Premier Bal is a jazz standard written by Sidney Bechet with later French lyrics by Bernard Dimey. Bechet first released the piece in 1958 in Paris with André Réwéliotty et son orchestre, as a single from the album L'Histoire de Sidney Bechet (1959). The tune is a slow, nostalgic number drawing on Bechet's New Orleans roots and blending early jazz, swing and slow fox influences, usually performed on soprano sax with a clarinet led ensemble. Bechet was about 61 when he composed it, during his Paris years as a star of the European jazz scene, and the piece evokes memories of a first dance. Over the years Premier Bal has become a jazz standard with many adaptations and recordings, including Claude Goaty's 1960 French lyric version Mon premier bal with Bernard Dimey lyrics, Buck Clayton's 1960 instrumental, and later versions by Claude Luter, Archie Shepp and others.
