Interesting info about Sidney Bechet

Here is a site, new to me, about Sidney Bechet. Hope this will of interest. I have also included some anecdotes about Bechet which may be new to most readers. I would be pleased to hear from you. E-mail: nvickers1@cox.net

Sidney Bechet's Lost Ballet « Gerbil News Network
By conchapman
In the annals of jazz there is no more strongly polarized musician than Sidney Bechet. A Creole–that is, a descendant of mixed European and African heritage–he came from a class that considered itself superior to pure descendants of ...
Gerbil News Network - http://conchapman.wordpress.com/

Jazz Pianist Art Hodes told me this anecdote—illustrating Bechet’s irascibility. Likely most of you know that Hodes, originally from Chicago, moved to NYC and had a radio show. This was in the 40s with BOP’s emergence. Hodes was in the “mouldy fig’ camp and was promoting the older style of jazz. Hodes invited Bechet to be on his show on a certain date. He never got an affirmative answer. Consequently, he hired another musician for that slot. When time for the broadcast, Bechet also showed up, pitched a fit, demanded payment ( which he, of course, didn’t get). Then Bechet stated that he was going home to “get my knife.” Hodes, knowing Bechet’s reputation for hot temper, laid low for a while until the whole thing blew over.

Another Bechet story which may not be generally known. Remember Bunk Johnson, trumpeter, mentioned by Louis Armstrong as one of the New Orleans pioneers? Search went out for Johnson. He was found in a remote part of Louisiana not having played trumpet in a long time. His teeth were in poor repair. So part of his musical rehabilitation was having dental work done. He was referred to Sidney’s brother who practiced dentistry nearby New Orleans. And, as the saying goes….”You know the rest…..”

While I’m at it—last one. British trumpeter, jazz historian and author John Chilton was a featured speaker at a New Orleans Louis Armstrong celebration—Satchmo Summerfest. He had spoken at the meeting about his early biography of Armstrong. I had read his biography of Sidney Bechet and, in private conversation, queried him about his research for the Bechet book. My question was, “ What surprises occurred in your research—what did you unexpectedly find or what information you were expecting to find, didn’t turn up?” He thought a moment, then smiled, and said,” I had a copy of Bechet’s passport and there was some Chinese writing in it. We knew he had never been to China. So, I went down to the Chinese embassy in London and explained my need for a translation. The lady took the passport copy, disappeared and shortly came back smiling. It was a menu from a Chinese restaurant. Apparently he had a favorite meal and wanted to be able to order the same thing again!”