Hot Fives And Sevens

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EDITOR'S PICK

Total Tracks: 89   Total Length: 276:24

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James Lincoln Collier

eMusic Contributor

04.22.11
Essential recordings from jazz's most influential figure
2001 | Label: JSP Records / The Orchard

Louis Armstrong was the first great instrumentalist in jazz, more influential than any with the possible exception of Charlie Parker. His great inventiveness; his rich, warm sound; his mastery of his instrument; and his emotional range left other musicians in awe. His example changed jazz from an ensemble music to a vehicle for the improvising soloist, which it remains today.

The so-called Hot Fives and Sevens series, cut between 1925 and 1928, were the first under his name, and brought him to the attention of the jazz world. They used varied personnel, and were issued under several names. It was a recording group only &#8212 the musicians made their livings working in Chicago's nightclubs, dancehalls and theatres. As the series progresses, we can see Armstrong coming more and more to the front: the first cuts were in the New Orleans ensemble style; by the last cuts, the other musicians were merely backing Armstrong's vocals and astonishing trumpet solos. The recordings in this series are essential listening for any serious jazz fan, and lie at the heart of any jazz collection, no matter how small.

The recordings on Volume One are still in the New Orleans ensemble style. However, the stop-time solo on… read more »

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This is where jazz began

huggable rhino

Every Jazz library needs this set.

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A Huge Helping of Great Jazz

Palomino-Royalle

I have had the JSP CDs for years, and they are truly desert island material. If you're new to Armstrong's music, try "Heebie Jeebies" or "Potato Head Blues" or "St. James Infirmary" for an introduction. He combined stunning musicianship with an irresistible spirit, creating music that is both deep and playful. If this music doesn't make you feel good, I feel very very sorry for you!

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Essential

trevhutch

Well priced, best quality and essential music. Every jazz fan must get this!

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So sad...

Jyl

This is probably the best collection of jazz music on here. Almost every single track is a gem. Unfortunately, it's all compressed in 128kbps. Unless eMusic re-encodes the songs in a higher bitrate, I recommend buying the CD box instead; you'll want to download just about every single song anyway, so you might as well go for higher quality.

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My First Time

TomZC

I'm a big fan of Modern Jazz artists such as Larry Carlton and Pat Metheny, and therefore was uncertain if Traditional Jazz would appeal to me. After purchasing this album, I can give answer a resounding, "Yes;" it does much more than just appeal to me. Now I understand why people have called Armstrong's music timeless. It's lively and fun. It's just as delightful today as it was some 80 years ago. Even if you're not a Traditional Jazz connoisseur, it may well be worth your while to give this record a try.

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Best Jazz Sessions Ever?

IcemanNJ

An amazing set of music. Armstrong reinvents jazz itself at least two or three times here with arrangments, singing/scatting, and of course his solos, which are at least 15 years ahead of their time. In addition, this version of these sessions are probablly better than the original Columbia/CBS efforts (at least to these ears); a little more hiss but more subtlety in the band, which is preferable to the Columbia smooth production (pinching off the hiss, but also a bit of the music as well). Both are worth it, but only one version here:) Grab a disc a month and listen carefully to how Armstrong carves out space for himself at what seems like a leisurely pace until you hear the amazing solos. For those who haven't heard these yet, I envy you...

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Where it all began

GeoffM

There is a radio show in the UK where celebrities are asked to imagine being on a desert island with 8 records. They are entitled to three books however two of these must be 'The Bible' and 'The Complete Works Of Wllliam Shakespeare.' These Louis Armstrong records are the 20th Century musical equivalents of 'The Bible' and 'Shakespeare.' Louis Armstrong was the most important popular music performer in the 20th Century - his only real competition for the title would be Elvis. This box set are not Armstrong's first records - but they are the most important. They changed the world. The JSP presentation is excellent with very good sound quality. This is really where it al began.

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They Say All Music Guide

With superior transfers by British music engineer John R.T. Davies, this JSP reissue of the first 25 sides by Louis Armstrong’s Hot Fives and Hot Sevens is a first-choice disc for newcomers, while also being a very worthwhile purchase for the discriminating fan. Columbia’s more high-profile, yet poorly remastered early Armstrong releases are muddy and limp sounding in comparison. Studio discrepancies aside, these records represent one of highest achievements in jazz and all of music for that matter. Armstrong’s brash and advanced trumpet playing transformed jazz from the somewhat stilted ensemble polyphony of New Orleans to the fluid art of the improvising soloist, paving the way for the advances of swing and bebop and sparking the equally bold conceptions of future jazz luminaries Coleman Hawkins, Lester Young, and Charlie Parker. And although these Chicago recordings (1925-1926) do not include later milestones like “West End Blues” and “Weather Bird,” there’s plenty here in the way of Armstrong’s innovations: his stop-time solo on “Cornet Chop Suey” and the early scat singing on “Heebie Jeebies.” And beyond textbook considerations, there’s Armstrong’s infectious spoken commentary and vocals on “Gut Bucket Blues” and “Big Butter and Egg Man From the West,” not to mention his joyous trumpet exclamations on “Yes, I’m in the Barrel” and “Muskrat Rumble.” Topped off with fine contributions by Hot Five regulars clarinetist Johnny Dodds, trombonist Kid Ory, pianist and wife at the time Lil Armstrong, and banjo player Johnny St. Cyr, this Armstrong release is not to be missed. Essential music for any record collection. – Stephen Cook

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