Satchmo At Symphony Hall - Louis Armstrong And His All-Stars (1951) (2LP Vinyl) - Very Good Plus (VG+)

Condition: Used

Media Condition: Very Good Plus (VG+)

Sleeve Condition: Very Good (VG) (Spot on disk 1 side 1 which has no effect on play. )

Condition Notes:

Satchmo At Symphony Hall by Louis Armstrong And His All-Stars.

Few live jazz documents capture the electricity of a working band quite like this one. Louis Armstrong And His All-Stars stretch across four sides here, moving from the muscular swing of "King Porter Stomp" to the tender ache of "(What Did I Do To Be So) Black And Blue," a program that shows just how much range this ensemble could summon in a single evening at Symphony Hall.

The lineup reads like a summit of mid-century talent. Armstrong leads on trumpet and vocals, with Jack Teagarden alongside him on trombone and vocals, their voices and horns trading warmth throughout. Barney Bigard's clarinet weaves through the front line, while the rhythm section of Dick Cary on piano, Arvell Shaw on bass, and Sidney Catlett on drums keeps the whole thing propulsive and loose. Velma Middleton lends her vocals to the mix, adding another dimension to a band that never sounds like it is coasting.

The repertoire balances standards and showpieces with real care. There are ballads and torch songs like "Body And Soul," "That's My Desire," and "Since I Fell For You," each one a chance to hear Armstrong and company slow down and lean into feeling. Then the tempo lifts again for "Royal Garden Blues," "Tea For Two," and "How High The Moon," where the soloists get room to run and the crowd's energy is palpable in the grooves.

Certain tracks stand as pure highlights of the set. "Steak Face" gives Catlett a feature that reminds you why he was so revered behind the kit, while "Muskrat Ramble" and "High Society" reach back into the New Orleans tradition that Armstrong carried with him wherever he played. "On The Sunny Side Of The Street" arrives like an old friend, and closers like "Baby, Won't You Please Come Home" and "Boff Boff" send the evening out on a spirited note.

The release itself is presented as a gatefold in a 78-style cardboard sleeve, gathering volumes one and two together in a single package. It is a design that nods to the era the music comes from, giving the whole thing the feel of an album meant to be held and studied rather than simply played and shelved. Peter Frutchey served as recording supervisor, capturing the performance for posterity.

Bound into the gatefold are program notes, the kind of supplementary reading that turns a listening session into something closer to an occasion. For collectors and newcomers alike, this is a generous portrait of Armstrong's All-Stars at full stride, a live record that documents both the fire and the tenderness of one of the great touring bands in jazz.

Pressing Details:
Track Listing:
A1. King Porter Stomp
A2. (What Did I Do To Be So) Black And Blue
A3. Royal Garden Blues
A4. Lover
A5. Stars Fell On Alabama
B1. I Cried For You
B2. Since I Fell For You
B3. Tea For Two
B4. Body And Soul
B5. Muskrat Ramble
C1. Steak Face
C2. On The Sunny SIde Of The Street
C3. High Society
C4. That's My Desire
D1. "C" Jam Blues
D2. Baby, Won't You Please Come Home
D3. How HIgh The Moon
D4. Boff Boff

Credits:
Arvell Shaw - Bass
Barney Bigard - Clarinet
Sidney Catlett - Drums
Dick Cary - Piano
Peter Frutchey - Recording Supervisor
Jack Teagarden - Trombone, Vocals
Louis Armstrong - Trumpet, Vocals
Velma Middleton - Vocals

Notes:
Gatefold 78-style cardboard sleeve with volumes 1 and 2 in the same release.

Program notes bound into gatefold.

Artist: Louis Armstrong And His All-Stars

Format: 2LP

Genre: Jazz

Label: Decca

Catalog Number: DX-108

Release Year: 1951

Country: United States