George Wein Honored

GEORGE WEIN HONORED AT BECHET SOCIETY CONCERT ON MARCH 22, 1999.

George Wein is the most important impresario of jazz concerts in the world, but the March 22nd concert at which he was featured is not his own, but one presented by The Sidney Bechet Society, which is honoring him, not as a world-famous producer, but as a jazz pianist. Wein has long idolized the New Orleans jazz pioneer on clarinet and soprano saxophone, and he played piano with Sidney on recordings made at Boston's Storyville Club in the early 1950's and again with the Bechet All-Stars at the Brussels World's Fair in 1958. At its March concert, the Society presented Mr. Wein with its 2nd Annual Sidney Bechet Award, naming him as its 1999 Man of the Year. George Wein honored us by playing the piano and reminiscing about Sidney, including his touching deathbed request in May 1959.

Sharing the stage with Wein at this March concert was an All-Star Band, including the mighty Byron Stripling (trumpet and vocal), Joe Muranyi (clarinet), Bubba Brooks (tenor sax), Bross Townsend (piano), Earl May (bass), and Eddie Locke (drums), a group of outstanding musicians representing several generations of jazz tradition. Also featured was a jitterbugging demonstration by the Laura Jeffers Dance Ensemble.

Twin concerts were held, at 6:00 and 8:30 p.m., on Monday, March 22, 1999, in the intimate Theatre at the Greenwich Village Center, 219 Sullivan Street (between Bleecker and West 3rd Streets) in Manhattan. Admission was $25; $15 for Bechet Society members.

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Picture of George Wein receiving the 1999 Person of the Year award from President Eric D. Offner of the Sidney Bechet Society at a concert of the Bechet Society on March 22, 1999 in New York City. Jack Lesberg, bassist who like George Wein, played with Sidney Bechet looking on at the award Ceremony.

(George Wein left side, Jack Lesberg center, Eric D. Offner right side)

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