Live In Europe

Reviewed: 2019-10-02
Genre: Jazz
FCCs: none
Review: Armstrong toured Europe in 1948. There are two different bands here, both filled with all-star musicians. The music is spirited & swinging. These previously unheard performances were taped from radio broadcasts, so the recording is not A+, but the musicianship makes it all worthwhile.
If You Like: Jack Teagarden, Sidney Bechet, Roy Eldridge
Track Review (favorites denoted by *):
1/ Presentation By Gilles Cazeneuve, Muskrat Ramble (3:41) – spoken word intro> uptempo Dixieland jam> crescendo end
2/ Rockin’ Chair (2:44) – drums start> slow song with male duet singing> instrumental break> crescendo end
**3/ Rose Room (3:41) – piano starts> uptempo jam with clarinet up front> clarinet solo> drum solo> clarinet holds a long note> crescendo end
*4/ Royal Garden Blues (5:06) – full band starts> uptempo Dixieland jam> bass solo> piano solo> bass solo> uptempo jam> muted trumpet solo> uptempo jam> crescendo end
***5/ Panama (4:24) – drums start> fast tempo jam> piano solo> bass solo> clarinet solo> trumpet solo> trombone solo> fast tempo jam> quick stop
**6/ On The Sunny Side Of The Street (6:00) – vocal intro> piano starts> midtempo jam> midtempo song> trumpet solo> trumpet/clarinet duet> midtempo jam> crescendo end
*7/ Mahogany Hall Stomp (3:30) – full band starts> uptempo jam> bass solo> uptempo jam> clarinet solo> uptempo jam> quick fade
8/ Black And Blue (3:47) – full band starts> midtempo jam> midtempo song> trumpet solo> crescendo end
***9/ Them There Eyes (4:20) – drums start> uptempo jam> uptempo song> trumpet solo> uptempo jam> quick fade
*10/ My Bucket Got A Hole In It (3:43) – vocal intro> piano starts> midtempo jam> midtempo song> clarinet solo> trumpet solo> midtempo jam> crescendo end
*11/ Way Down Yonder In New Orleans (5:04) – vocal intro> piano starts> uptempo Dixieland jam> piano solo> bass solo> uptempo jam> trumpet solo> clarinet solo> drum solo> uptempo jam> crescendo end
***12/ Croquette (3:10) – vocal intro> drums/piano starts> uptempo jam> trombone solo> piano solo> trumpet solo> fast tempo jam> crescendo end
*13/ Lover Come Back To Me (3:49) – vocal intro> uptempo jam> uptempo song with guest female vocal> instrumental break> uptempo song> crescendo end
*14/ Can Anyone Explain (5:43) – vocal intro> piano starts> midtempo song with female vocal> spoken interplay between vocalist & Armstrong> Armstrong sings> vocal duet sings> crescendo end
15/ Tin Roof Blues (5:28) – vocal intro> piano starts> slow blues jam> trumpet solo> clarinet solo> slow jam> crescendo end
*16/ A Kiss To Build A Dream On (5:15) – vocal intro> piano starts> slow tempo jam> slow tempo song> trumpet solo> slow song> crescendo end