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| Louis Armstrong’s Ambassador Series recordings available for sale online for the first time. For the first time in recording history, the Louis Armstrong House Museum is now making all of Louis Armstrong's Ambassador Series discs, a total of 16 discs, available for sale online. Previously, these exclusive discs were only available for sale on site at the Louis Armstrong House Museum. They are not available with any other retailer worldwide. Now the entire collection can be purchased at LouisArmstorngHouse.org as the museum launches its online museum shop – just in time for Jazz Appreciation Month! In 1990, Swedish collector Gösta Hägglöf founded Ambassador Records devoted to the legacy of Louis Armstrong and issued most of Armstrong's Decca studio recordings along with one-of-a-kind treasures from his own private collection. In 2009, Hägglöf passed away and left his entire Armstrong collection to the Louis Armstrong House Museum. The museum is the only retailer in the world that sells these rare discs from Hägglöf's private collection. Because the Ambassador discs are so rare, limited quantities are available. Each of the 16 Ambassador discs is peppered with ultra rare broadcasts and live performances that you simply won't find anywhere else. These discs are the perfect compliment to any music collection. The numbered volumes 1 through 9 cover Louis's complete Decca recordings from 1935 through 1949 representing some of his greatest material. Seven discs are separate from the 9-volume chronological series and capture Armstrong on stage in places like Carnegie Hall, the Cotton Club and the Blue Note in Chicago and in Decca's recording studio, waxing some of the finest music of his career in the 1950s. Here's a peek in to the Ambassador Series: Volume 1 - 1935 - The first volume of the Ambassador series includes 24 tracks from the year 1935, featuring Louis Armstrong's first recordings for Decca. In addition to classics like "I'm in the Mood for Love, " "Shoe Shine Boy" and "Solitude." Volume 1 contains seven alternate takes plus two ultra-rare live broadcast performances of "On the Sunny Side of the Street" and "Ain't Misbehavin'" that have never been issued anywhere else. Volume 2 - 1936 - The second Ambassador volume contains more Decca classics from the 1930s, including a monumental session of May 18, 1936 where Armstrong recorded six masterpieces, including "Swing That Music" and "Mahogany Hall Stomp." This volume also includes rare broadcast performances of "Swing That Music" and "The Skeleton in the Closet." Volume 3 - 1936-37 - Volume three of the Ambassador series opens with Armstrong's charming Hawaiian sessions and continues through his first meetings with the Mills Brothers, including a pair of alternate takes. Armstrong's radio work is represented with three scintillating live performances, including a rare gem from the "Fleischmann's Yeast Show." Volume 4 - 1938 - Armstrong remains the trumpet king of swing throughout this volume, leading his Orchestra on classics such as "Jubliee, " "Struttin' with Some Barbecue" and his first version of "When the Saints Go Marchin' In." The Mills Brothers return for three more collaborations, while the disc ends with Louis singing four touching spirituals backed by Lyn Murray's Choir. Volume 5 - 1938-1939 - The greats join Satchmo on volume five of the Ambassador series, with the centerpiece of this disc being a jam session that found Louis surrounded by the likes of Fats Waller, Jack Teagarden and Bud Freeman! In addition, there's more almost impossible-to-find radio broadcasts and live performances, in addition to Armstrong's Bert Williams-inspired "Elder Eatmore" comic monologues. Volume 6 - 1939-40 - Armstrong turns back the clock on volume six, offering swinging, up-to-date arrangements of past classics such as "West End Blues, " "Save It Pretty Mama" and "I'm Confessin'." There a scorching hot performance of "What is This Thing Called Swing" from Carnegie Hall, a privately recorded version of "Happy Birthday to Bing Crosby" and some "roots of rap" material on "Hep Cat's Ball" and "You've Got Me Voodoo'd." Volume 7 - 1940-41 - Volume 7 opens with Armstrong's big band at its finest on "Wolverine Blues, " before heading towards collaborations with the Mills Brothers and the great New Orleans reed master Sidney Bechet. A handful of rare live performances from the Cotton Club (including "Lazy River" and "Struttin' with Some Barbecue") complete this peak into Pops at the peak of his powers. Volume 8 - 1941-42 - There's one rare cut after another on volume 8 of the Ambassador series: small group performances with Armstrong's new "Hot Seven, " alternate takes of Decca classics, the soundtrack to Armstrong's 1942 Soundies and more ultra-rare live performances, including unrecorded arrangements of tunes like 'Song of the Islands, " "Basin Street Blues" and "Panama." Volume 9 - 1944-49 - Louis Armstrong didn't record much in the mid-1940s, but this volume of the Ambassador series