Record Reviews

LOUIS ARMSTRONG ~ THE OKEH, COLUMBIA & RCA VICTOR RECORDINGS 1925-1933 SONY 886979456525 (Barcode: 886979456525) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1925 - 1933 Released: 2012 This Box Set includes all the recordings made by the Godfather of Jazz, trumpeter / vocalist / composer Louis ArmstrongFind albums by this artist, which define the genre as we know it. The historic importance of these recordings is simply beyond imagination and without them Jazz might have never been created, at least not following the path it actually took. A careful listener will notice that everything that defines Jazz, and most importantly the idiom of "swing" is simply epitomized by these recordings. The early recordings in this set are by the Hot FivesFind albums by this artist and Hot SevensFind albums by this artist, which were Armstrong´s quintet and septet respectively and included such legendary players like trombonist Kid OryFind albums by this artist, clarinetist Johnny DoddsFind albums by this artist, pianists Earl HinesFind albums by this artist and Lil ArmstrongFind albums by this artist and many, many others. Later recordings are by much larger ensembles / orchestras, which also included the most famous musicians active at the time. Stylistically these recordings span several Jazz sub-genres, like Dixieland, New Orleans and Swing, but Armstrong always was cross-genre way before that expression was invented. There is no way the importance of this music can be explained within the limits of a brief review, therefore rather than trying the impossible I simply state the obvious: this is an essential piece of Jazz history, and in fact also an essential piece of Human Culture of such significance, that every person on Earth should listen to this music at least once during his lifetime. For people, who love Jazz and are nor familiar with this music, hearing it might prove to be enlightening to the highest degree and certainly explain the "missing link" between Jazz and other music genres, like Blues and Rock, which have common roots. This is iconic, essential and an absolute must!

Updated: 26/01/2019Posted:

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