A Gift To Pops

The Wonderful World of Louis Armstrong All Stars

Paru le 15.10.21 chez Verve
Artistes principaux : The Wonderful World of Louis Armstrong All Stars
Genre : Jazz

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Langue disponible : anglais

After the artistic success of his Hot Five and Hot Seven recordings changed jazz forever, Louis Armstrong led a big band before settling into a small group format in the 1950s with a steady group of players he called his All Stars. Though led by a musical icon, the All Stars were occasionally criticized for two issues: playing the same unadventurous repertoire every night, and not speaking out more forcefully against racism. Here a modern group of All Stars—young jazz lions originally from New Orleans—has recorded a loving tribute to Armstrong and past members like drummer Barrett Deems, trombonist Trummy Young and bassist Arvell Shaw. The current All Stars tackle the faded controversy around Armstrong's relative silence on racism from the start, opening the record with a sample of a charged live version of Armstrong and his All Stars playing a favorite, "When It's Sleepy Time Down South," where Armstrong sings lines about "when old mammy falls upon her knees." Led by trombonist Wycliffe Gordon, the group (all featuring bassist Reginald Veal, drummer Herlin Riley and trumpeter Nick Payton), dives into Armstrong's All Star repertoire joined by another New Orleans native, trumpeter Wynton Marsalis taking a star turn in "The Peanut Vendor." Throughout these 12 tracks these players, supplemented at times by pianist Davell Crawford and alto saxophonist Roderick Paulin, successfully resurrect some of the cohesion and esprit de corps that gave Armstrong's ensemble its fame. Filling in for Armstrong's singer Vera Middleton, Riley and Gordon are passable vocalists, with Riley occasionally sporting an Armstrong-like growl. While at first most of the arrangements stick close to the original versions, new ideas enter in "St. Louis Blues," which is sung by Riley, and benefits from jumpier tempo and boppier solos from Payton and Paulin. Another Armstrong classic, "A Kiss to Build a Dream On," gets a low down and bluesy instrumental treatment with saxophonist Paulin using breathy approach in a low register and trumpeter Payton lightly skipping and picking his way upward in tasteful fashion. Armstrong always had a deep spiritual connection to Thomas "Fats" Waller and his music and here, "Black and Blue," Waller's potent racism lament that inspired one of the strongest vocal performances of Armstrong's entire career, is radically changed in an arrangement that ignores the original melody, adds a repeated piano figure by Courtney Bryan and a spoken word break in the middle that features rapper Common. Armstrong's late career hit, "What a Wonderful World" is sung by Niki Haris in a slow, straight arrangement led by Crawford on B3 organ that savors every word. The album closes with a sample of Armstrong expounding on his theory of life that ends with, "I've always loved everybody, still do." Right back atcha Pops! A classy tribute to an influential musical giant. © Robert Baird/Qobuz

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A Gift To Pops

The Wonderful World of Louis Armstrong All Stars

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When It's Sleepy Time Down South

Louis Armstrong