Product Description
Personnel includes: Louis Armstrong (vocals, trumpet); Henry Jones, Charlie Holmes, Pete Clark (alto saxophone); Bingie Madison, Albert Nicholas (tenor saxophone, clarinet); Greely Walton (tenor saxophone); Leonard Davis, Gus Aiken, Henry "Red" Allen, Shelton Hemphill (trumpet); Harry White, Snub Mosley, James Archey, J.C. Higginbotham, Wilbur de Paris (trombone); Luis Russell (piano); Lee Blair (guitar); Pops Foster, Red Callender (bass); Paul Barbarin (drums).
Jimmy Dorsey & His Orchestra: Jimmy Dorsey, Jack Stacey (alto saxophone, clarinet); Fud Livingston, Skeets Hurfurt (tenor saxophone, clarinet); George Thow, Toots Camarata (trumpet); Bobby Byrne, Joe Yukl, Don Mattison (trombone); Bobby Van Epps (piano); Roscoe Hillman (guitar); Jim Taft (bass); Ray McKinley (drums).
Recorded in New York, New York between April 28, 1936 and July 7, 1937; Los Angles, California between August 7, 1936 and January 12, 1938. Includes liner notes by Richard Sudhalter.
Personnel: Louis Armstrong (vocals, trumpet); Lee Blair, Roscoe Hillman (guitar); Jack Stacey, Jimmy Dorsey (clarinet, alto saxophone); Fud Livingston, Bingie Madison, Albert Nicholas, Arthur "Skeets" Herfurt (clarinet, tenor saxophone); Henry Jones, Pete Clark, Charlie Holmes (alto saxophone); Greely Walton (tenor saxophone); George Thow, Leonard Davis , Gus Aiken, Henry "Red" Allen, Louis Bacon, Tutti Camarata, Shelton Hemphill (trumpet); Joe Yukl, George Washington , Snub Mosley, Harry White , J.C. Higginbotham, Don Mattison, Jimmy Archey, Wilbur De Paris, George Matthews , Bobby Byrne (trombone); Bobby Van Eps, Luis Russell (piano); Paul Barbarin, Ray McKinley (drums).
Liner Note Author: Dick Sudhalter.
Recording information: Los Angeles, CA (04/28/1936-01/15/1938); New York, NY (04/28/1936-01/15/1938).
Photographer: William Gottlieb.
Arranger: Chappie Willett.
This album collects the big band recordings that Armstrong did for the Decca label in 1936-38. While falling short of the dizzying heights of his legendary Hot Five/Seven 1920s sides, these tunes feature an Armstrong a bit older, wiser and in full command of his powers. Many of the tunes are the same as the '20s set, but are conveyed in a more relaxed and genial manner, if aimed a bit more at the pop/dance audience of the day.
Which is not to say that there's not great jazz here-far from it. Armstrong had adapted to the Swing Era, as befits one who played with Fletcher Henderson (who was one of the architects of the Big Band sound). There's relaxed, good-natured (at times a wee bit corny) vocals, some stellar trumpet playing and fine playing from Albert Nicholas, Pops Foster, J.C. Higginbotham, Luis Russell and Jimmy Dorsey. If you like Louis AND classic big band swing, this'll leave you with a HEART FULL OF RHYTHM.
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