Hot Fives & Sevens, Vol. 1 - Classic Jazz Music Collection | Perfect for Relaxation, Study & Vintage Music Lovers

Product Description

With superior transfers by British music engineer John R.T. Davies, this JSP reissue of the first 25 sides by Louis Armstrong's Hot Fives and Hot Sevens is a first-choice disc for newcomers, while also being a very worthwhile purchase for the discriminating fan. Columbia's more high-profile, yet poorly remastered early Armstrong releases are muddy and limp sounding in comparison. Studio discrepancies aside, these records represent one of highest achievements in jazz and all of music for that matter. Armstrong's brash and advanced trumpet playing transformed jazz from the somewhat stilted ensemble polyphony of New Orleans to the fluid art of the improvising soloist, paving the way for the advances of swing and bebop and sparking the equally bold conceptions of future jazz luminaries Coleman Hawkins, Lester Young, and Charlie Parker. And although these Chicago recordings (1925-1926) do not include later milestones like ''West End Blues'' and ''Weather Bird,'' there's plenty here in the way of Armstrong's innovations: his stop-time solo on ''Cornet Chop Suey'' and the early scat singing on ''Heebie Jeebies.'' And beyond textbook considerations, there's Armstrong's infectious spoken commentary and vocals on ''Gut Bucket Blues'' and ''Big Butter and Egg Man From the West,'' not to mention his joyous trumpet exclamations on ''Yes, I'm in the Barrel'' and ''Muskrat Rumble.'' Topped off with fine contributions by Hot Five regulars clarinetist Johnny Dodds, trombonist Kid Ory, pianist and wife at the time Lil Armstrong, and banjo player Johnny St. Cyr, this Armstrong release is not to be missed. Essential music for any record collection. Stephen Cook Rovi/Allmusic