contains many rare radio broadcasts of different material such as "Groovin', " "Going My Way, " "Swinging on a Star" and "Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby." It also includes three memorable radio performances with fellow Esquire All-Star Award Winners such as Coleman Hawkins, Jack Teagarden and Art Tatum, in addition to late-40s collaborations with vocal superstars Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday. Louis Armstrong Live at the Cotton Club Plus 1939-1943 - This CD contains some of Louis Armstrong's rarest broadcasts from the late 1930s and early 1940s, 28 tracks in all, each previously unreleased. In addition to performing sensational big band versions of "Struttin' with Some Barbecue, " "Lazy River" and other favorites at the Cotton Club, the disc also features Louis's only recorded performances of songs such as "You Don't Know What Love is" and "As Time Goes By, " In addition, there are live versions of songs such as "Coquette" and "I Never Knew" actually performed before Louis recorded them in the studio for Decca. Michael Steinman's definitive liner notes also help make this a release for true Armstrong aficionados. Louis Armstrong in Philadelphia, Volume 1 - 1948 - Arguably the greatest edition of Louis Armstrong's All Stars-featuring Jack Teagarden, Earl Hines and Sid Catlett-never recorded together in a studio. Fortunately, they were captured at their peak on a series of broadcasts from Ciro's in Philadelphia, with 20 performances included on this set, many previously unreleased. The discs includes Armstrong features such as "Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans, " "Sturttin' With Some Barbecue" and "Jack Armstrong Blues" as well as features for the other All Stars such Teagarden's "Lover" and Hines's "The One I Love Belongs to Somebody Else." Featuring liner notes by Louis Armstrong House Museum Archivist Ricky Riccardi, this CD has never been available commercially, making it a true one-of-a-kind gem. Carnegie Hall Concert 1947 - This concert captures Louis Armstrong's career at a crossroads. He had been leading a big band for nearly 20 years, but had been making more appearances with small groups at the time of this February 1947 concert. To appease both groups, Armstrong performed the first half of the concert with a sextet led by Edmond Hall, turning in enthusiastic performances of old hits like "Mahogany Hall Stomp, " "Muskrat Ramble" and "You Rascal You, " while the second half featured Armstrong swinging with his regular big band, including special guests Billie Holiday and Sid Catlett. The critical reaction to the event was so favorable, especially considering the small group sides, that it paved the way for the birth of the All Stars later that year. This disc contains the contents of that historic night and will allow the listener to enjoy Louis singing and swinging with both large and small combos. Heavenly Music 1949-1957 A compilation of some of Louis's most beautiful performances, including many arrangements by Gordon Jenkins ("Blueberry Hill, " "That Lucky Old Sun, " "When It's Sleepy Time Down South") plus the entire rare 1957 album Louis and the Angels. Because of You 1950-1953 - A collection of Louis's best-loved pop singles, including "A Kiss to Build a Dream On, " "La Vie En Rose, " and "I Get Ideas, " as well as duets with other legends such as Bing Crosby, Louis Jordan and Ella Fitzgerald. Moments to Remember 1952-1956 - This disc collects some of Louis's rarest studio recordings of the 1950s, including his 1953 date with The Commanders, duets with Gary Crosby, and a session of Benny Cater arrangements, including Louis's version of The Platters' "Only You." When You and I Were Young, Maggie has some great material from the early editions of the All Stars with Jack Teagarden, Earl Hines and either Sid Catlett or Cozy Cole on drums. A Jack Teagarden feature on "Maybe You'll Be There" is a real gem and there's some other material that the All Stars didn't play frequently, like "Jazz Me Blues." Each of these Ambassador discs retails for $14.95. To purchase them along with other unique Pops treats and treasures go to LouisArmstrongHouse.org. About the Louis Armstrong House Museum The Louis Armstrong House Museum is located at 34-56 107th Street in Corona, Queens, New York. The Museum is open Tuesday – Friday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm and Saturday/Sunday from 12:00 noon – 5:00 pm. No reservations are necessary for individuals but groups of 8 or more should call 718.478.8274 or visit www.louisarmstronghouse.org to make a reservation. Parking is available within the neighborhood and the museum is accessible by subway via the 7 Train. It’s a quick cab ride from LaGuardia Airport if you want to fly in and scoop up these goodies in person. Museum admission is $10.00, $7.00 for seniors, students and children and free for LAHM members and children under 4. Groups with reservations enjoy a dis write your comments about the article :: © 2014 Jazz News :: home page |