LOUIS ARMSTRONG AND HIS ALL STARS – 1947, Vol. 2 | The Classics Chronological Series – 1144 (2000) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Louis Armstrong's All-Stars were the perfect postwar traditional jazz band, with Armstrong, Jack Teagarden, and Barney Bigard backed by Dick Cary, Arvell Shaw, and Sidney Catlett. Here on one disc are nearly all of the recordings made at Boston's Symphony Hall on November 30, 1947. The first four selections from this concert were issued on the previous volume of the complete recorded works of Louis Armstrong on the Classics Chronological Series. The Symphony Hall transcriptions were among the first extended Armstrong records to be made available to the public. Although eight of these titles were once issued in two parts, they are seamlessly presented here as uninterrupted jams. The most expanded track, clocking in at just over seven minutes, is "Steak Face," containing what is probably the longest drum solo ever recorded by Sid Catlett. The title comes from Armstrong's nickname for Catlett. In addition, Arvell Shaw was given room for an extended bass solo on "How High the Moon." The stylistic range represented here is enormously satisfying, encompassing old favorites like "High Society" and "Mahogany Hall Stomp" as well as progressive ideas from Duke Ellington ("C-Jam Blues") and Coleman Hawkins ("Boff Boff," also known as "Mop! Mop!"). There are marvelous vocals by Jack Teagarden, Louis Armstrong, and Velma Middleton, who spools out a magnificent rendition of Buddy Johnson's "Since I Fell for You." arwulf arwulf     Tracklist + Credits :

LOUIS ARMSTRONG – 1950-1951 | The Classics Chronological Series – 1233 (2002) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This chapter in the Chronological Classics Louis Armstrong series continues during a particularly fertile period with Armstrong surrounded by great sidemen and performing with others. A pair of tracks here, "Life Is So Peculiar" and "You Rascal You," showcase Satchmo in front of Louis Jordan's Tympani 5, and "Dream a Little Dream of Me" and "Can Anyone Explain?" are duets with Ella Fitzgerald. The sidemen on Armstrong's dates are a venerable crew from a fascinating era, and include Barney Bigard, Jack Teagarden, Cozy Cole, Hank Jones, Ray Brown, and Earl Hines, among others. There are also three Armstrong-led cuts featuring Velma Middleton on vocals: "Baby, It's Cold Outside," "The Hucklebuck," and the collection's closer, "Big Daddy Blues."  -> This comment is posted on Allmusic by Thom Jurek, follower of our blog 'O Púbis da Rosa'<-
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LOUIS ARMSTRONG – 1951-1952 | The Classics Chronological Series – 1283 (2003) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This series on the Classics label will be of great interest to collectors of classic jazz. The sessions are in chronological order and highlight alternate takes and radio broadcasts of historic jazz. 1951-19522 contains 23 tracks on a single disc including versions of "Big Butter and Egg Man," "When It's Sleepy Time Down South," "Takes Two to Tango," and " Indian Love Call." While the disc is definitely directed toward collectors, anyone with an interest in this period of jazz will also enjoy it. Al Campbell   Tracklist + Credits :

LOUIS ARMSTRONG – 1954 | The Classics Chronological Series – 1402 (2005) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This 22nd volume in Classics Records' chronological survey of the complete recordings of Louis Armstrong is a bit of a transitional one. It features Armstrong's last recordings for Decca Records, opening with a handful of studio versions of songs that were featured in the movie The Glenn Miller Story (including yet another take on "Basin Street Blues") and moves on to a pair of novelty songs, the utterly goofy "Spooks?" and a completely unnecessary rendition of Joyce Kilmer's poem "Trees" turned into a song. The miracle is that Armstrong's vocal almost -- almost -- makes "Trees" work as a legitimate song, but in the end a boat won't float if its design prevents it from doing so, and "Trees" just leaves one shaking one's head. What makes this installment worthwhile, though, is that it closes out with nine of the 11 songs that were featured on Armstrong's marvelous 1954 Louis Armstrong Plays W.C. Handy LP from Columbia Records, including fine versions of "Ole Miss," "Beale Street Blues," "Loveless Love," and what may well be the definitive version of "St. Louis Blues," which comes in at just under nine minutes in length. The remaining two tracks from the 1954 Handy sessions, "Yellow Dog Blues" and "Sing 'Em Low," will presumably open Classics' 23rd installment of Armstrong's musical biography. The only truly essential tracks here are the Handy tunes, which have been reissued by Columbia anyway, complete with a full track listing and a couple of alternate takes, so unless you're collecting the complete Classics Armstrong series, this installment isn't particularly vital, although thanks to the Handy sides, it's a solid listen. Steve Leggett   Tracklist + Credits :