Sidney Bechet

Sidney Bechet (1897-1959) was a New Orleans-born jazz clarinetist and soprano saxophonist, widely regarded as one of the first great soloists in jazz history. He grew up in a black Creole family in New Orleans and spent much of his later life in France, where he became enormously popular. His playing was intensely expressive and deeply rooted in the New Orleans tradition, influencing generations of jazz musicians.