Louis Armstrong: Ken Burns JAZZ (The Definitive)

Ken Burns JAZZ Collection, Louis Armstrong

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 7, 2000)
• Original Release Date: November 7, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B000050HVM
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #5,202 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

For much of his life, Louis Armstrong was the embodiment of jazz for millions of people, both a great creative artist and a beloved popular entertainer. Whether playing trumpet or singing, adding his own definitive touch to a ballad or spearheading a hot New Orleans-style band, Armstrong was a uniquely compelling figure. It's hard to compress such a career into a single CD, but this one includes many of the milestones, reaching back to 1923 for "Chime Blues" with Armstrong playing in the band of his mentor, King Oliver. At the opposite end of Armstrong's life is 1967's "What a Wonderful World," which only became famous decades after it was recorded. In between are the creative peaks, including a good sampling of Armstrong's Hot Five and Hot Seven bands from the late 1920s--the most influential of his recordings--and a superb small-group version of "Old Rockin' Chair" from 1947. Armstrong's 1931 version of Hoagy Carmichael's "Stardust" retains its special luster seven decades later, and there's also a good selection of trademark hits from his later career, like "Mack the Knife" and "Hello, Dolly!" --Stuart Broomer

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Sachmo The Greatest !, November 27, 2000

By	R. A. Meyer (Carmel, In United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I was lucky enough to see the great Mr Armstrong perform in New York in the early 60's. ALthough I was just a teenager his music touched me and I started to collect his albums. This CD is way too short and although it does have some great material I would highly recommend the Best of Collection here on Amazon. It's about the same price and has a lot more to offer of Louie ! Although I still collect Jazz today the past masters of the 30's, 40's and 60's continue to amaze me.

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good for the beginner., December 12, 2000

By	Germein Linares (Los Angeles, California United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I must admit that my love of jazz is a recent event and because of that my exposure to Louis Armastrong's music has been, for the most part, saturated with "Hello Dolly" and "What a Wonderful World". Both of those songs do not even come close to telling you what a tremendous jazz musician this man was, and this collection is a good introduction into that. The humor, also, in some of these songs is infectious. I'm driving with a silly grin on my face when this CD is in the car. "Rockin' Chair," in particular for me, is a gem. Just listen to how Louis comes in after the dialogue is done, it will almost make you weep. This CD will without a doubt make you go out and get another one of his CD's.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Stunning Compilation, November 17, 2001

By	David Doe (New York City, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This is a superb CD that anybody who is curious about jazz or Louis Armstrong should buy (lets face it, if you already are a Pops fan you probably have all these tunes). It serves as an almost perfect introduction to Satchmo and successfully highlights each stage of his career. Please note that each one of the tunes on this cd are masterpieces and may take time to absorb. If you are unfamiliar with jazz and bought this CD for Louis's ballads, it may take a few listenings to absorb some of the more unorthodox tunes. But if keep an open mind and listen carefully, you will have a divine experience. You can get high off of this music. The tunes on the cd are as follows:

Chimes Blues - delightfully simple tune that shows how Satchmo was a master at phrasing (he transforms a simple solo into a work of genius just by the way he expresses each note). Ken Burns appropriately introduced Louis by putting this very old tune from King Oliver's Band first.

Cake Walkin' Babies (from home) - Louis transforms another simple tune into a masterpiece with his brilliant expressional ability. It is simply a stunning experience to listen the fiery solos of Louis's trumpet and Sidney Bechet's soprano saxophone.

Heebie Jeebies - Strictly New Orleans tune that is historically significant containing the first recorded improvised vocal solo of Louis. The solos are entertaining, but in my opinion this is not one of the best Hot Fives and Sevens recordings. However, its historical significance and element of brilliance more than justify Ken Burns's placement of this tune in the compilation.

Potato Head Blues - My favorite jazz tune of all time

West End Blues - A great tribute to Satchmo's talent. The introduction to this tune is very difficult and was not successfully copied for a long time after Louis made this recording. The rest of the tune follows suit as Louis builds impressive statements that logically follow eachother with his instrument.

Tight Like This - If i had any quarrels with Ken Burns for his compilation, it would have to be with this tune. It is pretty good and I do enjoy it, but there are better recordings that could have taken its place.

Mahogany Hall Stomp - Another nice tune that shows how Louis could flawlessly weave around a melody chorus after chorus.

Ain't Misbehavin - A rather startling introduction to Louis's unrivaled ability to sing expressively. Satchmo gives new meaning to yet another tune.

Black and Blue - Again, Louis shows his musical fervor in this beautiful tune.

St. Louis Blues - Louis displays how he is the epitome of conservative playing on this piece where his relatively simple solos reach a state of divinity through perfect phrasing.

When It's Sleepy Time Down South - Another pleasant tune imbued with Louis's singing.

Blue Again - This tune was recorded right before Louis's trumpet ability began its unfortunate atrophy that would give way to his singing. However, "Blue Again" almost justifies this transition from trumpet to voice by showing how Louis had as much control over words as he did over trumpet notes.

Lazy River - I think you are starting to get the point by now... Louis by this time could effortlessly imbue a sung chorus with unrivaled zeal, phrasing, and expression. His mastery of time is especially evident in "Lazy River".

Star Dust - An unbelievable performance, my second favorite tune on this cd after Potato Head Blues.

Shadrack - Louis sings with a what sounds like a church choir. Interesting and pleasant, even though it isn't really jazz.

I Double Dare You - Nice tune.

When The Saints go Marching in - The best version of When the Saints go Marching In i have ever heard. It is mind boggling how Louis can turn an old and (lets face it) boring tune into a new and invigorating masterpiece.

Marie - Nice blend of Louis and two other great singers.

Rockin' Chair, Blueberry Hill, Mack the Knife, A Fine Romance, Hello Dolly, What a Wonderful World - I know it may seem ignorant for me to put all these tunes in the same category, but they really are ... all in the same category. They are all ballad-like songs in which Louis expresses his musical ability with his voice. What a Wonderful World steels the prize here, but they are all fine performances. If you bought these CDs just for Louis's later singing, then these will satisfy you. If you bought it for Louis's jazz trumpet, these will still be enjoyable. To this day i still believe that the unbridled genius of Louis Armstrong is shown in Potato Head Blues rather than What a Wonderful World. Either way, Ken Burn's Louis Armstrong CD is a perfect introduction to Satchmo. If you wonder why he hasn't included your favorite Armstrong tune, keep in mind that Armstrong made hundreds of exceptional recordings (and more unexceptional ones). It must have been torturous to throw out classics like "Struttin' With Some Barbecue Sauce", but such things are inevitable when trying to make a one CD compilation of Louis's work. You can not explain history in a page.