Sidney Bechet - Summertime

[SpeegBJ]

Bechet played both the clarinet and soprano saxophone. This is a mellow, gorgeous rendition of Gershwin's best. Tres bien, monsieur Bechet.

[LilJ22799]

Sydney Bechet's music always put me into a good, chillin' vibe.

#Vibin'

[gabszc95]

amazing

[megaalexandra62]

Un artiste exceptionnel qui a rempli mon enfance avec sa magnifique "petite fleur". Sidney jouait, et mes parents dansaient sur cette musique....souvenirs souvenirs

[NAThan9871]

Is that Django's playing ?

[oldtimejazzfan]

@NAThan9871 It's Teddy Bunn on giutar

[HINDERIZED]

This is amazing music. Shame I never grew up listening to it.

Fav'd.

[MxSaxman]

It simply cannot get better than this. Smokey moody sax growling, purring and whispering a timeless melody much older than Gershwin’s interpretation.

[frecoh1]

Make sure you listen to Sidney's incredible "Si tu vois ma mere".

[LPrulezforlife]

@frecoh1 i really love that one, probably my favorite.

[nicoejz]

what instrument is playing at the very beginning? (not the guitar but the other)

[VinylJunky420]

@nicoejz clarinet



[oldtimejazzfan]

@VinylJunky420 Certainly NOT clarinet but soprano saxophone

[HINDERIZED]

@oldtimejazzfan sidney bechet was a clarinetist

[oldtimejazzfan]

@HINDERIZED Yes, he was a clarinettist first, but when he discovered the Sop.sax in London 1919, he preferred that instrument. He recorded both until 1950, the last years until his death 1959, he never played clarinet.

[HINDERIZED]

@oldtimejazzfan yay information :D

[unagondolaunremo]

incredible!

[zatnicatienth]

what a great song. no wonder it was on the top of the charts in '39....

[Bugera369]

This reminds me a bit of Django Reinhardt.

[alanorion1]

An excellent recording However thanks to JohnRinNoHo I have watched

The Last Night at Flashmans This is an amazing track and I ould recomend it to

any Jazz or Bechet Fan It is now my favorite UTube recording

[alanorion1]

An excellent recording but thank you for recomending "The last night at Flashmans" JohnRinNoHo It is now my favorite recording and video on Utube I recomend it to any Bechet or Jazz Fan. It deserves more viewers

[Sk83rSinderella]

Music played by a genius. Food for the soul!

[yubiznis]

She's Louise Brooks -- her best known movie is Pandora's Box.

[Kernelixer]

There is such a touch of tenderness to this song, it makes you get chicken grease right from the first few bars. The New Orleans sound is imminent! Instant-Classic!

[eotto2001]

who is the woman in the photos?

[nauort23]

@eotto2001 Louise "Lulu" Brooks. I don't know what she has to do with this song, though, besides being popular in the same era this song was written...

[moonlightghotic]

this is true music.......

[JohnRinNoHo]

For another performance of this song by Bechet ( which I like better ),

search : The Last Night at Flashmans

You will also get a bonus by Marlene Dietrich... Lili Marlene

[feedakie]

Love it.

[ern363]

there's so many version of this song , is this the original? if not what is?

[rubenlombaers]

@ern363

"Summertime" is an aria composed by George Gershwin for the 1935 opera Porgy and Bess. The lyrics are by DuBose Heyward, the author of the novel Porgy on which the opera was based, although the song is also co-credited to Ira Gershwin by ASCAP.

wikipedia -> summertime (song)

[aarfeld]

@ern363: This is a 1939 version of the song, recorded a few years after the debut of the opera: Porgy and Bess. A lovely Bechet recording in the New Orleans tradition, but reaching outside the usual repertoire of that style.

[06blaise]

IMMORTEL !!!

[VindobonaNorikum]

Such a wonderful sad music! One of his best! But why the pictures of Louise Brooks - silent films' star?

[SapperK9]

Maestro...

[123must]

Amazing!

[bluesoulady]

that was amazing! and the vid was great too.

[ailimealegna]

MUSICA SPLENDIDA E MERAVIGLIOSA

[salmongirrl]

Bechet - sweet...

