This CD presents actually Louis Armstrong at the zenith of his powers. He still does not have to stand up to big band Squadron, but already know the well-known to skiers from the congenial companion crowd, who is in charge, and the singing and trumpets. "Essential" means louder crown jewels from the years 1927 to 1946, most of the late 20s and the early 30s, of "Willie the Weeper" to "Where the Blues Were Born in New Orleans." You can still hear that Louis Armstrong was born in New Orleans, and you can hear that he developed from the tradition of his homeland its own style, regardless of whether he can rejoice "only" with incredible vividness his trumpet, or whether he Scat to sings, and this often exactly mimics his own trumpet and parodies; if he occasionally has even a little blues, or whether he can run wild easily melancholia. Armstrong improvises with wit and sheer joy of playing the melodies, by ragtime, Dixie, Spiritual, Swing (for Swing enemies it may be worthwhile to time "Swing That Music" turn up). Improvisation is here no narcissistic end in itself but sheer Ausreizen of what it has to offer the music potential. And what a Louis Armstrong all found in his musical roots, enabling it to develop ... it's easy to outdo what he never.
No wonder then, that this CD with just 20 songs an impressive range of skills includes Armstrong: There is the haunting spiritual "Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen" in front of the high-spirited "Corner Shop Suey" with Armstrong's "Hot Five" , the congenial pianist Lilian Armstrong and stunningly much ragtime swing. Documents his collaboration with Duke Ellington, Earl Hines and others are - just the whole spectrum, of course, with many dear friends: St. Louis Blues, West End Blues, When the Saints, Tiger Rag, Basin Street Blues, Tight Like This, Dinah ... the whole CD brings bye joy de luxe. Unlike many quick-fix editions this CD has been compiled with solid standard presentation, and above all are to each song recording date, place and listed all the band members. That's really all.
