6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Must-Have, August 2, 2009
This review is from: Vol. 19-Jazz Ballads (Audio CD)
I see this as a fantastic bridge between Armstrong's pop hits and his magnificent but much more complex "pure jazz" recordings. Most of the album is live, and there's a distinct sense I get of being right there, right then. For someone who wants to delve deeper into why Louis Armstrong is the greatest jazz player ever, this is a great starting point.
Jack Teagarden was an incredibly fluid trombonist: at times it's hard to tell who is who, Teagarden is playing so high in his range with apparently no need to place his notes where the slide can play them.
This album is a must-have. Sometimes when I'm listening, I get this sudden eureka moment: the feeling that I truly understand what jazz is and where it came from.
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3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Choice, indeed but not FIRST choice, July 18, 2009
This review is from: Vol. 19-Jazz Ballads (Audio CD)
The first disc has 15 tunes (63:24) and on the second disc, there's 18 tunes (66:50). Louis sings lead on all but one song on the first disc. The second disc is mainly Teagarden. A few tunes are instrumental.
The sound quality is fair to good, for the most part, but never stellar.
Just an FYI - the packaging on this item is unusually attractive/well designed. There's mylar threads that shine in the light through the white finish (inside and out) and the center buttons that hold the discs in place are nicely made. Notes in the accompanying booklet give details on the individual performances.
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