Louis Armstrong Satch Play Fats CD

Digitally remastered using 24-bit technology by Mark Wilder (Sony Music Studios, New York, New York).

In 1955, Louis "Satchmo/Satch" Armstrong, along with vocalist Velma Middleton, got into the studio to pay tribute to a late, legendary jazz pianist/singer/songwriter/entertainer, Fats Waller. All the standards are here: "Honeysuckle Rose," "Squeeze Me," "Ain't Misbehavin," rendered in a fine & mellow but gently, genially swinging fashion. Armstrong's trumpet is superb, and his voice carries the good-time spirit of Waller's music. Nice clarinet from swing clarinet legend Barney Bigard, too. This music recalls a time when jazz was a dominant pop form, capable of irreverent fun as well as heartfelt soloing. A perfect tonic for a hard day at the Office called Life.

Recorded between 1929 and 1955. Originally released on Columbia (708). Includes liner notes by George Avakian.

Personnel includes: Louis Armstrong (vocals, trumpet); Earl Hines (vocals, piano); Mancy Carr (vocals, banjo); Velma Middleton (vocals); Charlie Holmes (soprano & alto saxophones, clarinet); Lester Boone (alto saxophone, clarinet); Bert Curry (alto saxophone); Jimmy Strong (tenor saxophone, clarinet); Homer Hobson, Otis Johnson, Henry "Red" Allen, Zilmer Randolph (trumpet); Trummy Young, Fred Robinson, J. C. Higginbotham, Preston Jackson (trombone); Pete Briggs (tuba); Barney Bigard (clarinet); Carroll Dickerson (violin); Billy Kyle, Gene Anderson, Luis Russell (piano); Will Johnson (guitar); Arvell Shaw, George "Pops" Foster (bass); Barrett Deems, Zutty Singleton, Paul Barbarin (drums).

CMJ (6/26/00, p.25) - "...Remastered and expanded to create a complete retrospective of his work with the hot-jazz kingpin's music..."
JazzTimes (10/00, pp.78-9) - "...One of the most compelling albums that the Armstrong All-Stars recorded for Columbia....there is no denying the still vital potency of [his] trumpet playing here..."