CD1
1. A Song Was Born
2. Please Stop Playing Those Blues
3. Before Long
4. Lovely Weather We’re Having
5. Intro and Back ‘o Town Blues
6. Bidy and Soul
7. Stars fell on Alabama
8. High Society
9. Basin Street Blues
10. Rockin’ Chair
11. I Gotta Right to Sing the Blues
12. Dialogue (Part 1)
13. Dialogue (Part 2)
14. Interview with Louis Armstrong
15. Presentation by G. Cazeneuve & Roger Pigout
16 Muskrat Ramble
17. Rockin’ Chair
18. Boogie Woogie on the St Louis Blues
19. Rose Room
20. I Gotta Right to Sing the Blues
CD2
1. When It’s Sleepy Time Down South
2. Mahogany Hall Stomp
3. Royal Garden Blues
4. Them There Eyes
5. Panama
6. On the Sunny Side of the Street
7. Black and Blue
8. Dear Old Southland
9. Royal Garden Blues
10. My Monday Date
11. Oh! When the Saints Go Marchin’ In
12. That’s My Desire
13. I Cried Last Night (Velma’s Blues)
14. Presentation and Steak Face
15. Ain’t Misbehavin’
16. I Cried for You
17. Boogie Woogie on the St Louis Blues
18. Interview by Loys Choquart
CD3
1. Dear Old Southland
2. Black and Blue
3. Royal Garden Blues
4. You Rascal You
5. How High the Moon
6. Someone to Watch Over Me
7. Honeysuckle Rose
8. Back ’o Town Blues
9. Steak Face
10. Theme: When It’s Sleepy Time Down South
11. Mahogany Hall Stomp
12. On the Sunny Side of the Street
13. High Society
14. Basin Street Blues
15. Baby Won’t You Please Come Home
16. I Cried Last Night
17. That’s My Desire
18. Muskrat Ramble
Louis Armstrong – Trumpet, vocals
Jack Teagarden – Trombone, vocals
Barney Bigard – Clarinet
Dick Cary – Piano (tracks I/1-11)
Earl Hines – Piano (tracks I/16-20, CD2 and 3)
Arvell Shaw – Bass
Big Sid Catlett - Drums
Velma Middleton – Vocals (tracks II/12, 13, III/16, 17)
Fans of Louis Armstrong may already feel familiar with many of these tracks, recorded in New York and Nice between 16 October 1947 and 2 March 1948. Thus
we reach the fourteenth volume of a remarkable series intending to present us with Louis’ complete recordings. However familiar they may be, these tracks
are always welcome, as they encapsulate the Armstrong All Stars in some of their finest performances. Their appeal is accentuated by the fact that most of
these tracks are concert performances, as Louis seemed to be particularly stimulated by the presence of a live audience.
The memorable elements of these performances are well known, such as Jack Teagarden’s velvet-smooth trombone; the amiable duets between Armstrong and
Teagarden; Earl Hines’ classic piano; Barney Bigard’s authentic New Orleans clarinet; and Big Sid Catlett’s histrionic, unpredictable drumming. Above all
there was Louis: singing in a way which was the template for many subsequent vocalists and playing the trumpet with supreme assurance. There have been
critics who gave the impression that the era of the All Stars was mere entertainment (mere?) or a circus, but nobody could play trumpet like Armstrong,
moulding shapely solos and reaching high notes with the greatest of ease.
Certainly some songs crop up more than once in these three CDs but they are generally the popular items like Rockin’ Chair andThat’s My Desire. Otherwise the repertoire is remarkably varied for a hard-working touring band. Highlights include Jack Teagarden’s melodious Stars Fell on Alabama, Earl Hines’ variegated solo in Panama, and Sid Catlett’s feature on Steak Face (his drum solo is
different in the two versions here).
There are also announcements and interviews, some of them in French, which may be considered fairly expendable. Recording quality is variable but this is a
useful instalment in a brave enterprise which should be serviceable in re-assessing the achievements of the genius known as Satchmo.
Tony Augarde
www.augardebooks.co.uk
CD Reviews
Frémeaux & Associés FA 1364
