This 1956 Columbia Records release is comprised of three sessions "the grand old man of the soprano sax" Sydney Bechet cut in 1938 and 1947. The 1938 numbers in the set ("Jungle Drums," "Chant In the Night" and "What a Dream") were made while he was working at Nick's with his own working band at the time (Zutty Singleton on drums, Henry Turner on bass, and Leonard Ware on guitar) plus pianist Dave Bowman and baritone saxophonist Ernie Caceres.

An additional seven recordings ("Love For Sale," "Buddy Bolden Stomp," "My Woman's Blues," "Laura," "Just One of Those Things," "Shake 'Em Up" and "The Song of Songs") come from 1947 when Sidney was leading a quartet at Jimmy Ryan's with Lloyd Phillips on piano, Pops Foster on bass and Freddie Moore/Arthur Herbert alternating on drums. The remaining three tunes ("I Had It, But It's All Gone Now," "Polka Dot Stomp" and "Kansas City Man Blues" were made with Bob Wilber's Wildcats, a group of youngsters (then aged 17 to 21) whose leader was a pupil of Bechet's.

Sidney gets plenty of elbow room throughout this unusual collection and it contains perhaps more Sidney Bechet to the inch than his loyal public had ever been able to enjoy before. Very few musicians are able to fill the solo spotlight so effectively as he does here.