Petite Fleur (Little Flower)

Who was the New Orleans jazz pioneer who did most to make this music a unique art form? When this question is asked, the name of Louis Armstrong invariably comes to mind, and rightly so. But there is another jazz musician whose name deserves to be coupled with Armstrong as the greatest of the New Orleans Jazz players. His name is Sidney Bechet.

In fact, Sidney Bechet was the first important jazz soloist on records in history (beating Louis Armstrong by a few months).

Petite Fleur (Little Flower)

Sidney Bechet was born in New Orleans in May 1897, of Creole ancestry, grew up in a middle class environment. His father, Omar, who was a shoemaker, played the flute as a hobby. Indeed, music had an important role in the Bechet household, as Sidney's four brothers also played instruments.

Creole Jazz in New Orleans 1921

Sidney Bechet studied clarinet in New Orleans with Lorenzo Tio, Big Eye Louis Nelson, and George Baquet and he developed so quickly that as a child he was playing with some of the top bands in the city.

Sidney Bechet in New Orleans

Bechet left New Orleans for the first time when he was 19, traveling to Chicago with pianist, Clarence Williams and his variety show. Here Bechet came to the attention of the noted Swiss Conductor, Ernst Ansermet, who conducted the music of Stravinsky for the Ballets Russa. Ansermet wrote in a Swiss musical Journal, “The extraordinary clarinet virtuoso Bechet is an artist of genius!”

Sidney Bechet

Bechet made his recording debut in 1923 and during the next two years he appeared on records backing blues singers, interacting with Louis Armstrong and playing some stunning solos.

Most of the 1930s were comparatively lean times for Bechet. He worked with Noble Sissle on and off and had a brilliant session with his New Orleans Feetwarmers in 1932 (featuring trumpeter Tommy Ladnier).

Tommy Ladnier - trumpeter

Though starting out as a clarinetist, Bechet eventually became even better known as a virtuoso of the soprano saxophone. He first tried to play on a beat-up old soprano sax he purchased in a pawn shop. Such was the difficulty of the soprano sax; an instrument extremely difficult to play in tune that he gave up and obtained his money back from the pawnbroker. A year latter in London, he purchased a brand new instrument and tried again. This time he was successful and succeeded in making the soprano saxophone an important voice in jazz.

Sidney Bechet

Sidney Bechet's fortunes changed drastically in 1949. He was invited to the Salle Pleyel Jazz Festival in Paris, caused a sensation, and decided to move permanently overseas. Within a couple years he was a major celebrity and a national hero in France, even though the general public in the U.S. never did know who he was.

Much of the latter part of his life, he spent in France. Many of his compositions are inspired by his love for that country. In 1951 Bechet wrote a successful instrumental piece Petite Fleur. It was recorded in January 1952 with the Sidney Bechet All Stars.

Chris Barber’s Jazz Band

In 1959 it was a big hit for Chris Barber's Jazz Band. Following the Chris Barber instrumental recording, lyrics were added by Fernand Bonifay (french) and Mario Bua (spanish) in the same year.

The French version was first released by Henri Salvador in 1959.

Henri Salvador

It was in Europe that Bechet achieved his greatest success and where eventually made his home, but he never forgot the New Orleans tradition that nurtured and inspired him.

Fernand Bonifay

His last decade was filled with exciting concerts, many recordings, and infrequent visits back to the U.S. before his death from cancer. Bechet died in Paris, France, on his 62nd birthday, May 14, 1959.

Petite Fleur

J'ai caché 
Mieux que partout ailleurs
Au grand jardin de mon coeur 
Une petite fleur
Cette fleur 
Plus jolie qu'un bouquet
Elle garde en secret 
Tous mes ręves d'enfant
L'amour de mes parents 
Et tous ces clairs matins
Fait d'heureux souvenirs lointains

Quand la vie 
Par moments me trahi
Tu restes mon bonheur 
Petite fleur

Sur mes vingt ans 
Je m'arręte un moment
Pour respirer 
Le parfum que j'ai tant aimé

Dans mon coeur 
Tu fleuriras toujours
Au grand jardin d'amour 
Petite fleur

Quand la vie 
Par moments me trahi
Tu restes mon bonheur 
Petite fleur

Sur mes vingt ans 
Je m'arręte un moment
Pour respirer 
Le parfum que j'ai tant aimé

Dans mon coeur 
Tu fleuriras toujours
Au grand jardin d'amour 
Petite fleur

Petite Fleur - cover

Pequeña flor

Yo arranqué
del jardín del amor
una pequeña flor
que en mi pecho guardé.

Talismán
que me hablaba de ti,
que cuidaba de mí
en el bien y en el mal.

Pero se marchitó
y perdió su poder,
porque ya tu querer
murió.

De ese amor,
que era mi sueño azul
sólo me quedas tú,
pequeña flor.

Te guardaré
toda una eternidad.
Te besaré
cuando quiera otra vez soñar.

De ese amor,
que era mi sueño azul,
sólo me quedas tú
pequeña flor.

Y de aquel
sueño de juventud
sólo me quedas tú
pequeña flor.

Petite Fleur - melodic line