The Big Band Recordings: 1930-1932

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By 1930, Louis Armstrong had already conquered the jazz world and began turning his attention to popular songs. Many so-called standards were introduced to the pantheon thanks to Armstrong's recordings of them during this period. Presented chronologically, these 42 tracks find him fronting various big bands, and though the quality of the material and the musical support may vary, Armstrong is scintillating throughout. Trumpet solo after trumpet solo, scat after scat, he astonishes the listener with his command of melody--and, of course, it's all done with charming effortlessness. Little else will grab your attention in terms of arrangements or other soloists (other than perhaps the presence of Lionel Hampton on drums and vibes on several tracks), but it's really a blessing in disguise because it puts the spotlight squarely where it belongs. And here Satchmo shows off the whole package: the humor, the showmanship, the charisma, the majesty, the tenderness, the authority, and of course, the uncanny ability to improvise in consistently profound ways. --Marc Greilsamer

The Big Band Recordings: 1930-1932,Louis Armstrong,Jsp Records,Big Band,Big Bands,Jazz,Jazz Music,Jazz Traditional,Pop,Swing,Vocal Jazz

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