LOUIS ARMSTRONG – Louis Armstrong and Friends (2001) Jazz In Paris – 51 | RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The title of this compilation is a bit misleading, as Louis Armstrong only appears on seven of the CD's 20 tracks. All of them were recorded during a visit by the trumpeter to France in 1934 and were made on the sly, since he was under an exclusive contract to another label. The all-stars were primarily European musicians assembled for the session, though pianist Herman Chittison, a fellow American, makes his mark in "Super Tiger Rag," along with the leader's crisp, high-note solo. They compare favorably with some of Armstrong's later work back home with larger orchestras, but for the most part, the music is of minimal interest aside from his contributions. The other selections are a mixed bag. Pianist Freddy Johnson and trumpeter Arthur Briggs lead an orchestra that offers rather dated treatments of "Sweet Georgia Brown" and Spencer Williams' "Foxy and Grapesy." Actress Marlene Dietrich sings in her native German in "Wo Ist der Mann?" (Where Is the Man?), though the lyrics are half-spoken, backed by Briggs and Johnson leading a quintet. Tracks featuring vocalist Louis Cole with Briggs and Johnson are simply forgettable. Austrian singer Greta Keller is far more interesting than Dietrich on her pair of songs, including a moving "Goodbye to Summer" and the humorous, lightly swinging "I'm Gonna Lock My Heart and Throw Away the Key." The band is a good one, with expatriates Herman Chittison on piano and trumpeter Bill Coleman soloing. Clarinetist Danny Polo leads a sextet on the last four tracks, featuring either Garland Wilson or Una Mae Carlisle on piano and the phenomenal but underrated guitarist Oscar Alemán. The unaccredited "Doing the Gorgonzola" is easily the high point of this rare session. Overall, this music falls somewhat short of being essential, though the very reasonable price (like all of the CDs in Universal's Jazz in Paris series) makes it a bit more attractive. Ken Dryden  
Tracklist :
Louis Armstrong Et Son Orchestre: 1934
1. –Louis Armstrong Et Son Orchestre - Saint Louis Blues     2:43
W.C. Handy
2. –Louis Armstrong Et Son Orchestre - Super Tiger Rag     3:07
Nick LaRocca
3. –Louis Armstrong Et Son Orchestre - Will You, Won't You Be My Baby?     2:48
John Nesbitt / Howdy Quicksell
4. –Louis Armstrong Et Son Orchestre - On The Sunny Side Of The Street - Part 1     2:57
Dorothy Fields / Jimmy McHugh
5. –Louis Armstrong Et Son Orchestre - On The Sunny Side Of The Street - Part 2     3:07
Dorothy Fields / Jimmy McHugh
6. –Louis Armstrong Et Son Orchestre - Saint Louis Blues     3:06
W.C. Handy
7. –Louis Armstrong Et Son Orchestre - Song Of The Vipers     2:53
Traditional
Freddy Johnson, Arthur Briggs & Their All-Star Orchestra: 1933
8. –Freddy Johnson, Arthur Briggs & Their All-Star Orchestra     Sweet Georgia Brown     3:16
Ben Bernie / Kenneth Casey / Maceo Pinkard
9. –Freddy Johnson, Arthur Briggs & Their All-Star Orchestra     Foxy And Grapesy     3:34
Freddy Johnson / Spencer Williams
Marlene Dietrich Accompagnée Par Freddy Johnson Et Son Jazz: 1933
10. –Marlene Dietrich     Wo Ist Der Mann?     3:10
Max Kolpé / Peter Kreuder
Arthur Briggs: 1933
11. –Arthur Briggs     Nobody's Sweetheart     3:17
Ernie Erdman / Gus Kahn / Billy Meyers / Elmer Schoebel
12. –Arthur Briggs     Grabbin' Blues     3:32
Arthur Briggs / Freddy Johnson
13. –Arthur Briggs     I Got Rhythm     3:18
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
14. –Arthur Briggs     Japanese Sandman     3:38
Greta Keller: 1938
15. –Greta Keller     Goodbye To Summer     3:38
Harry Phillips
16. –Greta Keller     I'm Gonna Lock My Heart And Throw Away The Key     3:06
Jim Eaton / Terry Shand
Danny Polo And His Swing Stars: 1939
17. –Danny Polo And His Swing Stars     Doing The Gorgonzola     3:05
Danny Polo
18. –Danny Polo And His Swing Stars     Montparnasse Jump     2:46
Leonard Feather / Danny Polo
19. –Danny Polo And His Swing Stars     China Boy     2:56
Phil Boutelje / Dick Winfree
20. –Danny Polo And His Swing Stars     Polo-naise     2:56
Danny Polo
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Alcide Castellanos (faixas: 8, 9), Henri Tyree (faixas: 1 to 7)
Arranged By – Freddy Johnson (faixas: 8, 9)
Clarinet – Danny Polo (faixas: 17 to 20), Joe Hayman (faixas: 15, 16)
Clarinet, Saxophone [Alto] – Peter Du Congé (faixas: 1 to 10)
Double Bass – German Arago (faixas: 1 to 7), Juan Fernandez (faixas: 8 to 10), Louis Vola (faixas: 17 to 20), Wilson Myers (faixas: 15, 16)
Drums – Billy Taylor (faixas: 8 to 10), Jerry Mengo (faixas: 17 to 20), Oliver Times (faixas: 1 to 7)
Guitar – John Mitchell (faixas: 15, 16), Maceo Jefferson (faixas: 1 to 7), Oscar Aleman (faixas: 17 to 20), Sterling Conaway (faixas: 8, 9)
Piano – Freddy Johnson (faixas: 8 to 14), Garland Wilson (faixas: 17 to 20), Herman Chittison (faixas: 1 to 7, 15, 16), Una Mae Carlisle (faixas: 17 to 20)
Tenor Saxophone – Alfred Pratt (faixas: 1 to 7), Alix Combelle (faixas: 17 to 20), Frank "Big Boy" Goudie (faixas: 8, 9)
Trombone – Billy Burns (faixas: 8, 9), Lionel Guimaraes (faixas: 1 to 7)
Trumpet – Arthur Briggs (faixas: 8 to 14), Bill Coleman (faixas: 15, 16), Bobby Jones (faixas: 8, 9), Jack Hamilton (faixas: 1 to 7), Leslie Thompson (faixas: 1 to 7), Philippe Brun (faixas: 17 to 20), Theodore Brock (faixas: 8, 9)
Trumpet, Vocals – Louis Armstrong (faixas: 1 to 7)
Vocals – Greta Keller (faixas: 15, 16), Louis Cole (faixas: 8, 9, 11, 13)
Nota :
Recorded in Paris in October 1934 (1-7), on July 8, 1933 (8-9), on July 19, 1933 (10), in June 1933 (11-14), on September 27, 1938 (15-16) and on January 30, 1939 (17-20)
Reissue of the 78rpm discs: Brunswick 9683 (1), 500 490 (2, 6), 500 491 (4, 5), 500 492 (3, 7), 500 278 (8, 9), 500 262 (11, 13), 500 263 (12, 14), 81 859 (15, 16), Polydor 530 002 (10) & Decca 6989 (17, 18), 7126 (19, 20)