Let's focus on the Buck Creek Jazz Band for today's Jazz Performance Saturday! This band made its debut at the Potomac River Jazz Club jazz picnic in 1977 thanks to the efforts of Fred and Anna Wahler. Although ostensibly and East Coast band they played all over appearing for many years at festivals in Fresno, California, and Chattanooga,Tennessee as well as countless others. They performed on cruise ships and recorded a good number of albums.
In this video the Buck Creek Jazz Band finish out their 31 year run with Sidney Bechet's 1952 composition Dans les rues d'Antibes otherwise known as the "French tune!" Sidney Bechet (1897-1959) was the legendary clarinet and soprano saxophone player who became a sensation in the early years of jazz. He would eventually live in France where he wrote this tune.
The Buck Creek Jazz Band are seen here performing , for the last time, on the Jazzsea Caribbean on January 9, 2009.
But wait there's more! Since the band's retirement, there have been some reunions where the band has played at festivals.
Now on a sad note, an early member of the band, drummer Johnny Roulet (1922-2016) passed away this morning due to complications from surgery. His services will be at Fairfax Memorial Park on Wednesday, March 23rd at 10 AM.
Now let's have a listen to Sidney Bechet's version of Dans les rues d'Antibes recorded in the '50s.
