egroj world: VA • Jazz In Paris - Louis Armstrong And Friends [1933-39]

Tuesday, June 20, 2023

VA • Jazz In Paris - Louis Armstrong And Friends [1933-39]

In tune with the book "Better Days Will Come Again: The Life of Arthur Briggs, Jazz Genius of Harlem, Paris, and a Nazi Prison Camp", here is a compilation of some of his performances.

Review
by Ken Dryden
The title of this compilation is a bit misleading, as Louis Armstrong only appears on seven of the CD's 20 tracks. All of them were recorded during a visit by the trumpeter to France in 1934 and were made on the sly, since he was under an exclusive contract to another label. The all-stars were primarily European musicians assembled for the session, though pianist Herman Chittison, a fellow American, makes his mark in "Super Tiger Rag," along with the leader's crisp, high-note solo. They compare favorably with some of Armstrong's later work back home with larger orchestras, but for the most part, the music is of minimal interest aside from his contributions. The other selections are a mixed bag. Pianist Freddy Johnson and trumpeter Arthur Briggs lead an orchestra that offers rather dated treatments of "Sweet Georgia Brown" and Spencer Williams' "Foxy and Grapesy." Actress Marlene Dietrich sings in her native German in "Wo Ist der Mann?" (Where Is the Man?), though the lyrics are half-spoken, backed by Briggs and Johnson leading a quintet. Tracks featuring vocalist Louis Cole with Briggs and Johnson are simply forgettable. Austrian singer Greta Keller is far more interesting than Dietrich on her pair of songs, including a moving "Goodbye to Summer" and the humorous, lightly swinging "I'm Gonna Lock My Heart and Throw Away the Key." The band is a good one, with expatriates Herman Chittison on piano and trumpeter Bill Coleman soloing. Clarinetist Danny Polo leads a sextet on the last four tracks, featuring either Garland Wilson or Una Mae Carlisle on piano and the phenomenal but underrated guitarist Oscar Alemán. The unaccredited "Doing the Gorgonzola" is easily the high point of this rare session. Overall, this music falls somewhat short of being essential, though the very reasonable price (like all of the CDs in Universal's Jazz in Paris series) makes it a bit more attractive.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/jazz-in-paris-louis-armstrong-and-friends-mw0000229374

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Reseña
por Ken Dryden
El título de esta recopilación es un poco engañoso, ya que Louis Armstrong sólo aparece en siete de las 20 pistas del CD. Todas ellas fueron grabadas durante una visita del trompetista a Francia en 1934 y se hicieron a escondidas, ya que tenía un contrato de exclusividad con otra discográfica. Las estrellas eran principalmente músicos europeos reunidos para la sesión, aunque el pianista Herman Chittison, también estadounidense, deja su impronta en "Super Tiger Rag", junto con el nítido y agudo solo del líder. Las composiciones de Armstrong son de gran calidad y se pueden comparar favorablemente con algunos de sus trabajos posteriores con orquestas más grandes, pero en su mayor parte, la música tiene un interés mínimo aparte de sus contribuciones. El resto de las selecciones son variadas. El pianista Freddy Johnson y el trompetista Arthur Briggs dirigen una orquesta que ofrece tratamientos bastante anticuados de "Sweet Georgia Brown" y "Foxy and Grapesy" de Spencer Williams. La actriz Marlene Dietrich canta en su alemán nativo en "Wo Ist der Mann?" (¿Dónde está el hombre?). (¿Dónde está el hombre?), aunque la letra es medio hablada, respaldada por Briggs y Johnson al frente de un quinteto. Los temas en los que aparece el vocalista Louis Cole con Briggs y Johnson son sencillamente olvidables. La cantante austriaca Greta Keller es mucho más interesante que Dietrich en su par de canciones, incluyendo una conmovedora "Goodbye to Summer" y la humorística y ligeramente oscilante "I'm Gonna Lock My Heart and Throw Away the Key". La banda es buena, con los expatriados Herman Chittison al piano y el trompetista Bill Coleman en solitario. El clarinetista Danny Polo lidera un sexteto en los cuatro últimos temas, con Garland Wilson o Una Mae Carlisle al piano y el fenomenal pero infravalorado guitarrista Oscar Alemán. El tema no acreditado "Doing the Gorgonzola" es fácilmente el punto culminante de esta rara sesión. En general, esta música no llega a ser esencial, aunque el precio muy razonable (como todos los CD de la serie Jazz in Paris de Universal) la hace un poco más atractiva.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/jazz-in-paris-louis-armstrong-and-friends-mw0000229374

Tracks:
1 - Saint Louis Blues - Louis Armstrong Et Son Orchestre
2 - Super Tiger Rag - Louis Armstrong Et Son Orchestre
3 - Will You, Won't You Be My Baby ? - Louis Armstrong Et Son Orchestre
4 - On the Sunny Side of the Street - Part 1 - Louis Armstrong Et Son Orchestre
5 - On the Sunny Side of the Street - Part 2 - Louis Armstrong Et Son Orchestre
6 - Saint Louis Blues - Louis Armstrong Et Son Orchestre
7 - Song of the Vipers - Louis Armstrong Et Son Orchestre
8 - Sweet Georgia Brown - Freddy Johnson/Arthur Briggs, Their All Star Orchestra
9 - Foxy and Grapesy - Freddy Johnson/Arthur Briggs, Their All Star Orchestra
10 - Wo Ist Der Mann ? - Marlene Dietrich/Freddy Johnson
11 - Nobody's Sweetheart - Arthur Briggs
12 - Grabbin' Blues - Arthur Briggs
13 - I Got Rhythm - Arthur Briggs
14 - Japanese Sandman - Arthur Briggs
15 - Goodbye to Summer - Greta Keller
16 - I'm Gonna Lock My Heart and Throw Away the Key - Greta Keller
17 - Doing the Gorgonzola - Danny Polo And His Swing Stars
18 - Montparnasse Jump - Danny Polo And His Swing Stars
19 - China Boy - Danny Polo And His Swing Stars
20 - Polo-Naise - Danny Polo And His Swing Stars

Recorded October 1934 (tracks 1-7), July 8, 1933 (8-9), July 19, 1933 (10), June 1933 (11-14), September 27, 1938 (15-16) and January 30, 1939 (17-20) in Paris.
Reissue of the 78rpm discs Brunswick 9683 (track 1), 500 490 (2, 6), 500 491 (4-5), 500 492 (3, 7), 500 278 (8-9), 500 262 (11, 13), 500 263 (12, 14) and 81 859 (15-16), Polydor 530 002 (10) & Decca 6989 (17-18) and 7126 (19-20).
Complete info:
https://musicbrainz.org/release/a261e9c6-4110-470c-a2cc-0990fd40f08c

Release Date: July 16, 2002
Duration: 01:03:37
Genre: Jazz
Styles: Jazz Instrument, Trumpet, Jazz