Louis Armstrong Satch Plays Fats

Featured in Michael Fremer's Heavy Rotation in the April 2010 Issue of Stereophile! Pressed at Pallas in Germany!
In 1955, Louis Armstrong, along with vocalist Velma Middleton, got into the studio to pay tribute to the late Fats Waller. All the standards are here: "Honeysuckle Rose," "Squeeze Me," "Ain't Misbehavin," rendered in fine and mellow but gently, genially swinging fashion. Armstrong's trumpet is superb and his voice carries the good-time spirit of Waller's music.
On the basis of the artistic and commercial success of "Louis Armstrong Plays W.C. Handy", producer George Avakian once again gathered the All Stars in the studio to record compositions by Fats Waller in a second session. This album is also breathtaking, the All Stars are in top form and play the greatest pieces of a single composer. The singer Velma Middleton, often underestimated, is particularly captivating.
Louis Armstrong and Fats Waller worked together only twice, briefly in 1925 in Erskine Tate's Band and four years later in the New York revue "Connie's Hot Chocolates". But Waller left such a lasting impression on Satchmo that he recorded the tribute album "Satch Plays Fats: The Music of Fats Waller" in 1955, when such ideas were still new. Satchmo's interpretation of Fats Waller's music is incomparable and would have made the corpulent king of the piano proud. Armstrong remains in the style of Waller, this includes the humor and esprit that Satchmo weaves into the lyrics.
The recording quality is very good with soft sound, the selection of tracks flawless, they are some of Fats Waller's biggest hits. If you are a fan of Louis Armstrong - buy this album! If you are a fan of Fats Waller - buy this album! If you love jazz with a dash of swing, then this record is for you - you won't be disappointed!

Features:

• Limited Edition
• Pressed at Pallas in Germany
• Audiophile re-mastering
• 180g vinyl

Musicians:

• Louis Armstrong, trumpet, vocals
• Trummy Young, trombone
• Barney Bigard, clarinet
• Billy Kyle, piano
• Arvell Shaw, bass
• Barrett Deems, drums
• Velma Middleton, vocals

Selections:

Side A
1. Honeysuckle Rose
2. Blue Turning Grey Over You
3. I'm Crazy' Bout My Baby
4. Squeeze Me
5. Keepin' OUt of Mischief Now
Side B
1. All That Meat and No Potatoes
2. I've Got a Feeling I'm Falling
3. Black and Blue
4. Ain't Misbehavin'