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Summary: Poetic Autobiography from Jazz Virtuoso
Review: New Orleans born clarinet and sax player Sidney Bechet was one of the all time great jazz musicians. Duke Ellington said "Bechet to me was the very epitome of jazz...he was the most unique man ever to be in this music". Lil Hardin Armstrong (Louis Armstrong's wife) said that Bechet deserved to be as famous as Louis Armstrong, as he was just as talented. Bechet finally achieved the fame and fortune he deserved in his last decade of life, living in France. "Treat It Gentle" is Bechet's autobiography. It reveals him to be a wonderfull story teller. He begins with facinating family tales of his musician grandfather born in slavery, tells about growing up in New Orleans as jazz was first being formed, and continues through his colorful life story. I recomend this book to any fan of Bechet's wonderful music, or those interested in early jazz or African-American history. I also recomend that you follow up "Treat It Gentle" by reading John Chilton's book "Sidney Bechet The Wizard of Jazz" which gets to the story behind Bechet's story and tells more about Bechet's facinating life. You'll find that, Yes, Sidney Bechet does deserve two books about him. -- DCM "Froggy"
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