[rodeo179]

can someone please upload "egyptian fantasy". it keeps getting removed by youtube. thanks

[mateopumba747]

where can i find more jazz artist with this "gipsy feel/rythm"?

[InitialsEsquire]

@mateopumba747 A man by the name of Django Reinhardt has everything you need, man.

[Picardy]

Tres groovy.

[meaume]

Je vois que vous avez utilisé des fragments du montage que j'avais fabriqué pour une de nos interpretations, Moulin à Café par le Louisiana Jazz Band. J'en suis fier. Merci.

Mais vous auriez du retirer le titre...

[pierre240749]

sublime et incomparable musicien j adore

[charconcillos]

marvilloso,un genio

[jismith1989]

Ouah, il est bien divin -- et quel vibrato!

[113355ism]

6/10/'10This cut was in first recording session of the Blue Note label

[robertchamp1]

What is it with all the images of Louise Brooks and other silent stars?

[Rexicano]

@robertchamp1

They go well with the music.

Why ask why?

[gotmeagrape]

That shake is soooo sexy lol

[jnmshmacm]

anyone know what is the significance of the coffee beans at the beginning of this video?

[Rechkalov7]

@jnmshmacm Moulin a café is the name of an album of sidney bechet made with claude luter and it's also the name of a song in the album. Read the red note at the beginning, it says moulin à café(coffee grinder).

[alfa2103]

Przepiękny ton klarnetu.

[TheRunner75]

So many versions of "Summertime". This one is a good one ;-)

[melonmaeda]

いいねぇ～。

[ln6969]

@melonmaeda So desu!

[lyphel]

So nostalgic ... this song reflects his genius perfectly.

[giraconte]

I've been addicted to this tune since forever...><

[menschlichetragodie]

@giraconte this monkey just attached itself to my back now. Though I enjoy vocal versions, this one is awesome...

[beebe1977]

演奏呼吸自如，令人想一聽再聽

[stoufa2005]

GENIAL!

[46professor]

He was a genious!

[jeddak5]

I love the Louise Brooks pictures.

[cheburashka19]

I love Bechet....^__^

[aintrazyf]

i love it

[demalenpis]

Absolute perfection! Bechet plays with such soul.

[raamsis]

A good song for the summer. When you are having a picknick with friends and the sun shines and everything is wonderful ;)

[jnmshmacm]

@raamsis

This is actually a melancholy tune (obviously). There are lyrics to the song as well. The song is sung from the perspective of an American black slave, presumably an older female slave who worked inside her master's home. She is singing a lullaby to a white baby. The lyrics are about the slaves' hardships, esp during the summertime when "the cotton's high". But the singer reassures the white baby: "your daddy's rich, and your mama's pretty. So hush little baby and don't you cry"

[shanghaibabe]

def my fav version

[Elgackto]

This is the best song ever in the best arrangement ever. Many many thanks!!

[Froggy19510]

Makes you feel like you are down south in the early 20th century. Very cool.

[levarfrmn]

wonderful N.O. great!!!

[jackr2010]

A jazz original!

[StarrGennett]

Sidney Bechet recorded for Gennett Records in 1924 and 1925 with Clarence Williams' Red Onion Jazz Babies. His Gennett recordings were the first on which he and Louis Armstrong performed together. On September 8, 2007, Bechet and Armstrong were inducted into the Starr-Gennett walk of Fame.

[jmet718]

thats Sidney Bechet on sapano amazing

[shapeepster]

Ahhh!! Lulu!! Yes, Brooksie fits this song just fine!

[jim0douglas0morrison]

de mis favoritas me encanta

[raspuin]

la huchette que de bons moments

[qcboy62]

Simply beautiful!

[mariaslide]

Great

[ANTONIO2713]

meraviglia

[jnmshmacm]

Perfect.

[Jazzbobill]

This is the 1939 recording by Bechet, with Teddy Bunn - Guitar, Meade Lux Lewis - piano,Johnny Williams - bass and Big Sid Catlett - drums. Wonderful stuff

[mrgoodvibrations]

@Jazzbobill Sidney was so smooth.............

[aerofredywr]

@Jazzbobill Thanks for the info.

