[Dixielandjazz] Louis Armstrong: His Genius Lives On

[Robert Ringwald]

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Louis Armstrong: His Genius Lives On
Grammy-winning jazz musician John Chilton, who was Louis Armstrong's biographer,
enjoys a new 10-CD boxset that showcases a musical master.
London Telegraph, August 27, 2011
Louis Armstrong's reputation as the greatest of all jazz musicians will be consolidated
by the issue of a ten-CD box set covering much of his recording career.
The 165 tracks range from his first recorded solo (Chimes Blues in 1923) through
to his Hit Parade success What a Wonderful World 44 years later.
All of Armstrong's influential masterpieces are featured, including Potato Head Blues
-- on which his stop-time chorus became a test-piece for aspiring young trumpeters
-- and West End Blues with its ingenious opening cadenza, its mellow vocal chorus
and Armstrong's dramatic rise to a top 'C' that goes on for bar after bar.
Armstrong's vocals were almost as influential as his amazingly rhythmic trumpet phrases.
Heebie Jeebies caused many musicians to scat and growl in homage to his pioneering
vocal work. Later, as Armstrong gradually smoothed out his vocals, he made many sides
solely as a singer -- with Blueberry Hill a delightful example.
Because Armstrong had such a deep understanding of how a singer should be accompanied,
the tracks on which he backed Bessie Smith, rightly known as the Empress of the Blues,
were wonderful. St Louis Blues ranks as one of the most perfectly coordinated duo
performances in the vast history of the blues.
Armstrong always has a splendid command of the trumpet's upper register and by the
late 1920s his use of high notes was phenomenal. He demonstrates this on dozens of
recordings, notably When You're Smiling. Most of his recordings in the 1930s feature
him with big bands. They were sometimes made up of variable but willing musicians.
Inspired by working with such a musical genius, they did their best and Armstrong,
for his part, blew with a fervour that compensated for any of his colleagues' deficiencies.
Superb performances abound regardless of the fact that some of the tunes were actually
pretty second rate. Armstrong could turn a pot boiler into an everlasting favourite.
Through the 1930s, Armstrong continued to create definitive versions of many compositions,
including When It's Sleepytime Down South (which became his signature tune).
During the 1930s and 1940s Armstrong's fame grew steadily along with sales of his
records, partly as a result of him appearing in various Hollywood movies. Jeepers
Creepers, a song from the 1938 film Going Places, was a particularly fine recording
from one of his films.
Armstrong also occasionally recorded with novelty groups such as Andy Iona and his
Islanders and the immensely popular Mills Brothers' vocal group.
In 1947, Armstrong decided to work regularly with a small group as opposed to a big
band. The new unit was billed as Louis Armstrong And The All Stars. This highly mobile
sextet lived up to its name. Its success was instant and it was soon playing engagements
all over the world, earning Armstrong the sobriquet Ambassador Satch.
The group did many admirable studio recordings and lots of good live sessions. A
whole CD in this excellent box set -- which includes a book, sheet music and scores
-- is devoted to the All Stars playing a live concert in 1956 called Live at the
Hollywood Bowl.
Despite personnel changes, the group were always accorded an ecstatic welcome. Armstrong's
showmanship was a stand out feature along with his duets with the rotund singer Velma
Middleton. The All Stars could be lighthearted but when the occasion demanded their
music-making was inspiring, as they demonstrated on the tribute to WC Handy, which
can be cited as one of the most satisfying of all long playing albums.
Year after year, Armstrong continued to gain new fans with the issue of big-selling
records such as Mack the Knife, Hello Dolly and Cabaret. His popularity led to more
and more international tours and one-night stands. His health began to suffer but
he carried on undaunted. Armstrong's vibrant attitude shines through on his recorded
conversations with his good friend Dan Morgenstern (of the Institute of Jazz Studies).
On the recordings (which took place at Armstrong's home in Corona, New York) the
jazz star sounds relaxed and happy.
This is one of two bonus CDs on Universal Music's Satchmo: Louis Armstrong: The Ambassador
of Jazz box set, the other being a disc entitled Rare and Unreleased which shows
Armstrong running through items (mainly evergreens) with pianist Oscar Peterson,
plus tracks that allow us to hear the All Stars rehearsing, gradually making their
way to perfection.
Armstrong continued to fulfil his punishing schedule until the last months of his
life. He died in his sleep at home in Corona in July 1971, aged 70.
Forty years on and Armstrong's fame is undiminished. If anything, the appreciation
of his genius is even greater thanks to the legacy of his recorded masterpieces.
__________
John Chilton, a Grammy-winning jazz writer, has written biographies of Louis Armstrong,
Sidney Bechet, Coleman Hawkins, Roy Eldridge, Louis Jordan and Henry Allen as well
as The Who's Who of Jazz. He was leader of the Feetwarmers, who toured and recorded
with George Melly for more than three decades.


--Bob Ringwald
www.ringwald.com
Fulton Street Jazz Band
530/ 642-9551 Office
916/ 806-9551 Cell
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