I Cover The Waterfront, Dinah and Tiger Rag
Louis Armstrong
The great Armstrong in his earliest documented concert appearance, tearing it up in 1933
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In 1933, thanks to his recordings, Louis Armstrong was already a global superstar.
When he arrived in Copenhagen for an eight performance run at the Lyric Theater literally thousands of fans crowded the train station, breaking through police barriers, just to catch a glimpse of him.
He had already spent significant periods playing with King Oliver and Fletcher Henderson, had recorded his innovative Hot Five and Hot Seven sessions, and had begun fronting big bands on records in 1929.
Armstrong spent much of 1933-34 living and performing in Europe, and three songs from a concert in Copenhagen were miraculously filmed and saved for posterity.
Fronting a fine backup group, Louis Armstrong is the star throughout three memorable performances: “I Cover The Waterfront,” a classic rendition of “Dinah” (which has superb scat-singing and a perfect trumpet solo) and a crowd pleasing version of “Tiger Rag.”
These utterly fascinating performances are simply classic and well worth watching several times.
Personnel of the Harlem Hot Band:
Armstrong, trumpet and vocals,
Charles D. Johnson, trumpet,
Peter DuCongé, clarinet and alto saxophone,
Henry Tyree, alto saxophone,
Fletcher Allen, tenor saxophone,
Lionel Guimarez, trombone,
Justo Baretto, piano,
German Arango bass
Oliver Tines, drums.
-Scott Yanow
