Louis Armstrong - Ambassador Satch
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Free Music Notes for Ambassador Satch
Free Music Review: Jubilant Armstrongness
Hit: 5 Stars
At the times I'm writing this, the album still seems to be available on the British version of the Amazon (although the price is anything but low)...
Well then:
Whether it's a dixieland warhorse such as "Tiger Rag" or "Tin Roof Blues" or standards like "All of me" or "Undecided", this group is really swinging, jubilant, absolutely brilliant, with hot ensembles and great individual features.
Armstrong's incandecent trumpet was still at (or darn near) its peak in the mid-50s when this album was recorded and his vocal chops were as flexible and as expressive as they ever were or would be (check out "All of me"...)...
Many of these tunes go back to Hot Fives and Hot Seven dates with Satchmo, so it's quite interesting to listen to these new version of "12th Street Rag" (at least equal to the the old one; with Billy Kyle's "retro" playing far more swinging than Lil Hardin's ever could be, with Deems, Young and Hall quite capable of filling their predecessor shoes). As for "West end Blues"... Well, don't take my word for it - check out for your self whether I'm right when I say it's magnificent and quite comparable to the historical version...
This album is a brilliant way to approach Armstrong's art; in addition to other laudatitons, the song choice is also excellent; except for the "Faitfull Hussar", all the songs are proven jazz-standards.
Free Music Review: Ambassador Satch
Hit: 5 Stars
This is, without any doubt one of the best Jazz Records ever recorded Live!
Taken from different live shows in the mid 50's. Featuring the best Armstrong All Stars: Edmond Hall-clarinet, Trummy Young-trombone, Billy Kyle-piano, Barrett Deems-drums, Arvell Shaw-bass.
The band at their hight and Armstrong's trumpet playing clean, effortlessly, very powerful and intense. An intensity he would only have through the late 40's and 50's. He would never play the same in years after that line up had changed (in terms of intensity). Another Record that pulls even is called "Satchmo The Great" also the same All Star Line up and quite a few rare and outstanding interviews with Armstrong himself.
"Ambassador Satch" also contains the best Tiger Rag version ever put to record!
J.S.
Free Music Review: Mostly European, Mostly Great
Hit: 4 Stars
Fans of Louis Armstrong and/or Trummy Young, both of whom are heard in in fine form here, will certainly enjoy this release. (The rest of the ensemble is fine, but suffers by comparison--as well as by being drowned out by an enthusiastic audience on some of the livelier numbers.) Billed as "European Concert Recordings" from 1955, four of the thirteen tracks were actually recorded in Hollywood in 1956. Nevertheless, the result is a coherent album that seems to convey the excitement of seeing these masterful musicians in person.
The folks at Columbia seem to have done their usual competent job with this CD reissue, preserving George Avakian's original liner notes and presenting full (and corrected) details of the recordings. While not as ambitious an undertaking as, say, Ellington At Newport 1956, the sound quality is good for a recording from this period and the result is quite listenable.
Free Music Review: One of the top 3 Pops' recordings out there...
Hit: 5 Stars
I think it is great that this is on CD, so maybe some more folks can discover it. Yes, Louis' two CDs (LPs) "Plays...Handy, Fats", are great recordings, but this takes a back seat to nothing. Satch Live, especially with Edmund Hall, (and Barrett Deems shows what he's all about on this one) and the rest of the All-Stars is pure Magic. The bonus tracks may be nice for some...me, I'll keep playing my third LP copy...Free Music Review: Great Armstrong Sounds
Hit: 5 Stars
Waited a long time to get this CD to replace my old LP album.Simply great to listen to. The musicians are having a great time, the crowd is responding. Nothing like live recording when you can get it, and I have quite a few live recordings of Armstrong. This is a must for your collection. The added bonus tracks are good but do not match the bouncing sound of the live recordings.