[busessuck1]

@Jazzbobill Sounds like Josh White on Guitar

[orlik1942]

@Jazzbobill good old jazz ,happy jazz. Thanks !!!

[sexyfatbastid]

What's with the Louise Brooks connection? How does she figure into all of this?

[sdealo]

who is the guitarist ?

[sexyfatbastid]

That was just about the cooolest thing I ever heard in my life.

[xxxhens]

Anyone keen on this must, must take a look at Bechet's contemporaries and thereabouts. Stuff Smith, Joe Venuti, Eddie Condon, Pee Wee Russell, Django Reinhardt, and the likes. I am only roughly familiar, but through a BBC jazz DJ named Mel Hill, I discovered this era and some of its greats. Mel's retired, now, but had a brain like an encyclopedia, bless his soul. Unbelievable stuff. The fellow who took his spot is alright, too (Chris Gumbley). Google him and the site should come up.

[raamsis]

beautiful

[jeremcclain]

My prof introduced me to Bechet in my 20s History class- I've loved his music ever since. Thanks for posting!

[weruletheschool]

oh my i feel like im in a trance

[Horwellston]

I didn't like any trad jazz until I heard this. Now I'm learning to play it on the clarinet.

There's a transcription of it and an article about it on the Bret Pimentel woodwind page..

[HansCoffe]

who is this lady on sceern ?

[OrphanSeasun]

Louise Brooks - probably most famous from Pabst's "Pandora's Box". She's beautiful here, but you gotta see her in action - charisma!

[STUDIOCHINCHAN]

Thanks for sharing this video

Eric - Studio ChinChan

[notref]

wonderful - thanx for sharing. - play it again!

[sinestemusic]

Sublime !... Immortel.

May be the best sound of soprano i never heard.

[ChickenWrapLabel]

Magnifique !

[ANTONIO2713]

meraviglia

[GiovannaLaProf]

E' splendida con questo ritmo martellante che diventa quasi ossessivo e fa venire caldo e smania...

[happy2bhere2day]

excellent version of this classic.

[happy2bhere2day]

yeah, me too.

[charliebubblesoar]

Just discovered him today. So glad I learned about him. He's just.... whoa.

[dmaioni]

A fucking good.He is genius jazz artist.

[antcarmachado]

Belíssima interpretação!

the most of summertime´s versions I see!

[ajude11]

To jnmshmacm I agree that Bechet was one of the most gifted musicians to come out of the united states, but to diminish Louis is just stupid. U are talking

about the man who played west end blues! If this was his only accomplishment he would still be a genius. So please do not down grade Louis because of some obvious racist idea you have. If you think about it any

jazz Musician that had any amount of success has entertained white audience's. Louis Armstrong makes me proud to be American.

[OBELIXxoxoxo]

Music like this don't exist anymore! So sad! Thanks for posting!

[thugyheadbanger]

sad but true.......

[ingwazVL]

exelente.....

[steve89z]

this is killer!

[skill2kills]

Love it!

[mordecaiful]

da brivido....che emozione

[orlik122]

Sidney Bechet-poeta jazzu. Dzięki niemu pokochałem JAZZ!!

[PhillySouth]

This might be the definitive version, even to this day, for my money; even though it is arranged (and played) in a minimalist way; it captures the lonesome, wistful

feeling implicit that genius George Gershwin somehow came up with when he wrote this song....yes, it incorporates

the sadness of the life of a black person in the rural South in those days (the 30's),

even though "the living is easy"..tragedy

bad luck & trouble is not too far away; this interpretation captures that.

[jnmshmacm]

I agree... I love "Summertime" and I have listened to dozens of versions. And even though this one has no lyrics, somehow it stands above in my mind as the best. Bechet was the best jazz artist of his time. Even though I am from Louisiana, there is no doubt that his genius was far superior to that of Louis Armstrong. Armstrong was just a caricature who entertained a white audience. Long live Bechet!

[notref]

though i agree with you to a certain extend, there is no reason to put amstrong vs bechet. doesn't make sence. they are both great in their own way. this summertime version i heard first time when i was 14 years old in 1970, a white boy from a small town in west germany. bechet caught me. i bought everything i could afford that blue note printed.

till today it flies high above all versions of "summertime" i ever listened to.

