Customer Reviews

Chicago: The Living Legends

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Lil Harden, will go down in history as being the 1st important female musician in jazz history, she palyed piano on most of King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band sides in the early 20's, and she also played piano on the majority of Louis Armstrong's Hot Fives & Sevens in the 20's, eventually she would marry Armstrong, she also composed many jazz standards which Louis Armstrong got credit for composing, she composed "Struutin' With Some Barbecue Sauce" and "Just For A Thrill." She even led some of Louis Armstrong's small groups in the 20's under the name of "Lil's Hot Shots" which were the same group as his Hot Five & Sevens. This "Chicago: The Living Legends Series" which was documenting great jazz artists from the 20's, in the early 1960's, has Lil Hardin Armstrong in a dixieland setting, all insrumental but one self composed "Clip Joint" (she sings so great on this title, that you'll wish she had recorded more vocals) Lil on piano sounds as hot as ever, and the band is consistantly hot on all of these New Orleans/Dixieland standards. "Royal Garden Blues" "Muskrat Ramble" and "Clip Joint" are just a few of the highlights of this terrific CD. Essential for Dixieland and New Orleans collectors, this is the best music that ever came out of the 60's.

I purchased this cd not just because I enjoy this type of music on occation but because it gives credit to the musicians behind the main attraction.
Eddie Smith, the trumpet player, is my Grandfather and it is nearly impossible to find his recorded music with the credits. I love the album for the fantastic jewel that it is but my Grandfather's credit makes it a real family treasure.

There's not enough good trad jazz that's been recorded from original artists like Lil Hardin. This CD is not only a great (sound-quality) recording of her playing and singing with a rather spontaneous big band, but it really conveys the energy, spontaneity, and excitement of what a live jazz session could be. Early recordings were too cumbersome to set up for much spontaneity, or if they were of live performances, didn't have such a great sound quality. This is an awesome CD, along with a track that Lil never recorded before (Clip Joint) that's one of my favorite songs!

Granted that Lilian Hardin's biggest break was marrying Louis Armstrong; her place in Jazz history was assured. Mo one will seriously make the claim that she was a jazz pianist. Her one time husband, the great Satchmo himself, in his later years once opined how incredulous it was that she played with such great musicians.

And that is certainly the case here.

Her piano playing alone wouldn't merit this album. But the musicians are first rate. The most interesting thing is that it wasn't planned that way. Apparently a band for a prior recording arrived late, so rather than let them go to waste, the producer simply added them to the session. Being seasoned musicians they didn't need much rehearsing.

Great swinging by all, in spite of Lil's stilted piano playing. She does a fair job at the vocal on her own composition "Clip Joint", and you sure can't beat the choice of classic tunes like Royal Garden Blues and Muskrat Ramble.

Of course the greatest single reason to own this album is for its historical value. Its the last recording we have of the woman who changed history; by talking her husband into quitting his job and striking out on his own.