Home » Jazz News » Recording

1

Louis Armstrong: All-Stars, Live

JazzWax by Marc Myers Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers

View read count
Louis Armstrong
The word “supergroup" emerged in 1969 during the rock-album era to describe bands comprised of at least three powerhouse musicians who had established reputations in other groups. Top supergroups of the time included Cream; Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young; Blind Faith; Bad Company; Emerson, Lake & Palmer; Derek and the Dominos and Asia. The thinking behind any supergroup was better music, since three great musical minds were more likely to create better music than one. But supergroups also had commercial value—commanding larger gates than if the the same musicians toured on their own, with Neil Young and Eric Clapton the lone exceptions.  

But the supergroup concept wasn't new. It actually dates back to November 1925, when Louis Armstrong teamed with Kid Ory, Johnny Dodds, Lil Armstrong and Johnny St. Cyr to form his Hot Five. In the 1930s, the Benny Goodman Quartet was probably the most popular supergroup—with Goodman, Teddy Wilson, Lionel Hampton and Gene Krupa. Breakout supergroup ensembles like Artie Shaw's Gramercy Five and Duke Ellington's Duke's Men also were popular as bandleaders created small groups to hold onto star musicians eager for a chance to shine.

In 1947, Louis Armstrong's manager Joe Glaser had Armstrong establish a supergroup that would be less expensive than his large orchestra. So Armstrong formed the first of his “All Stars"—a term that had its roots in baseball. Each year since 1933, the American and National leagues squared off against each other in an All Star Game as a way to generate interest and drive up ad and ballpark revenue. In December 1941, Metronome magazine had picked up on the All Stars concept when winners of its annual poll gathered to record two sides of a 78 rpm as the Metronome All Stars. [Photo of Louis Armstrong and the All Stars at Town Hall in 1947 by William P. Gottlieb]

For Armstrong, his touring All Stars septet would feature the trumpet, trombone, clarinet, piano, bass, drums and vocals—a sufficient mix to entertain and wow audiences. There were no real sidemen, just consummate soloists who had already made their names in other bands. What also made Louis Armstrong and the All Stars special was its nostalgic quality. By the late 1940s, bebop's popularity was rising, appealing largely to younger jazz fans fed up with the rigidity and predictability of older jazz styles. But there were plenty of older jazz fans who still remembered the early 1930s and sought out groups that played familiar songs with a steady, syncopated beat. For them, Louis Armstrong and the All Stars were a welcome relief—an oasis for those who couldn't make heads or tails of the new music and preferred artists who reached out to audiences rather than groups that compelled audiences to figure out what they were doing on stage. [Above, Dizzy Gillespie in 1947]

The All Stars gave Armstrong an opportunity to champion his brand of jazz and take audiences back to the music they knew and loved. In many respects, Armstrong's jazz was more rural than the newer, more urban sound. It centered on New Orleans, steamboats, banjos ringing, singin' folks and red robbins bobbin' along. Simpler music reminiscent of a pre-war era—before unspeakable war crimes, the destruction of entire cities and the spectre of atomic war. The All Stars were masters of a fading form of jazz at its finest.

Now Mosaic Records has released this supergroup's performance output for two labels over 11 years: Columbia and RCA Victor Live Recordings of Louis Armstrong and the All Stars. This nine-CD box set includes a 38-page booklet with marvelous liners notes by Ricky Riccardi, research archivist for the Louis Armstrong House Museum at Queens College in New York. Like classic rock bands that still tour today hoping to attract older audiences eager to relive their youth, the All Stars showcased jazz from another era, when jazz's role was to lift Depression-era spirits.

What's startling about this box is how effortlessly the All Stars slid in and out of songs—ranging from It's Sleepy Time Down South and The Gypsy to Stompin' at the Savoy, West End Blues and Body and Soul. In each case, songs were given a New Orleans flavor—with instruments coming and going but working together in support of Armstrong and other soloists. There are occasional breaks from this formula, including an oddly Latin How High the Moon and Mop Mop. But for the most part, what you hear is a group of artists recapturing a bygone era.

