Louis Armstrong Meets Oscar Peterson

Two Masters TOGETHER. Nothing overbearing, nobody trying to out do the other, just well nice balance of 2 VERY TALENTED MUSICIANS. Enjoyable from Start to Finish!

Having a large collection of 24 bit Sinatra CD's I have come accustomed to high quality sound. This CD had an awful amount of tape hiss that is annoying. Another reviewer mentioned this. since I didnt hear it from the 30 sec audio bits I thought maybe he mistook the hiss of jazz drum brush sound for tape hiss. However its not brush hiss but real tape niose.
The performances are spectacular but the hiss is annoying.

Whoever plays with Oscar Peterson and his renowned Trio (Herb Ellis on guitar) usually shine... but Louis Armstrong really shines here. It's one of my favorite Armstrong releases (even though it's Oscar Peterson's). My my what a combination, the recording is just okay (tape hiss) but the musicianship is rock solid. Louis' vocals are slightly subdude, but lends a wonderful rich quality to the tracks. Great sessions, made even greater by the old, trusty vocal and horn work generated by Louis Armstrong. Did I say "Rock Solid?" I should have said Jazz Solid.

No doubt this is a 5 star performance. Armstong's vocals are sublime, as is Peterson's piano playing. But be forewarned, this remastered cd has an overbearing amount of tape hiss! I don't know anything about the modern technology that goes into these "remasters" but it is hard to believe there wasn't something that could have been done to reduce this horrible tape sibilence while preserving the overall sonic quality. I have never heard this 1957 album either on vinyl or its original cd issue; all I can tell you is that if you are at all bothered by tape hiss, you're not going to derive much enjoyment from this remastered cd. Too bad, because it is a nice performance (if a bit light on Louis' trumpet solos) from what is my favorite Louis Armstrong period - the late Fifties.

On that great Verve album cover, two giants of twentieth century jazz, sitting on plain old barstools, shirtsleeved, about as casual as casual can be.
A fitting intro to this recording.Satchmo is not encumbered by that saccharine pop stuff of his later years, nor is he too Bourbon Street to bear. Instead, he swings gracefully, wittily, almost effortlessly from track to track, contributing some growls where needed, a little soulful commentary now and then, and, of course, that smile that one almost see in his voice.

He tackles these standards in a mellow but never vapid way; you've heard most of these songs before, but Armstrong makes you want to listen, makes you hum a little in the car, a few finger pops, and, of course, you find yourself singing along.

O.P.'s trio is exactly what Armstrong needed for an outing like this. As always, they absolutely swing, with wonderful licks from Herb Ellis, Ray Brown's steady but playful bass, and some brushes and softly pulsing rhythm from guest drummer Louie Bellson.

Ah, and there's Oscar himself, as relaxed as Armstrong, as casual, even as restrained, because, like Satchmo, on this recording Oscar does not even begin to lapse into self-indulgence or caricature-- as both artists at times tend to do. Nope, O.P. just runs the keyboard in a manner that seems to steady and support Armstrong. These two giants share the spotlight here, with respect for each other and for the music.

The Trio(plus one) is in sweet form here. Satch sings up a quiet storm, and even contributes a few licks on that always startling, always shining trumpet of his.

Buy it. Add to your O.P. collection, or to your Armstrong collection. Or begin your collection of either or both masters.
This is a no-brainer.