Among the assorted black-and-white photographs in the entry stairwell of the Jazz Standard, one has stood out since the club opened in its current form eight years ago. Its a snapshot of Louis Armstrong in his dressing room at the Paramount Theater, in May 1937. Hes in a thin black skullcap, sleeves rolled back, gnawing on a rib bone. Hes holding what appears to be a goblet of beer. The look on his face is wary, distancing, maybe a little admonitory. He looks like a guy whod rather be enjoying his meal in peace.
he image bears some relevance to Struttin With Some Barbecue, a New Years booking at the Jazz Standard. Named after one of the immortal sides made by Armstrongs Hot Five the Old Testament of classic jazz, as Terry Teachout rightly observes in Pops: A Life of Louis Armstrong, his scrupulous new biography the engagement features two proud sons of New Orleans, the pianist Henry Butler and the alto saxophonist Donald Harrison. Joining them is a wrecking crew of musicians with current or former ties to the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra: the trumpeter Sean Jones, the trombonist Wycliffe Gordon, the bassist Ben Wolfe and the drummer Ali Jackson.
Their focus for the week is traditional jazz, but with a fairly loose adherence to protocols, judging by the first of two sold-out shows on Tuesday night. The set opened, brightly if dutifully, with the jostling cheer of its namesake tune. What followed were other staples of old-time jazz repertory: Sweet Georgia Brown, Bourbon Street Parade and as a send-off, Duke Ellingtons C Jam Blues.
he image bears some relevance to Struttin With Some Barbecue, a New Years booking at the Jazz Standard. Named after one of the immortal sides made by Armstrongs Hot Five the Old Testament of classic jazz, as Terry Teachout rightly observes in Pops: A Life of Louis Armstrong, his scrupulous new biography the engagement features two proud sons of New Orleans, the pianist Henry Butler and the alto saxophonist Donald Harrison. Joining them is a wrecking crew of musicians with current or former ties to the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra: the trumpeter Sean Jones, the trombonist Wycliffe Gordon, the bassist Ben Wolfe and the drummer Ali Jackson.
Their focus for the week is traditional jazz, but with a fairly loose adherence to protocols, judging by the first of two sold-out shows on Tuesday night. The set opened, brightly if dutifully, with the jostling cheer of its namesake tune. What followed were other staples of old-time jazz repertory: Sweet Georgia Brown, Bourbon Street Parade and as a send-off, Duke Ellingtons C Jam Blues.
