A jazz pioneer (the first soloist to be recorded), and the genre’s first great saxophonist — his vibrato was unique, with a typically Creole feeling for syncopation, Sidney Bechet was part of the late 19th century New Orleans generation which formed the exuberant melting-pot that came to be known as jazz. His compositions were unrivalled in sensibility, writing the history of 20th century music and influencing countless musicians. In 2009, his son, Daniel Sidney Bechet, the French-American drummer, wrote a book about him and decided to form a quintet to perpetuate the memory and legacy of his father. Together with Olivier Franc, probably one of the greatest New Orleans jazz specialists (he was awarded the Sidney Bechet Prize by France’s “Académie du Jazz” and the “Hot Club de France” Prize), Daniel-Sidney discovered and arranged two previously-unreleased compositions by Sidney and, fifty years after his father’s disappearance, they went on tour… This recording takes its strength not only from the Bechet bloodline but also from the authenticity in the performance, and the result is a tribute to an artist who commanded a respect we must all share. Augustin BONDOUX & Patrick FRÉMEAUX