Customer Reviews

Sidney Bechet

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Sidney Bechet was not only one of the greatest jazz musicians ever, he was one of the most facinating characters in the music. He wrote his own poetic autobiography, "Treat It Gentle". After reading "Treat It Gentle" you might want to know even more about Bechet, and wonder how much of his stories are fact or fiction. If so, "Sidney Bechet The Wizard of Jazz" is the book for you.

British musician and writer John Chilton is one of the very best jazz researchers. His carefully gathered information is presented well in this book. Find out about Bechet's personality, the real story of his time in French prison, insightfull analysis of his recordings, and more.

This book is an example of what a well researched and written jazz biography should be.

-- DCM "Froggy"

The rersarch and information put into this great book is extraordinary. Chilton did a superb job about researching every part of Bechet's life, including his ancestory, childhood friends, and other hobbies besides playing playing clarinet or sax. This book is also a very fast reading biography and i find it enjoyable to read.

I write this review mainly to second the opinion of my fellow reviewer D.C. Meyer. I found this book to be very readable, and a positively enjoyable way to learn the details of Bechet's life. Chilton is especially good on covering the contradictory or less-than-likeable aspects of Bechet's character. And some of the anecdotes are priceless. My favorite is the author's encounter with a drunken musician on a train--a classic frame for a classic Bechet story.

Sent at media rate, so it was receeived in a week or so. It is a little used, but that is what I expected. Good price! Still works!

Like everything written by Chilton, this book is really boring. The author's obsession with discography makes this book an enumeration of who played which tune where and when. Bechet deserves a better biography! Collier, help us!