The Sidney Bechet Society Jam Session Concert

The Sidney Bechet Society has been performing since 1997 with changing personnel, and this live concert, recorded in 1999, features an impressive collection of players. There is considerable diversity of experience represented here, with old-timers Spanky Davis on trumpet and Jack Lesburg on bass joined by younger performers, all attesting to the timelessness of the music. The group jams through generally well-known tunes mostly associated with the great Sidney Bechet, and they often succeed in putting their own stamp on them. Wycliffe Gordon is by any standard the standout performer, with his talking trombone working up a sweat, rumbling down and dirty with incredible use of the plunger. His solos alone are worth the price of the album, and when he rips and roars on "Basin Street Blues," the gates of heaven open at least a crack. Gordon has absorbed his Vic Dickenson and Tricky Sam Nanton and translated them through his own personality, leading to some compelling treats. With surprisingly good sound quality for a live gig and some fine contributions from every member of the group, this recording should please admirers of Sidney Bechet and anyone else who enjoys the sound of traditional jazz played by some outstanding players at the turn of the century. The legacy of the great clarinetist lives on through the efforts of his admirers.