Product Details

• Actors: Louis Armstrong
• Producers: Ernie Fritz, Albert Spevak, George Wein, Greg Lewerke
• Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, DVD, Widescreen, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Image Entertainment
• DVD Release Date: January 26, 2010
• Run Time: 92 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B002U6DVNK
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #79,329 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Louis Armstrong: Good Evening Ev'rybody" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

LOUIS ARMSTRONG:GOOD EVENING EV'RYBOD - DVD Movie

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Full of Good Music -- With a Beat, January 3, 2010

By 

Stephanie DePue (Carolina Beach, NC USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Louis Armstrong: Good Evening Ev'rybody (DVD)

"Louis Armstrong: Good Evening Ev'rybody," an invaluable live concert recording, is based on never before publicly seen footage of the entertainer's 70th birthday party at the 1970 Newport Jazz Festival. The feature-length high-definition production has recently aired, in a shorter version, on public broadcasting channels (PBS) in the United States, and on several international broadcasters, including BBC4 in the United Kingdom.

Famed jazz producer George Wein, who created the Newport Jazz Festival and has produced it for many years, threw Armstrong's all-star party, featuring Mahalia Jackson and Dizzy Gillespie as well as many other jazz greats; he also had the foresight to get it professionally filmed, though the film was never released. He even went to Armstrong's house, in Queens, New York, and, by asking the musician a series of artfully-framed questions, got what is, in effect, a narration from the master. Mind you, Armstrong was not well at the time; he passed on July 6, 1971, and this is believed to be his last filmed concert performance. The original, first generation 16 mm. film of the 1970 concert was produced and directed by Wein, filmmaker Sidney J. Stiber, and executive produced by Jack Lewerke. Producer Albert Spevak created new hi def masters from the original, and digitally restored the audio from the original concert masters.

On the DVD, we see Armstrong rehearsing and performing many of his greatest hits. He is joined by performers such as Jimmy Owens, Bobby Hackett, Wild Bill Davison, and Ray Nance, who perform some too. I believe I counted 24 songs in all. Gillespie does "I'm Confessing," and "Ain't Misbehavin'." Davison does "Them There Eyes." Owens does "Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen." Nance, a big band performer with lounge lizard style, gives us "I'm in the Market for You." We also get "Thanks a Million," and "Way Down Yonder in New Orleans." Armstrong gives us his signature tune, "Sleepy Time Down South," "Pennies From Heaven, " and "Mac the Knife." We get "What a Wonderful World" and "Hello Dolly" in rehearsal. Also, his surprising, unpretentious take of "Blueberry Hill," which he sings complete with New Orleans accent: "you bodder me still." Well, the New Orleans accent, like the famed Brooklyn accent, grows out of the Irish accent, and the troublesome "th" sound might as well not exist.

Watching this, you can never forget that these artists are making music, in the truest sense of the word. They are largely older adults at the time, with bags under their eyes and around their waists; some of the women performers appear to be wearing $10 wigs, and some could use them; everybody smokes - and there's Schlitz beer everywhere. And the performers just stood and made the best music they knew how, with, apparently, little attention paid to outer appearances, polish, or presentation; there's not a writhing dancer to be seen. However, in her show-stopping, show-closing appearance, the late gospel star Jackson, who would herself pass fairly shortly, on January 27, 1972, does get carried away by "Just a Closer Walk with Thee," and breaks her vocal to dance a few steps. The crowd stood and roared. Armstrong found himself coming out on stage, and joining Jackson in the gospel standard, which he'd never professionally sung before. Producer/impresario Wein calls the evening's stars out, and we see them in a final unrehearsed jam of "When the Saints Go Marching In," sung, once again, by Jackson and Armstrong. Armstrong hadn't released that tune since 1938; Jackson had never professionally sung it before.

In his remarks, Armstrong says that "there ain't but two kinds of music, good and bad, and if it's got a beat, it's good." He has, he adds, just bought the Beatles' "Let It Be;" and he gives us a few bars of it. Gospel star Jackson will say that everyone loves Armstrong, who's from her home town, and "if you don't, you don't know how to love." If you love good music with a beat, you will love this DVD, as I do.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stunning, February 4, 2010

By 

Jazz Man (Madison, Wisconsin) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Louis Armstrong: Good Evening Ev'rybody (DVD)

This incredible document of the 1970 Newport Jazz Festival is a must own. Filled with music and warmth, this wonderful film shows Louis in one of his last major appearances. It features Louis in a casual rehearsal session before the Newport concert, in full force in front of the crowd singing the songs he helped make famous and a short while later commenting on the event. It's priceless.

Fans of New Orleans jazz should be aware of the parade of legends in this film: Percy Humphrey, Willie Humphrey, Billie and DeDe Pierce, Cie Frazier, Captain John Handy, Big Jim Robinson and others. It's a rare treat to see these great neglected musicians get their due.

Don't miss out on this film. It's not some hodgepodge of musical bits thrown together but rather a brilliant and complete portrait of a remarkable event.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A brilliant and moving swansong for the great Louis Armstrong, August 30, 2010

By 

Swingin' Drummer - See all my reviews

This review is from: Louis Armstrong: Good Evening Ev'rybody (DVD)

The content of this has been well summed up in some of the other reviews. But what I would add, is that this is a beautifully filmed and lovingly edited concert film of one of Pop's last major public performances.

Coming on after a heartfelt and hot series of tributes from top trumpeters, Louis takes centre stage and his radiant smile lights up the whole screen as he sings some of his biggest hits. Sadly no trumpet as he was recovering from serious illness (although he had recovered sufficiently to play some beautiful horn on the Johnny Cash show 3 months later) but his singing is so soulful, so moving that I'm not ashamed to say I had seriously damp eyes by the end of the film.

This film is of interest not just to existing fans of Louis, but to anyone who like's superbly made concert films.

Alongside "Jazz on a Summers Day" and "Jammin the Blues" this is the best jazz performance film ever made.