This double LP was the first jazz concert ever recorded at the Hollywood Bowl (and only the second one held at that L.A. institution). Although not an official Jazz at the Philharmonic concert, it has the same basic format and was also produced by Norman Granz. Trumpeters Roy Eldridge and Harry "Sweets" Edison, tenors Flip Phillips and Illinois Jacquet, the Oscar Peterson Trio and drummer Buddy Rich all jam on "Honeysuckle Rose" and "Jumpin' at the Woodside" and there is also a ballad medley and a drum solo by Rich. In addition the Oscar Peterson Trio plays two numbers, the remarkable pianist Art Tatum (in one of his final appearances) has four, Ella Fitzgerald sings six songs (including a scat-filled "Airmail Special") and collaborates with Louis Armstrong on two others. For the grand finale nearly everyone returns to the stage for "When the Saints Go Marching In" which Armstrong sings and largely narrates, cheerfully introducing all of the participants. This is a historic and very enjoyable release featuring more than its share of classic greats.
On August 15, 1956, impresario Norman Granz staged one of his multi-artist jazz concerts in the style of his Jazz at the Philharmonic (JATP) shows, this one at the prestigious Hollywood Bowl. After the one-time assemblage of jazz musicians into a jam session typical of the JATP, the evening featured two pianists and two singers: Art Tatum followed by Ella Fitzgerald in the first half, and the Oscar Peterson Trio followed by Louis Armstrong after the intermission. Granz compiled excerpts from the performances for a two-LP Jazz at the Hollywood Bowl album released on his Verve label in 1958. Necessarily, he resequenced some of the material to fit on the four sides of the discs, and Armstrong's set was left out. But 55 years after the concert, nearly to the day, Hip-O Select releases this two-CD version, which restores the previously unreleased Armstrong songs (all 11 of them!) and returns to the original running order. The jam session, which features the likes of Harry "Sweets" Edison, Roy Eldridge, Illinois Jacquet, Flip Phillips, and Buddy Rich, is more than just a curtain raiser, as the players give extended treatments to "Honeysuckle Rose," a lively "Jumpin' at the Woodside" with a long Rich drum solo, and a ballad medley. Tatum's lightning-fast piano embellishments are a palate cleanser, however, with MC Granz praising him to the skies before and after his appearance.
Fitzgerald turns in a representative six-song set, including her impersonation of Armstrong on "I Can't Give You Anything But Love," and a terrific scat performance in "Airmail Special." On Disc Two, the Peterson set is all too brief, but it sets up Armstrong, who really is the headliner. He, too, does a representative set, including crowd pleasers like "Mack the Knife," and giving showcases to his bandmates, pianist Billy Kyle ("Perdido"), clarinetist Edmond Hall ("You Made Me Love You"), drummer Barrett Deems ("Stompin' at the Savoy"), and trombonist Trummy Young ("You Can Depend on Me"). The encores with Fitzgerald and other musicians now make more sense as directed by Armstrong. The show always had some outstanding performances; now it has an outstanding, complete, and coherent recording to chronicle it.
CD 1
:
01. Introduction (Norman Granz) (1:41)
02. Honeysuckle Rose (Jam Session) (12:11)
03. The Ballad Medley: I Can't Get Started / If I Had You / I've Got The World On A String (Jam Session) (8:11)
04. Jumpin' At The Woodside (Jam Session) (14:11)
05. Introduction To Art Tatum (Norman Granz) (0:31)
06. Someone To Watch Over Me (Art Tatum) (3:14)
07. Begin The Beguine (Art Tatum) (3:08)
08. Willow Weep For Me (Art Tatum) (3:54)
09. Humoresque (Art Tatum) (4:05)
10. Introduction To Ella's Band (Norman Granz) (0:39)
11. Love For Sale (Ella Fitzgerald) (3:09)
12. Just One Of Those Things (Ella Fitzgerald) (3:55)
13. Little Girl Blue (Ella Fitzgerald) (3:10)
14. Too Close For Comfort (Ella Fitzgerald) (2:52)
15. I Can't Give You Anything But Love (Ella Fitzgerald) (3:24)
16. Airmail Special (Ella Fitzgerald) (3:56)
CD 2
01. 9:20 Special (Oscar Peterson) (3:16)
02. How About You (Oscar Peterson) (5:01)
03. When It's Sleepy Time Down South (Louis Armstrong) (3:28)
04. Indiana (Louis Armstrong) (4:25)
05. The Gypsy (Louis Armstrong) (4:49)
06. Ole Miss Blues (Louis Armstrong) (5:22)
07. The Bucket's Got A Hole In It (Louis Armstrong) (5:11)
08. Perdido (Louis Armstrong) (3:14)
09. You Made Me Love You (Louis Armstrong) (4:17)
10. Mack The Knife (Louis Armstrong) (4:03)
11. Stompin' At The Savoy (Louis Armstrong) (4:55)
12. You Can Depend On Me (Louis Armstrong) (3:22)
13. Mop Mop (Louis Armstrong) (3:23)
14. You Won't Be Satisfied (Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong) (3:41)
15. Undecided (Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong) (3:43)
16. When The Saints Go Marching In (Entire Ensemble) (6:05)
