Louis is THE MAN

Do yourself a favor and buy all of those Hot Fives and Hot Sevens CDs. The influence that this man had on American music is incredible. Sony/Columbia has done an excellent job with this series.

Pure Joy

These historically significant cuts are so wonderful to listen to and some of the more classic numbers contain the best blowing Pops ever did. Here he is as a young man bursting on the scene and turning the music world upside down. Great stuff..Potato Head Blues of course is an essental recording but there is much more on this CD. This series is an excellent overview of Louis Armstrong's career and evolution as a musician. Well worth checking out.

The Master Comes Of Age

Like its earlier Volume 1,this CD is classic prime jazz from start to finish;I don't know if you read my review of Volume 1 but what I said there still stands,and then some! Screw the low-fi sound,there is no jazz lover who can afford to be without THIS disc,-just listen to Satch's stop-time breaks on "Potato Head Blues" and his ripping glissando on "Wild Man Blues" and if this isnt enough check out "Willie The Weeper" for an interactive primer on New Orleans polyphony as practiced by a master.Again,if youre going to mince about sound quality you might be better off making your own records! THIS is definitely a desert-island must-have!!!