Sidney Bechet, like Louis Armstrong, was among the greatest musicians of his time and one of the first great jazz soloists. This 3 CD set brings together live recordings of concerts given mainly in Paris between 1952 and 1958, and they capture the very essence of the extraordinary swing this jazz veteran displayed in the fifties. Like a true rock star before his time, Bechet set crowds on fire with his virtuoso skills, his charisma and his contagious fervour. Here we have precious evidence of the tremendous excitement that his concerts aroused, and his music has the same effect today, thanks to his incandescent playing that causes vibrations in every listener. Patrick FRÉMEAUX

The Live in Paris collection by Michel Brillié allows listeners to hear previously-unreleased recordings (made at concerts and private or radio-sessions) by the great 20th stars in jazz, rock & roll and song. These “live” takes, and the artists’ rapport with their audiences, gives these performances an additional soul and sensibility in counterpoint to the rigorous demands of studio recordings. Particular care was taken when restoring the sound of these tapes in order to meet CD standards while preserving the original colours of the period. Patrick FRÉMEAUX & Gilles PÉTARD