Ultimate Collection, The - Louis Armstrong

Advantages: Amazing contrast of voices,
Disadvantages: Some sonic quality is lost due to the age of the recording

...This CD is a brilliant stepping-stone into the Jazz world. The instantly recognisable voice of Louis Armstrong is familiarly heart warming, Louis stood next to the sensational Ella, make a fine pair. The strong vocals are supported by the excellent band, with great instrumental links keeping the listener on the edge of their seat. The intensity and coarseness of Mr. Armstrong's voice compels the audience to wish for the next scat solo or the next parade of incredible human talent that is Louis. Of course the same can be said of the sassy Ms. Fitzgerald who can sustain these high levels of aptitude. I recommend this CD to any budding music fan who wishes to broaden their Musical horizons! HAPPY LISTENING! BY, JAKE HEMMING... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Fantastic range of great tunes and songs
Disadvantages: None

...My late Father would have approved of this CD. For this, he would have said, was real Jazz. "Not like this modern rubbish!" My father's idea of real Jazz was music by the greats of the 1920 and 1930s. Jack Teagarden, for example. Mezz Mezzrow, was another of his heroes. And perhaps some of the early Louis Armstrong. Well, two out of three ain't bad. There's no Mezz Mezzrow on this CD, but there is plenty of Jack Teagarden and some early Louis Armstrong, too. There's also Lester Young and Artie Shaw, too. I have to agree with my dad. This rocks. Well, perhaps not rocks, but I think you know what I mean! Jack Teagarden's jazz is the ultimate in smoooooth jazz. Until he really wanted to become lively, then it was as if you were listening to an entirely different orchestra. The first two Jack Teagarden and his Orchestra tracks (So Many... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: variety
Disadvantages: none

...This is a huge collection. It consists of three cds and in total 45 tracks. It covers most of the popular jazz greats but is probably a little too main stream for any connoisseur of jazz in the true sense. The first cd is by far the best. It contains all the great tunes from the early years (Nat King Cole – “Let there be love..”, Louis Armstrong “Hello Dolly”, and Billie Holiday “That ole devil called love”). The second cd does not live up to the first. It moves on to 80’s jazz and loses its way somewhat, appealing to a listener different to that of the first cd. Personally I found it a little too esoteric. The final cd gains back the listeners attention with numbers like “Cantaloupe island” and “Moanin’” but the magic of the first cd is never recaptured.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful