Jazz Lines Publications Welcomes Louis Armstrong to the Catalog!
Announcing the Publication of What a Wonderful World, Cool Yule, and 'Zat You, Santa Claus?
Thanks to an agreement with the Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation, Inc. we are pleased to announce the release of several of the most popular and influential arrangements from this central figure in 20th century music.
It is safe to say that no musician has had a greater impact on American music from the 1920s on than Louis Armstrong. Be they instrumentalists or singers, every artist in fields ranging from jazz to blues to even rock and pop owe at least something to Armstrong's brilliance. His sound, phrasing, and ability to turn even the most trite of material into a transcendental masterpiece make him an eternally legendary figure. His 1920s recordings put the soloist in front of the group, setting the stage for all of jazz to come. He led small groups and big bands, was featured on radio and in film, and became a vocal star as well, eventually touring the world as a goodwill ambassador for American music. By his latter years he had become one of the most beloved figures in all of American entertainment.
Despite its optimistic lyrics and inviting melody, the circumstances surrounding Armstrong's now-iconic What a Wonderful World are surprisingly complicated. Recorded during an unusually tension-filled session in 1967, the song was largely ignored upon release in the United States due to a lack of promotion by ABC Records, whose president harbored an intense dislike for it (it was a huge hit in England at the time). It wasn't until over 20 years later, when the song was used in the soundtrack for the film Good Morning, Vietnam, that it experienced a surprise breakout in popular success, reaching #32 on the charts and ultimately culminating in it being inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999. Ultimately the situation in which it was recorded reflected the chaos and division of the times, and perhaps gave even more gravitas to Armstrong singing lyrics designed to bring people together. Armstrong's undeniable ability to take even the most gimmicky of songs and turn them into unforgettable masterpieces is shown rather vividly in 'Zat You, Santa Claus? Recorded in 1953 with an orchestra arranged by Salvador 'Tutti' Camarata, the end results were humorous, infectious, and infinitely satisfying. Camarata had worked with Disney as well as various major singers, so he was a natural pairing for Pops, and the two developed a genuine fondness for each other. Steve Allen’s Cool Yule was also first recorded at this session. Between Allen’s catchy tune, Armstrong’s joyfully exuberant performance, and Camarata’s bouncy arrangement, it should come as no surprise that Cool Yule has gone on to become a modern holiday favorite. Tutti grew to revere Louis, and the two formed a bond that would later lead to the 1968 album Disney Songs the Satchmo Way, which featured Armstrong’s last trumpet recordings and was something that Walt Disney himself had wanted to see made. All of these Jazz Lines Publications were prepared using original parts from the recording sessions, and are available in traditional paper or PDF download format.
Thanks to the Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation, Inc. for granting us permission to publish these arrangements and to Ricky Riccardi and the Louis Armstrong House Museum for allowing us to access music in the archives.
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