[bhstrumpet08]

all soul thats bad ass

[ZiRRoSiS]

Someboy knows which is the name of the actriss,mercy

[littlefeetoffury]

Louise Brooks  :)

[Cthulttio]

Don't know much about old blues and stuff 'cause I have listened lots of metal music, goth and indie and nowadays progressive rock but know it might be good time to get used to this kind of jamming.

[KaizenTao]

A Legend! Thank you

[florianaporta]

ottimoo

[walmoscon]

chi sei , tù che ascolti l'immenso ?

[meaume]

Je vois que vous avez utilisé des fragments du montage que j'avais fabriqué pour une de nos interpretations, Moulin à Café par le Louisiana Jazz Band. J'en suis fier. Merci.

Mais vous auriez du retirer le titre...

[Morahman7vnNo2]

Is that Django on Guitar!? Sounds a lot like him!

[oldtimejazzfan]

No, it's Teddy Bunn on guitar.

[kariaudar]

I´m 29 years old, and I´ve just recently started to delve into jazz music. And what can I say? I´m converted, nay I´m hooked!

[Gefilta]

wow I hadn't heard this version before. BEautiful. And thanks for the pix of Louise Brooks, Hot!

[eagleclaw888]

yes, soprano sax. Isn't it great?

[soldada59]

He was playing his sax right?

because there were times that his clarinet style sounded so a like to the sax

Bechett is one of the greatest...and knew how to feel jazz...

[momoetnene]

Sydney Bechet, quel talent ! ... Tout est dit.

[fistoldeldiablo]

esto es lo que yo llamo bueno música.

[meaume]

Je vois que vous avez utilisé des fragments du montage que j'avais fabriqué pour une de nos interpretations, Moulin à Café par le Louisiana Jazz Band. J'en suis fier. Merci.

Mais vous auriez du retirer le titre...

[ww1886]

He was the GREATEST ever and he was no Clown as Louis.

[danylongshaft]

lol

hes the kind of guy that'll put a gun to your face if you say hes wrong,,hes very Furious in his playing, and his personality reflects it. jazz historians say he was the only guy in 1925 that could keep up and somtimes burn Armstrong while playing ,,thats how good he is

[gqgq3341]

Louis was more than a clown. you know that. He made a HUGE contribution to modern music. I won't say he was better than sidney because it is no use to compare genius with genius.

[mahoose6]

Louis' Hot Fives and Hot Sevens recording were musically groundbreaking, nobody can dispute that. He made jazz a soloist's art.

But Sidney Bechet was also a genius, I like his soprano almost as much as Coltrane's even though the style is so different.

[rufufus]

Bechet speaks of all our despair and hope in under 5 minutes.

[coimbraonfire2]

DEP Sidney! Bem o mereces

[musiccrazy1000]

Fuckin great,i really like his vibrato!!!

[Elhombredelmar]

Sends shivers down the spine - BRILLIANT !!!

only other version was Janis

[FatManRedemption]

First version of this song I ever heard. Seriously. The next version I heard was Janis Joplin. Talk about contrast, that one's nearly an entirely different song.

[gyermekkenek]

This version by Bechet is probably the first time a jazz musician recorded this song as a jazz standard. First time, and masterpiece : it's no longer the optimistic lullaby of Gershwin's opera, it's a real blues. In this sense, Janis Joplin was close to that, even if she really modified the melody. There are other versions which sound more positive but are really great : Miles Davis with Gil Evans, and of course Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald.

[913zootsims]

Check out his growls. That cat was amazing!

[Germanator93]

good blues.

[keusti]

vive bechet, vive mezz, vive le blues

[123BubberMiley]

Sid was THE MAN!!!

[NoordZeev2]

This is so absolutely good. Nobody else sounds quite like Sidney Bechet. Thank you for this post.

[eap7mm]

I love this song and Louise Brooks!

[elocinegnem]

It's so good, that it almost hurts.

If you like him, you like Mezz Mezzrow, too.

They are "really the blues".

[t1mmytee]

So good, I could cry--no bullshit!

Best wishes from northwest PA...

[elocinegnem]

Thank you for the reply.

It made me listen and enjoy it once more :-)

[petermantwill]

so am i,Peter from munich