By Bret Saunders - Special to The Denver Post
POSTED: 06/22/2014 12:01
Louis Armstrong often said he was born on July 4, 1900. He actually came into the world he would later change for the better on August 4 of that year. But July 4th is considered to be his "traditional" birthday at the Louis Armstrong House Museum in New York, and why not? He was the quintessential American artist, ushering in swing, excitement and pure joy through his trumpet and voice to popular music in his day. It's hard to imagine not just jazz without his innovations or personality, but much of what came after his explosive early years in the music business.
There are, of course, many entry points into Armstrong's music. I might suggest, as many enthusiasts do, that you investigate his easily available Hot Five and Hot Seven recordings from the 1920s. Those vocal-intensive, commercially successful sessions with and without singer Ella Fitzgerald, from the 1950s onward, are universally adored for their warmth. There are boxes and gigabytes of Armstrong awaiting your discovery. And to add to it all, there's a new compilation chronicling the years somewhere between these periods, when his output was merely excellent as opposed to trendsetting or selling in the hundreds of thousands.
"The Complete Columbia and RCA Victor Live Recordings of Louis Armstrong and The All Stars" (Mosaic) covers global appearances from 1947-1958, and it's a revelatory, essential package. It's hard to believe that Armstrong was at odds with critics by the '40s, but his style and approach were no longer regarded as cutting-edge. Like many big band leaders of the time, Armstrong was forced by economic realities to scale down his touring groups. Armstrong faced the challenges head on, with accomplished smaller groups of musicians who ably supported his charisma while shining on their own.
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