AMG Review of Louis Armstrong Collection, Vol. 5: Louis in New York

Scott Yanow
All Music Guide

The fifth in Columbia's extremely valuable series of vintage Louis Armstrong recordings features the immortal trumpeter-vocalist primarily on his 1929 big-band sides. Armstrong leads a jam session on "Knockin' a Jug," sits in backup groups accompanying singers Seger Ellis and Victoria Spivey, and is showcased on ten influential performances with either the Luis Russell Orchestra or the remnants of the Carroll Dickerson big band. These renditions of "I Can't Give You Anything But Love," "Mahogany Hall Stomp," "Ain't Misbehavin'," "Black and Blue," "Ain't Misbehavin'," "Some of These Days," and "When You're Smiling" became quite famous during the period and helped lead the way toward the swing era. In addition to the non-vocal alternate takes of "Some of These Days" and "When You're Smiling," this CD releases for the first time two alternate versions of "After You've Gone." Timeless music.