Louis Armstrong Plays W.C. Handy

Personnel: Louis Armstrong (vocals, trumpet); Velma Middleton (vocals); Trummy Young (trombone); Barney Bigard (clarinet); Billy Kyle (piano); Arvell Shaw (bass); Barrett Deems (drums).
Compilation producer: George Avakian.
Recorded on July 12-14, 1954 & October 19, 1956. Includes liner notes by George Avakian.
This wonderful and historically monumental recording pairs the master of jazz trumpet and jazz singing with "the father of the blues." In the early years of the 20th century, composer W.C. Handy authored many blues numbers, some of which have gone on not only to become enduring standards in the genre, but also to influence a vast repertoire of popular music.
Armstrong, who achieved some of his earliest successes with treatments of Handy favorites, is in superior form on this recording. Perhaps due to Handy's presence at the sessions (the booklet is full of wonderful photos of the two), Satch seems even more focused and full of enthusiasm than usual. With excellent support from a band that includes Trummy Young (trombone), Barney Bigard (clarinet), and Velma Middleton (vocals), Armstrong and Co. interpret such Handy favorites as "The Memphis Blues," "Beale Street Blues," and the immortal "St. Louis Blues." The CD appends five previously unreleased tracks and an interview with Handy, making this set immeasurably worthwhile, in terms of both historic importance and entertainment value.