Personnel: Louis Armstrong (vocals, trumpet); Velma Middleto (vocals); Trummy Young (trombone); Ed Hall (clarinet); Billy Kyle (piano); Dale Jones, Squire Gersh (bass); Barrett Deems, Danny Barcelona (drums).
Recorded live in July 1956 and on October 17, 1957. Includes liner notes by Alun Morgan.
Personnel: Louis Armstrong (vocals, trumpet); Velma Middleton (vocals); Trummy Young (trombone); Ed Hall (clarinet); Billy Kyle (piano); Dale Jones, Squire Gersh (bass); Barrett Deems, Danny Barcelona (drums).
Recorded live in July 1956 & October 1957. Includes liner notes by Alun Morgan.
All tracks have been digitally remastered using 24-bit technology.
Louis Armstrong was perhaps the first true star of jazz--he was known around the world for his live performances and through countless recordings and films. He was a virtuoso trumpeter and a hearty, growly-voiced singer who influenced innumerable jazz and pop music performers. By the mid-'50s, when these tracks were recorded, Armstrong had elevated to grand elder statesman status. Many critics thought his best work (in the '20s and '30s) was behind him, but that notion didn't impact his many fans. He was a popular concert draw, and could still generate sparks that would let the good times roll. Here, Armstrong is joined by a band that's as good a fit as a pair of favorite shoes. Ed Hall (clarinet) and Trummy Young (trombone) are ace players, as befitting the loose, good-time Dixieland/New Orleans-style that Armstrong helped define. If you're looking for the recordings that made Armstrong an American original, seek out his Hot Five/Seven or mid-'30s recordings. If you want Louis the Entertainer, BASIN STREET is a good place to lose your BLUES.
