AMG Review of California Concerts

Scott Yanow
All Music Guide

The California Concerts is a three-CD set that features Louis Armstrong & His All-Stars, giving one a very good idea of the type of performance the great trumpeter/vocalist put on every night. Some dated comedy aside, Satch is in exciting form, assisted by trombonists Jack Teagarden and Trummy Young, clarinetist Barney Bigard and, for the earlier concert, pianist Earl Hines. Actually, it is the later session (which takes up most of the last three CDs) that is quite spirited and lively, with Armstrong enthusiastically leading his All-Stars through timeworn but fresh Dixieland standards.