Customer Reviews

Runnin Wild

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Sidney Bechet was the only jazz musician who could keep up with Louis Armstrong in the 20s and, as this album demonstrates, remained a ingenius improvisationalist all of his life. These cuts were recorded when Sidney was around 50 years old. His tone is just powerful as it was when he was in his prime, so overwhelming that even trumpets had trouble matching it. Sidney has the most powerful tone of any soprano saxophonist that ever existed, and developed a wide vibrato that you either love or hate. The concept of this album is actually quite interesting. Sidney records some of his older music with a modern feel. All of his solos are great in this cd, and there are times when they are brilliant. Sidney's earlier playing was slightly more inventive than the tracks on this cd. However, this cd offers a rare chance for you to hear the New Orleans master with great sound quality (most of the blue note jazz cds have undergone excellent remastering). Although this cd is more than enjoyable, some other cd's starring Sidney Bechet are downright intoxicating. I highly recommend that you go to the store today and buy the Ken Burn's Sidney Bechet cd, which can get you more intoxicated than a reefer.

Here is your golden opportunity, while it lasts, to pick up a
fantastic CD. Sydney and Wild Bill are in grand form. In fact, the entire band sounds superb. My favorite tracks on this high
fidelity recording (1949 and 1950, yet the sound is clear with a high and consistent recording level) are Tailgate Ramble, Running Wild, and You Can't Have None of my Jelly Roll.
If you are a fan of early jazz, you will really enjoy this.
I have never cared a lick for soprano sax in easy listening venues. But, when Sydney Bechet blows it, my feet start to dance. You will not go wrong by owning this wonderful CD.
Now, I'll stop yacking so you can get cracking.

When discussing the greatest trumpet players in pre-modern idioms (or in general for that matter) Wild Bill Davison seems to be a good topic;
although Sidney Bechet is the star of the album, Davison's hot and powerful cornet is a more than significant feature...

Not discounting the importance of the rest of the three groups that accompany these two giants, it is the collaboration of Sidney and Wild Bill that'll make you come back for more of this great music.
Maybe this is not the best version of "Tiger Rag" you've ever heard, but listen to Davison's solo and obligatto work on "Tin Roof Blues" and the general drive of "Runnin' Wild"... Although not being the biggest fan of soprano sax, I still really like this album.

The rest of the line-up includes pianists Art Hodes and Joe Sullivan, as well as bassists Walter Page and Pops Foster, all the tracks are recorded in 1949 and 1950.

Everything Sidney Bechet does is brilliant, but when he teams up with his favorite side instrument a trumpet he creates magic. For some reason this blue note album is often neglected in Bechet's repertoire, but I find it to be his absolute best stuff. All of it truly is magnificent stuff, especially "I've Found a New Baby" and the following track, where Wild Bill Davison's beautiful tone shines. One could easily mistake him for Louis himself. For any fan of Sidney Bechet or dixieland, this album is one of the best there is. 20 tracks of Sidney at his best.