[Dixielandjazz] Bechet - Bash Shay - Bechette

[Stephen Barbone]

Someone asked how Bechet pronounced his name and how others did. This
from being there at the time. Hank D'Amico introduced us in January
1950, just before he left for France and I saw/spoke with him in both
America and France from then until he died.


He pronounced it Bash Shay, emphasis on the Bash.

Musicians that played with him, and/or knew him pronounced it Bash Shay,
just as he did.

Many informally referred to him as Bash

The French. in the 1950s, called him Bichette, probably because they
were giving it what they though was the correct American pronunciation.

When Bob Wilbur was learning from him in NYC and was a constant shadow,
fellow musicians, seeing them together would say, There goes Bash and
Shay.

Cheers,
Steve Barbone