On August 15, 1956 one of many jazz occasions of the last decade passed off, a live performance that has been immortalized on document as Jazz at The Hollywood Bowl.
The live performance was staged by Norman Granz and adopted the fifth Jazz on the Philharmonic tour of Europe and preceded the Fall JATP tour of North America. The primary stars of the Hollywood Bowl live performance have been Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald.
Louis is in “Herculean form,” as Ricky Riccardi one of many world’s main consultants on Louis Armstrong places it. It’s not possible to argue. Ella, in the meantime, had signed to Verve in the beginning of the 12 months and had simply recorded her career-defining Cole Porter songbook album. Other than Ella and Satchmo, the live performance featured Artwork Tatum, Roy Eldridge, Harry “Sweets” Edison, Flip Phillips, Illinois Jacquet, Oscar Peterson, Herb Ellis, Barney Kessel, Ray Brown, Buddy Wealthy, Paul Smith, Joe Mondragon, Alvin Stoller, Trummy Younger, Ed Corridor, Billy Kyle, Dale Jones, and Barrett Deems.
The live performance attracted a capability viewers of 20,000. When it was first launched by Verve as a double album, Jazz On the Hollywood Bowl omitted Louis Armstrong’s efficiency for contractual causes. It will be 4 a long time till it was issued on CD.
The unique live performance opened in true JATP type with a jam from the All-Star band. Roy Eldridge and Illinois Jacquet, together with Oscar Peterson and his trio (Herb Ellis and Ray Brown), plus Harry Edison, Flip Phillips, and Buddy Wealthy. The three music set lasted near 40 minutes and featured, “Honeysuckle Rose,” adopted by a phenomenal ballad medley of, “I Can’t Get Started,” “If I Had You,” and “I’ve Got the World on a String” Their nearer was “Jumpin’ at the Woodside,” they usually actually did, with solo after blistering solo.
Artwork Tatum, a person who Granz thought of a genius and the best pianist of all time, was subsequent. “Someone to Watch Over Me,” “Begin the Beguine,” “Willow Weep for Me,” and “Humoresque” show the purpose. Sadly it was 46-year-old Tatum’s second-to-last recording as he died three months later from uremic poisoning.
Ella closed the primary half together with drummer Alvin Stoller, guitarist Barney Kessel, bassist Joe Mondragon, and pianist Paul Smith. She selected to open with two songs from the Cole Porter songbook: “Love for Sale” and “Just One of Those Things.” Later within the set she carried out “I Can’t Give You Anything But Love,” which features a sensible impersonation of Louis Armstrong. Her set concluded with “Airmail Special” that has Ella scatting on the high of her recreation.
Two brief numbers by the Peterson Trio started the second half of the live performance. Each “9:20 Special” and “How About You” present what a phenomenal lyrical pianist Oscar was.
After which it was time for Pops. His set was the longest of the night and featured 13 songs. Performing alongside Armstrong are trombonist Trummy Younger, clarinetist Ed Corridor, pianist Billy Kyle, Dale Jones on bass, and drummer Barrett Deems, and they’re all in spectacular type. Louis opens along with his signature “When It’s Sleepy Time Down South,” adopted by “Indiana,” “The Gypsy,” “Ole Miss Blues,” and “The Bucket’s Got a Hole In It.” Billy Kyle takes the lead on “Perdido,” then Ed Corridor fronts “You Made Me Love You” earlier than Armstrong does a superb studying of “Mack the Knife” that he had had successful with a 12 months earlier. Drummer Barrett Deems takes middle stage on “Stompin’ at the Savoy” earlier than Trummy Younger’s “You Can Depend on Me.” The band finishes their solo set with a brief and really intense model of “Mop Mop.”
Then it’s time for Pops and Ella. They carry out the very first music they recorded collectively, “You Won’t Be Satisfied,” again in 1946. They shut with “Undecided,” earlier than your entire forged do a six minute model of “When the Saints Go Marching In,” which contains a blistering solo from Armstrong, who was at all times at his greatest when surrounded by the most effective.
The next day each Ella and Louis have been within the studio collectively. Granz had already deliberate this session they usually have been joined by Oscar Peterson’s trio, with the incomparable Buddy Wealthy on drums. When Ella and Louis got here out of the studio, they emerged with a masterpiece However that’s one other story altogether.
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