Louis Armstrong

Applause forever Pops!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

 

He changed it all.

 

Happy Birthday Louie !!!

 

I was listening to Phil Schaap on that New York radio station he's on. A lot of nice Okah stuff from the 1920s and after, with Phil doing his professorial thing in between sets. "Cuban Pete" was especially nice. A very nice afternoon to celebrate his birthday!

What are the best ways to get into Louis Armstrong for a newbie? I have some odds and ends but nothing definitive. He obviously brought a lot to the table before "Hello Dolly," right?

 

Thanks for that! I will look for it.

 

Another suggestion, one of my favorites, the first Armstrong lp I really focused on and a consummate example of his working band stopping to make an interesting concpet record on tour, and illustrating how hip and entertaining these men were.

 

I have the SACD. A fun disc.

 

I actually have this one. It's a good listen, but not as interesting as the vintage stuff (1920s/30s) Shaap was playing on the radio this afternoon. I love that flat pre-fidelity sound on Louis's horn!

 

Well, over time that has actually become as interesting to me as the vintage stuff, I love it all. Plays W. C. Handy is really special to me, earned that status over time.

 

I consider Armstrong the single greatest musician of the 20th century, and not just for his joyous trumpet playing but for his enormous influence on every jazz artist that followed (and many outside jazz, I'm sure). IIRC, Billie Holiday said her singing style was derived almost entirely from his. And there's no artist who can put a smile on my face quicker -- and for a longer period of time -- than Satchmo. I recall seeing clips of him on the Ken Burns Jazz series and just weeping with joy during his solos. Just a one-of-a-kind talent.

 

I couldn't have put it better myself!!

I'm listening to the complete Dukes of Dixieland set right now, and you can bet I'm smiling!

 

Enjoy it, man!

 

The All Stars band of 1948-1951 was remarkable as well, especially on their live recordings. It's Armstrong, Jack Teagarden, Barney Bigard, Earl Hines, Arvell Shaw, and Sid Catlett (or sometimes Cozy Cole), with occasional vocals by Velma Middleton. A number of concerts later appeared on obscure LP labels. A great live CD of this group--though LP versions sound a bit better--is The All Stars In Philadelphia:

http://discogs.com/All-Stars-The-The-All-Stars-In-Philadelphia/release/2819747

For dedicated fans of this band, there's the CD Mr. President, from a 1949 Trieste show. Quality perhaps not as listenable as the Philadelphia disc, yet Russian Lullaby is epic, showcasing underrated bassist Arvell Shaw:

http://allmusic.com/album/honorary-president-of-hcf-mw0000213301

One more, this 1949 Zurich concert seems worthy (I haven't heard it):

http://allmusic.com/album/live-in-zurich-switzerland-181049-mw0000781726

The group also performed in the MGM movie The Strip (1951).

 

Decca did release a vintage 1951 All Stars live album; while not the most adventurous, it's probably the best-sounding... Satchmo At Pasadena:

http://www.allmusic.com/album/satchmo-at-pasadena-mw0000808060