney Bechet
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