Louis Armstrong - Louis Armstrong in Scandinavia (2007)

In 1933, Louis Armstrong was filmed playing before a live audience in Copenhagen, performing “I Cover the Waterfront,” “Dinah” and “Tiger Rag.” In addition to being an exciting document to watch, it ranks as possibly the first in-concert jazz performance saved for posterity. Its soundtrack launches the Louis Armstrong In Scandinavia four-CD set which includes all of the existing music from Armstrong’s many visits through the years to that part of the world. There are three songs from a Stockholm concert a week after the 1933 film and two numbers by the 1949 All-Stars that include Jack Teagarden and Earl Hines. These are erratically recorded and there is a lot of fooling around, but it is great to hear Satch’s 1933 solo on “On the Sunny Side of the Street” and the clowning by Teagarden and Barney Bigard on “Twelfth Street Rag.” The remainder of this box is better recorded, featuring the Louis Armstrong All-Stars of 1952, 1955, 1959 and 1967. Most of the material was previously unreleased until these sets became initially available as individual CDs. Armstrong is in wonderful form throughout, enjoying himself entertaining large enthusiastic crowds. Even though one can sing some of his set solos note-for-note while hearing these versions for the first time, Satch’s sound and feeling generate a lot of excitement. While Trummy Young is the trombonist on the great majority of the performances (Tyree Glenn is on the 1967 date), it is interesting to compare the clarinet solos of Bob McCracken, Peanuts Hucko and Edmond Hall, who sometimes are featured in different years on the same songs. Pianist Marty Napoleon is surprisingly boppish in the 1952 concert, much different than Billy Kyle would be during his long stint with Pops. There is much to discover even on the warhorses. Armstrong fans will definitely want this joyous box.