West End Blues - Louis Armstrong

Here's Louis playing West End Blues -- the opening when heard the very first time by an audience is electrifying.

(Wikipedia) "By far the best known recording of "West End Blues" is the 3-minute-plus, 78 RPM record recording made by Louis Armstrong and his Hot Five in 1928, considered one of the masterpieces of early jazz.

Louis Armstrong plays trumpet (and does some relaxed scat singing) backed by a band that included the pianist Earl Hines. In an eight-bar trumpet solo near the end of the record, Armstrong played a solo considered among the finest recordings in jazz history.

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 deft metallic click by drummer Zutty Singleton.

The record was actually recorded multiple times in this one session however mistakes were made so none of the recordings were kept. One of these mistakes referred to by Armstrong many times[citation needed] is where Zutty Singleton drops a cymbal.

This recording by Louis Armstrong was inducted in the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1974. The version in the list is Louis Armstrong's version.

"West End Blues" has been recorded many times since, usually owing much to the Armstrong version. 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"

This version was done in 1955 in Milan Italy.

December 19, 1955, Milan, Italy
Trumpet: Louis Armstrong
Trombone: Trummy Young
Piano: Billy Kyle
Drums: Barrett Deems

West End Blues (go look up the original -- it's available on YouTube)