Of course I didn’t even nearly forget about Armstrong slightly. But except for a review of “St. Louis Woman” on Plays W.C. Handy I didn’t write about him.
I don’t know where to start.
In 1989 I hung up my typewriter and press pass and gave up on modern pop music to back track and fill in the gaps. I learnt how to play (well, strum) acoustic guitar and I started excavating the past. I had always loved Armstrong (when I interviewed 007 theme writer John Barry, Armstrong was what I discussed most) but I didn’t have even a slight handle on him. At a Church Bazaar I picked up a by the numbers Armstrong live album from the late sixties and I didn’t stop till I had heard just about everything. Along the way I backed into ‘Trane, Miles Davis, Mingus -like that.
In maybe 1992 I had a new assistant and reached a compromise with her. Jazz in the morning, hip hop in the afternoon.
And then I heard Biggie and Junior Mafia and got back into modern pop.
But I never stopped listening to and reading about Pops, he is my very favorite pop musician. I prefer him to Lennon. I prefer him to Sam Cooke. I prefer him to Ella and Sinatra. There is Armstrong and then there is everybody else and if you have never listened to Portrait Of The Artist As A Young Man (I know The Complete Hot Five And Hot Sevens makes more sense, but I’m used to the song flow on Portrait) or Live At Town Hall or… aah, you get the picture. If you aint heard Armstrong you aint heard American pop.
I am currently reading Gary Gidden’s biography Satchmo and the next time I try and tackle the great man will be in that review. Coupla months time I figure.