A previously unreleased concert recorded before 1,200 fans at Highland Park High School 27 miles north of Chicago by what many consider the All-Stars' greatest line-up. With all due respect to Messrs Teagarden, Bigard, Hines and Cozy Cole/Catlett they're probably right - collectively if not individually.
Armstrong was still at his best both vocally and instrumentally. The trumpet soaring majestically above the ensemble, the voice still the raspy gravel that fooled trad trumpet players into thinking they could sing little realising that the Satchmo voice was a one off.
Trummy and Ed Hall, the leader's first lieutenants, legends in their own right, blend perfectly into the front line. Trummy's gritty trombone as earthy as Louis' vocals particularly on My Bucket's Got a Hole in it - piledriving stuff! Ed's spiky clarinet both tough and tasteful.
Billy Kyle, at the time perhaps one of the most underrated pianists around, feeds the right chords for the setting and moves further up the line with his solos. Squire Gersh took over from Arvell Shaw and didn't suffer by comparison. Barrett Deems completes the sextet driving them relentlessly when being driven relentlessly is called for and giving gentle (ish) support on the ballads.
Most of numbers have been heard elsewhere but, nevertheless, well worth hearing again away from the studio.
My personal fave is Ole Miss with it's 'one more time' endings.
After the audience have stood for The Star Spangled Banner, Louis mention's Velma Middleton although the singer's contribution seems to have missed the cut.
To steal the title of another Armstrong album this is indeed a 'rare batch of Satch'. Lance
When it's Sleepy Time Down South; Indiana; The Gypsy; Ole Miss; High Society Calypso; Blueberry Hill; Tin Roof Blues; My Bucket's Got a Hole in it; Mack the Knife; Tiger Rag; When the Saints go Marching in; The Star Spangled Banner
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