Louis Armstrong - Under The Stars (The Duke Velvet Edition) (2024) [Hi-Res]

One of the lesser-known Louis Armstrong sets, this album was recorded on the same day that resulted in the similar I've Got the World on a String. The great trumpeter/singer is backed by a string orchestra arranged and conducted by Russ Garcia. He performs eight veteran standards, only one of which ("Body and Soul") had been associated with him in the past. Although the accompaniment is pretty straight and unadventurous, it is enjoyable to hear Satch's interpretations of such songs as "Have You Met Miss Jones," "I Only Have Eyes for You," "Home," and "East of the Sun." Many of his trumpet solos in the medium-tempo material are brief but dramatic, and his singing is typically expressive and good-humored.