Interview with Leonard Bechet about George Baquet and his influence on Sidney Bechet

Audio file
Date recorded: April 4, 1949 to April 14, 1949
Contributor(s): Performer: Lomax, Alan; Performer: Bechet, Leonard; Recordist: Lomax, Alan
Subject(s):
Genre: interview/commentary
Culture: Louisiana Creole, Southern U.S.
Instruments: voice
Setting: At the home of Dr. Leonard Bechet
Location: New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana, United States
Physical form: Reel to Reel
Tape number: T1001
Track Number: 6
Archive ID: T1001R06
Note: Dr. Bechet credits Lawrence Vegas, who played with Achille Baquet, as being the first "white boy" to play clarinet "in the jazz style." He learned from Manuel Perez. He discusses George Baquet's having taken a liking to Sidney Bechet, and his influence – he'd come talk to the Bechet's mother and convince her to let Sidney come out to play. Sidney quit school around 12 or 13 years old, but the family realized early that his calling was to be a musician.
Belongs to: Leonard Bechet 4/49
About the session: Interviews with Dr. Leonard Bechet at his home in New Orleans. A dentist by trade and occasional trombonist, Bechet was the older brother of renowned clarinetist Sidney Bechet. He recalls the Bechet family's opinion of Sidney's involvement with the hot jazz circles, the differences between the Creole and black social scenes, pre-jazz Creole music, and discusses his current profession of dentistry. He led the Silver Bells Brass Band, featuring Sidney, until World War I and was a member of the Young Superior Brass Band in the 1920s.
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