The Mosaic box features music from about a dozen concerts by the All Stars—including appearances at New York's Town Hall (1947), Carnegie Hall (1947), the Netherlands (1955), Milan (1955), Los Angeles (1956), Carnegie Hall (1956), London (1956), Ghana (1956), Chicago (1956), Newport, R.I. (1956), New York (1956) and Newport, R.I. (1958). There also are two conversations, one between Armstrong and Edward R. Murrow in Paris (1956) and the other with producer George Avakian in Los Angeles (1956). The Carnegie Hall concert from 1947 is heard here for the first time after mislabeled tapes were recovered. There are other previously unheard tracks as well. [Pictured above: Louis Armstrong in Ghana in 1956]

Among the most interesting tracks are two from Armstrong's concert in Ghana, in which he seems slightly uneasy by the throngs that gathered, and the relaxed Lewisohn Stadium studio rehearsals in July 1956 (Lewisohn Stadium was on the campus of New York's City College and was demolished in 1973.) But it's tough to place any single performance above the rest. The beauty of Armstrong is that he knew only excellence, which makes this set of 164 tracks a joyous journey back in time to moments when audiences yearned for an even earlier time. What we learn yet again is that Armstrong is timeless. Jazz artists fall in and out of vogue but Armstrong is forever. [Photo above: Lewisohn Stadium in New York]

Leonard Bernstein, at the Lewisohn concert, said it best during his introduction: “What he does is real and true and honest and simple and even noble. Every time this man puts his trumpet to his lips, even to practice three notes, he does it with his whole soul. This is a dedicated man and we are honored." Indeed. [Photo of Leonard Bernstein above by Ruth Orkin]

In this box set, we hear Armstrong in all his splendor—as a trumpeter, as a small-group leader and as an entertainer who night after night made audiences fall in love with him and the music he loved—and invented.

JazzWax tracks: You'll find the Columbia and RCA Victor Live Recordings of Louis Armstrong and the All Stars (Mosaic ) here, along with sample tracks and information about the set.

Continue Reading...

This story appears courtesy of JazzWax by Marc Myers.
Copyright © 2026. All rights reserved.

About Louis Armstrong

Louis Armstrong

Profile | Articles | Albums | Photos | Similar To | Orbit

Tags

Recording Louis Armstrong JazzWax by Marc Myers AAJ Staff


News

Popular

Julie Slim Releases New Album Suspended
Recording
Julie Slim Releases New Album Suspended
Olivia Long PR
Estonian Pianist Rahel Talts Returns With New Trio Album 'Tacos And Other Things'
Recording
Estonian Pianist Rahel Talts Returns With New Trio Album 'Tacos And Other Things'
Jazzfuel
Trombonist, Composer, And Jazz Provocateur Andrew Danforth Effortlessly Blends Disparate Textures In Extraordinary New Album
Recording
Trombonist, Composer, And Jazz Provocateur Andrew Danforth Effortlessly Blends Disparate Textures In...
Adhyâropa Public Relations
Asef Releases 'Confluence,' Blending Middle Eastern Musical Traditions With Contemporary Jazz
Recording
Asef Releases 'Confluence,' Blending Middle Eastern Musical Traditions With Contemporary Jazz
Saul Berson
Bassist And Composer Adam Chilenski Returns To His Roots With Long-awaited Debut Release
Recording
Bassist And Composer Adam Chilenski Returns To His Roots With Long-awaited Debut Release
Adhyâropa Public Relations
Saxophonist David Ehrlin And Guitarist Neff Irizarry Release 'Softly Light'
Recording
Saxophonist David Ehrlin And Guitarist Neff Irizarry Release 'Softly Light'
Jazzfuel
Tennishu Brings Jazz Improvisation And Hip-hop Together On New Album American Bullshit, Out November 13
Recording
Tennishu Brings Jazz Improvisation And Hip-hop Together On New Album American Bullshit, Out November...
Marcus Tenney
Now Available: Ryan Keberle's Collectiv Do Brasil's Fourth Album 'Here Is Donato!' Celebrating The Music Of Brazilian Master Joao Donato
Recording
Now Available: Ryan Keberle's Collectiv Do Brasil's Fourth Album 'Here Is Donato!' Celebrating The...
AMT Public Relations

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletters highlight our top stories, top album reviews, website news, free songs, radio & podcast shows, news, and upcoming jazz events near you.