Bob Wilber's Bechet Legacy has been a part-time group since 1980.
Wilber (on soprano and clarinet) was always enthusiastic about paying tribute to his former teacher
Sidney Bechet and was able to interpret
Bechet's music without directly imitating the great soprano saxophonist. For this live outing,
Wilber is ably assisted by the talented trumpeter
Randy Sandke, pianist
Mark Shane, guitarist
Dave Cliff, bassist Dave Green, drummer
Butch Miles and (on a few numbers) singer Pug Horton. In addition to ten
Bechet compositions, the group plays six songs that
Bechet performed at one time or another. The solos are melodic and full of chance-taking, the ensembles are heated and the overall program is quite delightful and swinging. Highlights include "Down In Honky Tonk Town," "Egyptian Fantasy," "Maryland My Maryland" and "Dans Le Rue D'Antibes." ~ Scott Yanow