Louis Armstrong's Recording
"West End Blues" | |
---|---|
Twelve-bar blues by Louis Armstrong and His Hot Five | |
Released | 1928 (1928) |
Recorded | 1928 (1928) |
Genre | Jazz |
Composer | Joe "King" Oliver |
By far the best known recording of "West End Blues" is the 3-minute-plus, 78 RPM recording made by Louis Armstrong and His Hot Five in 1928.
Armstrong plays trumpet (and does some scat singing) backed by a band that included the pianist Earl Hines. Armstrong played an eight-bar trumpet solo near the end of the record.
Other portions of this record also in high regard include the trumpet introduction by Armstrong that begins the song - this cadenza incorporates an almost syncopated opening, the wordless 'scat' singing chorus by Armstrong where he accompanies and varies a melody played by the clarinetist, and a piano solo by Hines. The number is closed by a metallic click by drummer Zutty Singleton.
This recording was inducted in the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1974.
Jazz writer and historian William Russell has commented that other jazz trumpeters would be better off avoiding the too frequent imitations of Armstrong's introduction on the number; while the most virtuosic may have the technical ability to duplicate Armstrong's notes, they still suffer in comparison to Armstrong's feeling and originality.
Read more about this topic: West End Blues
Famous quotes containing the words louis, armstrong and/or recording:
“Wait a minute, wait a minute, you aint heard nothing yet. Wait a minute I tell you. You aint heard nothing yet. Do you want to hear Toot, Toot, Tootsie?”
—Alfread A. Cohen, U.S., and Louis Silver. Jakie Rabinowitz (Al Jolson)
“But Jonnë had a bright sword by his side,
And it was made of the mettle so free,
That had not the king stept his foot aside,
He had smitten his head from his faire bodde.”
—Unknown. Johnie Armstrong (l. 4548)
“I didnt have to think up so much as a comma or a semicolon; it was all given, straight from the celestial recording room. Weary, I would beg for a break, an intermission, time enough, lets say, to go to the toilet or take a breath of fresh air on the balcony. Nothing doing!”
—Henry Miller (18911980)