Search - Louis Armstrong & Jack T :: Vol. 19-Jazz Ballads

Must-Have

Michael D. Hill | Virginia | 08/02/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I see this as a fantastic bridge between Armstrong's pop hits and his magnificent but much more complex "pure jazz" recordings. Most of the album is live, and there's a distinct sense I get of being right there, right then. For someone who wants to delve deeper into why Louis Armstrong is the greatest jazz player ever, this is a great starting point.



Jack Teagarden was an incredibly fluid trombonist: at times it's hard to tell who is who, Teagarden is playing so high in his range with apparently no need to place his notes where the slide can play them.



This album is a must-have. Sometimes when I'm listening, I get this sudden eureka moment: the feeling that I truly understand what jazz is and where it came from."