Sings And Swings

One of many in the Bluebird's Best series to present ancient classics from the 20th century's seminal jazz and big-band artists, this recording presents a beautiful portrait of the artist as a young man. The 15 titles selected here by Ruby Braff, fellow trumpeter and Armstrong devotee, document a 14-year period (1932-1946) following Satchmo's revolutionary recordings of the '20s. His raspy voice is often well-parodied, but his unique approach to the opening cut, "I've Got the World on a String," shows a unique genius for phrasing. It's more raw than the Frank Sinatra version everyone is familiar with. The vocal is prefaced by a good minute of lush trumpet playing backed by Armstrong's own orchestra. Some of the '30s tracks sound a bit muddy and unpolished, but later recordings like "Endie" feature richly textured big-band horn arrangements. "The Blues Are Brewin'" is another standout, featuring a smoother-voiced Armstrong than later generations usually hear. There are some sonic challenges (i.e., some technically poor live recordings), but those shortcomings offer a definite charm in helping define this era. ~ Jonathan Widran|