IAJRC Journal 2006

LOUIS ARMSTRONG’S ‘50 HOT CHORUSES FOR CORNET’ (Vol. 2-3)
BENT PERSSON
KENNETH CKS 3412

Bent Persson (cnt, tp, arr) with various personnel, Sweden, 1975-2002.
Spanish Shawl/ Tia Juana/ King Porter Stomp/ Sobbin’ Blues/ She’s Crying For Me/ Hot Notes/ Froggie Moore/ London Café Blues/ Milenberg Joys/ San Sue Strut/ Livery Stable Blues/ Wa Wa Wa/ Some Of These Days/ Grace And Beauty/ Milenberg Joys/ Snag It/ Maple Leaf Rag/ Sugar Babe/ Steamboat Stomp. TT 59:10.

This is the final volume of a three CD series produced by Gösta Hägglöf covering an amazing 32-year long project of recording and issuing the Louis Armstrong choruses and breaks published by Walter Melrose in 1927. (See also Vol. 1-2 - Kenneth 3411 and Vol. 3-4 – Kenneth 3413.) Originally recorded between 1975 and 1986 and issued on four LPs, the CD issues add several tunes re-recorded in 2000 and 2002 with different orchestrations. Hence, two versions of Milenberg Joys on this CD. Originally recorded by Armstrong on cylinder and transcribed into written form for publication, the cylinders were subsequently lost. See Michael Steinman’s review of Volume 3-4 in the Fall 2002 Journal for the background story.

Finding the right musician to interpret and replicate the Armstrong style could have been a daunting task. As Gösta discovered, Bent Persson was just the person for this project. He brings an enthusiasm to these performances that make these recordings much more than a re-creation. They sound very much alive in his capable hands. He performed a masterful job of assembling different orchestra settings to replicate those associated with Louis in the 1920s. Yet, the recordings sound fresh and not at all dated. The liner notes define the solo and break locations for the serious listener. But, it is every bit as pleasurable to just sit back and enjoy these performances, some of which, like Hot Notes and Sugar Babe, were never commercially recorded by Louis.

This CD, along with its companions, is highly recommended for Armstrong lovers. Incidentally, Bent has also recorded two CDs devoted to Louis’ Hot Five & Seven period with Pam Pameijer’s New Jazz Wizards in 1999 and 2000 (Stomp Off CD 1350 & 1351) and a CD covering Armstrong’s 1929-41 performances, For The Love Of Satchmo, with the Royal Blue Melodians (Kenneth CKS 3416).