Skip to main content

Sidney Bechet Collection

Sidney Bechet was a pioneering jazz musician whose soulful clarinet and saxophone playing revolutionized the genre

Background imageSidney Bechet Collection: Humphrey Lyttelton and Sidney Bechet at Colston Hall, Bristol, 1956

Humphrey Lyttelton and Sidney Bechet at Colston Hall, Bristol, 1956

Background imageSidney Bechet Collection: Portrait of Sidney Bechet, Jimmy Ryan's (Club), New York, N.Y. ca. June 1947

Portrait of Sidney Bechet, Jimmy Ryan's (Club), New York, N.Y. ca. June 1947. Creator: William Paul Gottlieb
Portrait of Sidney Bechet, Jimmy Ryan's (Club), New York, N.Y. ca. June 1947

Background imageSidney Bechet Collection: Portrait of Sidney Bechet, 1938. Creator: William Paul Gottlieb

Portrait of Sidney Bechet, 1938. Creator: William Paul Gottlieb
Portrait of Sidney Bechet, 1938

Background imageSidney Bechet Collection: Portrait of Sidney Bechet, New York, N.Y.(?), ca. Nov. 1946. Creator: William Paul Gottlieb

Portrait of Sidney Bechet, New York, N.Y.(?), ca. Nov. 1946. Creator: William Paul Gottlieb
Portrait of Sidney Bechet, New York, N.Y.(?), ca. Nov. 1946

Background imageSidney Bechet Collection: Portrait of Sidney Bechet, Freddie Moore, Lloyd Phillips...Jimmy Ryan's (Club), N.Y. ca. June 1947

Portrait of Sidney Bechet, Freddie Moore, Lloyd Phillips...Jimmy Ryan's (Club), N.Y. ca. June 1947
Portrait of Sidney Bechet, Freddie Moore, Lloyd Phillips, and Bob Wilber, Jimmy Ryan's (Club), New York, N.Y. ca. June 1947

Background imageSidney Bechet Collection: Portrait of Freddie Moore, Hot Lips Page, Sidney Bechet, and Lloyd...Jimmy Ryan's (Club), N.Y

Portrait of Freddie Moore, Hot Lips Page, Sidney Bechet, and Lloyd...Jimmy Ryan's (Club), N.Y
Portrait of Freddie Moore, Hot Lips Page, Sidney Bechet, and Lloyd Phillips, Jimmy Ryan's (Club), New York, N.Y. ca. June 1947

Background imageSidney Bechet Collection: Portrait of Sidney Bechet and Lloyd Phillips, Jimmy Ryan's (Club), New York, N.Y. ca. June 1947

Portrait of Sidney Bechet and Lloyd Phillips, Jimmy Ryan's (Club), New York, N.Y. ca. June 1947

Background imageSidney Bechet Collection: Legendary jazz clarinetist and saxophonist Sidney Bechet at Colston Hall, Bristol, 1956

Legendary jazz clarinetist and saxophonist Sidney Bechet at Colston Hall, Bristol, 1956

Background imageSidney Bechet Collection: American jazz legend Sidney Bechet in concert at Colston Hall, Bristol, 1956. Artist

American jazz legend Sidney Bechet in concert at Colston Hall, Bristol, 1956. Artist
American jazz legend Sidney Bechet in concert at Colston Hall, Bristol, 1956

Background imageSidney Bechet Collection: Portrait of legendary American jazz musician Sidney Bechet, 1950s. Artist: Denis Williams

Portrait of legendary American jazz musician Sidney Bechet, 1950s. Artist: Denis Williams
Portrait of legendary American jazz musician Sidney Bechet, 1950s

Background imageSidney Bechet Collection: Jazz legend Sidney Bechet playing the soprano saxophone at Colston Hall, Bristol, 1956

Jazz legend Sidney Bechet playing the soprano saxophone at Colston Hall, Bristol, 1956

Background imageSidney Bechet Collection: Jazz concert at Colston Hall, Bristol, 1956. Artist: Denis Williams

Jazz concert at Colston Hall, Bristol, 1956. Artist: Denis Williams
Jazz concert at Colston Hall, Bristol, 1956. Sidney Bechet on soprano saxophone (top left) and Humphrey Lyttelton on trumpet (bottom right)

Background imageSidney Bechet Collection: Humphrey Lyttelton, Sidney Bechet and unknown clarinetist, Colston Hall, Bristol, 1956

Humphrey Lyttelton, Sidney Bechet and unknown clarinetist, Colston Hall, Bristol, 1956
Humphrey Lyttelton (trumpet), Sidney Bechet (soprano saxophone) and unknown clarinetist, Colston Hall, Bristol, 1956

Background imageSidney Bechet Collection: Sidney Bechet (soprano saxophone) in concert at Colston Hall, Bristol, 1956. Artist

Sidney Bechet (soprano saxophone) in concert at Colston Hall, Bristol, 1956. Artist
Sidney Bechet (soprano saxophone) in concert at Colston Hall, Bristol, 1956



For sale as Licensed Images

Choose your image, Select your licence and Download the media

Sidney Bechet was a pioneering jazz musician whose soulful clarinet and saxophone playing revolutionized the genre. Born in New Orleans in 1897, Bechet's unique style blended elements of blues, ragtime, and traditional New Orleans jazz to create a sound that was all his own. He rose to fame in the 1920s as a member of Duke Ellington's orchestra before embarking on a successful solo career. Bechet's virtuosic improvisation skills and emotional depth made him one of the most influential musicians of his time. His recordings are still celebrated today for their raw energy and technical brilliance. Despite facing racism and discrimination throughout his career, Bechet remained dedicated to his craft and continued to push boundaries with his music. In addition to being an accomplished musician, Bechet was also a composer and bandleader who helped shape the future of jazz. His impact can be heard in the work of countless artists who followed in his footsteps. Sidney Bechet passed away in 1959, but his legacy lives on through his timeless recordings and enduring influence on jazz music. He will always be remembered as a true innovator who pushed the boundaries of what was possible with an instrument and forever changed the landscape of American music.