Soprano Sax King

A tribute to Sidney Bechet on NPR‘s “Jazz Profile“:

Bechet’s signature style left a profound mark on the way the clarinet and the soprano saxophone are played in today’s jazz. He has influenced countless musicians including Johnny Hodges, John Coltrane, Wayne Shorter, Bob Wilber and Branford Marsalis, among others. Bechet was a great improviser, with a passion for life as well as music.

Don’t forget to tune into the program.

Hank Jones Turns 89

Jazz pianist Hank Jones worked with Bennie Goodman, Coleman Hawkins, Ben Webster and Billie Holliday. He knew Thelonious Monk, Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis and Charlie Parker. While his peers struggled with drugs and alcohol and ended up dead, Jones managed to “Never smoked. Never drank. Never run around with wild women—tame ones,” he told NPR.

Happy birthday Mr. Jones. Stay clean and nimble!